Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-01-21

A meeting of veterans was held in
New York the other day for the pur-
pose of organizing an association from
among those who took part in the civil
war "who regard the pension legislation
of the present day as public nuisance"
which, for the credit of the patriots who
do not desire to be considered mere
mercenaries, should be abated. One of
the founders of the new association said:
This society aims at nothing less than a
complete revision of the pension laws of
this country, so that no veteran shall be
pensioned who can earn his own living,
whether by his brains or his hands, and
that every veteran who cannot so earn his
living shall be supported not on a pit
lance, but in comfort, at the nations ex-
pense.
The Philadelphia Euening Telegraph,
in an editorial approving the spirit of
this declaration, enumerates several
classes of men who took part in that
great struggle-those who had no other
object in view than of showing their
love for and their loyalty to their
country; those who fought for the old
flag and the bounty, with prospective
pension in view, and those who were
drafted; and says that the real patriots
can see nothing wise or just in laws
that compel the government, quarter
Of century after the war has ended, to
support in idleness men able to earn
their living who enlisted for the sake of
the bounties. Every soldier and sailor
disabled by wounds, disease or other
disability incurred in the service should
be generously provided for, but, says
the Telegraph, mot one cent should be
| given to any one who was not wounded
or disabled,a and who to-ds,y is competent
to earn his own living" This will be
appreciated in Wilmington, where we
have seen men sufficiently sound to
pass the rigorous physical examination
demanded by the police service and to
draw pay and do duty as members Of
the police force, yet still drawing pen
sions for disability incurred in the war.
The Philadelphia Inquirer records the
result of the Republican delegate cleo
ton in that city last week with shout
of triumph as "a Sweep for Blaine
We warned Harrison to keep hands off
in this contest, the Inquirer says in sub
stance, but he wouldn't do it, and now
he must abide by the consequences.
"The President certainly must under
stand that Pennsylvania is Blaine's
state" and SHOULD therefore have pre-
vented anything like contest. But il
has been matter of common notoriety
emphasized by removals ordered from
Washington" that he was prostituting
the power of the administration to his
own selfish ends in Pennsylvania, and
now says the Inquirer, "the contest has
aroused so many antagonisms that it is
impossible to tell what it (the delega-
tom may do should Blaine decline to
receive its support" but from one end
of the country to the other the news
will go forth that Blaine has
won great victory. In every state in
the Union the fact will be commented
on and the result set forth as the first
great defeat Of President Harrison In
answer to which the administration
Press can only say that "the ward com.
bines slate" was put through without
a serious hitch and the "result was SC
much expected that it can hardly prove
a disappointment to anybody"