Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-03-28
LETTHE HOME REST
MIR. Gibson Replies to Major
Longs Request
ASKING TO BELET QUITE ALONE
lie Shows How Easily Other Than the
Veterans Are Disturbed and Makes
Some Pointed Thrusts.


columns. Like most OF our modern
Newspaper interviews" this one had
evidently been very carefully prepared
before hand and no doubt Was intended
to BE- an Official, or at least semi
official, statement concerning the mat
ter OF the veterans pensions. The
Democrat, for reasons best known to
Itself, declined To give me space for q
reply, and 50 ! turn to my old friend,
The HERALD.
The major. who, by the way, most
highly esteem for his many most ac-
mirable qualities, makes q really pitt
ful appeal that the home be let alone,
giving amoug other things q most re-
markable reason for TINS. He says:
"Pubiic accusations brought against
that institution do not do il any
especial harm nor worry especially the
minds of the officials. but In these
scattered homes they are the cause of
apprehension, anxiety and tears, and
1t is those people whom | would wish
TO spare" This shows the workings Of
the majors great sympathetic heart,
and on this point We are fully agreed
the home should be let alone. This is
the very point I am making and have
made during the past four years. The
major, however. seems to think that
the little handful of sleek, well-fed,
well-to-do officials who have the man.
agement constitute the home, and it is
these persons he wishes to be let alone;
whereas l have always felt that the
home is designed primarily for the
veterans, and they are the ones who
should be let alone.
Scripture Proved True.
The soldiers home has at least
served one good purpose, it has proved
that the scriptures are true. The
MAJOR, who 10 doubtless q dillgent bib
lical student (the atmosphere of the
home being peculiarly adapted to such
study and he will at once recall the
passage which declares, mo chsstise-
ment for the present is joyous. but
rather grievous. Yet afterward it
yieldeth the peaceabie fruits of right
eousness to them that are exercised
thereby" He will also recall the
other passage, Whom the Lord loveth
he cnasteneth." Nows the past history
of the soldiers home has shown that
the chastisement which the news
papers (the Lords servants) gave cer-
tain officials from time to time worked
for the good of said officials of the
home. These honorable and dis
tinguished gentlemen one by one STEP
ped down and out OF their high posi-
tions, and are no doubt wiser, if sadder
men. Chastisement was good for
them, for the state at large, and par
tcularly for tine veterans themselves,
for q season at least. Think what bles-
sed results followed from the chastlse-i
ment which the Press gave poor un-
fortunate Captain Manly! am conf
dent, too, that no man in Michigan has
derived more genuine satisfaction from
the scoring which these officials have
received than Major Long himself! He
was believer In the scriptures, and
we all know he has in one wav or an
other given us all the aid and comfort
he could. None of the storms have
worried him, nor are they likely to, as
he Is go nearly indispensable at the
home that even the political cyclone
which swept over the country some
months ago only disturbed HIM for q
brief season. Accordingly ] cannot
quite understand his present sol;citude.
What mas come over HIM?
osOsOn - <NOS =
l have experienced great sense of
relief since Major Mckee took charge
of the soldiers home. Scarce CON-
plant has reached my ears. Every
thing has apparently been pleasant;
and the major will give me credit for
keeping quiet for some months past.
saw nothing to scold about as the new
commandant seemed to be doing all in
his power to make the old boys COM
Portable and contented, and had not
tins Infamous pension rule been again
resurrected l should have continued
silent. The major must know | have
nothing to gain by this agitation. l
incurred the dlspleasure of Genera!
Pierce and the Republican managers
when | criticised their methods, and to
this day the general, and especially
Mrs. Pierce, will not deign TO even
notice me on the street. Poor Captain
Manly could not even bear to hear my
voice through the telephones! Many Of
the veterans themselves, on account of
their dogged devotion to the democracy
or from pure jealousy look upon me
with contempt ana have continued to
do their utmost TO make other veterans
believe ! am eepousing their cause just
for effect: so that all things considered
my public championship of the old
boys has been Of no especial benefit to
me. | have simply had the satisfac-
ton OF an approving conscience, but
this is an ample reward.
IL is Not . Peniteatiary.
This - the burden of my complaint:
Every few months some acton has
been taken by the board OF managers
or the commandant which has resulted
IN keeping the old bows on the rack,
and in suspense. They have been at
tackled from within and from without.
One storm has just fairy passed by be-
fore another has struck them. Major
Longs plea is in order. Let the home
alouei IL was not intended to be .
poor house or . military post. The
founders Of it did not intend that any
soidIer should be covered with odlum
because tn his old age he cav az TO
avail himself OF tie shelter IL offered
him sud | have even iabored 10 keep
alive the idea that u vas a home. or as
nssfiv home AZ any pubic institution
can be.--a home freely aud gladly
offered "a ceftsin men who we're Justly
entitled 10 u. ! have tired to spread
the idea that the soldiers' home = N
finitsly removed from the penitentafy
90 The ons hand, snd the pssar hoase
on The other hsna. The soliiefs' home
- not ssEt "a these old veterans.
They are nss getting samsthine fef
neibinE. They are neither hessAfs or
psapefs. They hare earned thoa.
sand taes over all We can give them
during ths sest af tlssif llses.