Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-09-22
Veterans and Politica.

The very venomous compilation
Of falsehoods aud Interpretations
made by the News aud Monitor Of this
city, concerning the Reunion held at
Abilene, Sept. and lis neither original
nor new. There has not been Re.
union held In Kansas or in any
other northern State for years that has
not been denominated by some hothead-
ed Southerner a Republican rally"
The remarks Of these two political
organs which carry at their respective
mastheads the names of a number of
eminent rebel brlgadiefs whom these
| old veterans which met in Abilene that
week gave a good sound threshing
about thirty years ago are the very
same rem lrks that have been made by
the same class Of fellows for more than
quarter Of century.
To these gentlemen, the veterans Of
the late war who had the audacity to
prevent such unrepentent rebels rs W.
"A. Harris and james b. Field from
destroying the government are, by gath.
ering themselves together in annual
Reunions, committing an objectionable
sin. In the estimation Of the News
aud Monitor, 1t would be far better If
these old veterans would not gather
together at all. The presence of 80
mauy blue coats is offensive to their
sensitive natures.
But If these old veterans are per-
mitted to assemble once In while and
shake hands they must speak in
whispers about the Late unpleasant
ness"
II TO call treason odious Ii talking
politics, il to say that the Union boys
were everlastingly right and that the
Rebels were everlastingly wrong, if to
praise these old veterans for their
patriotism, their bravery and their
sacrifices, IL to advocate liberal pen
sions for these old veterans in their
declining years, If to urge these old
veterans to stand by their friends, If to |
defend these old veterans ageinst the |
Infamous and cowardly epithets of |
thieves" "mendicants." coffee
COOLERS" "bounty jumpers" dead
beats" "bummers,n suspected de.
serters," etc, If to advise these old
veterans to put their old friends on
guard, If to warn these old veterans
against placing the veto power Of the
government which they preserved in
IN the hands If man who vetoed on
m average two pensiIn bills for every
lay that Congress was in session, dur.
ny his administration, II TO warn these
Nd veterans of the danger of placing
n power II man, who IN August 9Th,
bO2, still says In speaking Of the war,
we Killed great many Yankees dur
ng the war and | wish we had killed
vice as many more enough to have
iven us the Victory aud our cause sue.
ess, +" ~ to maintain that the only flag
'hich ought TO be permitted To float in
his country is the tiig OF our Union, If
lc talking about these things which
re of such vital interest to the old I
eterans is talking politics, then there
las politics at tho Reunion.
1t would indeed be difficult for the
ID veterans Of the war to get together
nd talk at all without touching upon
nestions of q political nature.
The issues for which they fought in |
s6l-5 were political. Their victory /
'as political triumph IN well as II ,
rlumph for humanity. They are slill |
the mercy Of tue political organiza. {
ons of the country. Their politics ,
not partisan politics.
The old soldiers understand these /
llngs. They are not deceived by the I
ant and carplng of papers opposed to
lem and their interests and the editors
Ould do well to remember IL.
I