The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-09-27
THE VETERANS.
SOMETHING OF WHAT THEY Az
FINDING IN WASHINGTON.

4 PrsGpeye9s esxntry-Wandsrfal In
crease in Wealth and Csmnerce-Ths
Nations Tribute to It's Defe,ders-The,
Contrast Two Presidential RecerdA
Especial Correspondencel
WASHINGTON. Sept 19.-This is great
week in Washington. The old soldiers
are here in full force. Never since they
marched up Pennsylvania avenue at the
close OF the war has Washington seen &c
many of the veterans who saved the
country. And there is no less enthusiasm
for the flag and the country among the
thousands who tread Pennsylvania ave-
nue. today than there was quarter Of a
century ago behind the battle stained
banners.
Changed Conditions.
But what 3 change they find.
Instead of treasury burdened with a
debt of 81, $50, 600 600 they find the treas
ury now with interest bearing debt of
less than $500. 900, eO0
| Instead of an annual interest charge
was compelled to pay At that time, they
find now treasury whose annual inter-
est payment is in round numbers but
| SEQ, 000, 900.
Instead Of government so reduced as
to be compelled to pay more than per
cent. on the money which it borrowed to
carry on its war for the preservation Of
the nation they find one able to float its
bonds at par at 2 per cent. per snnum
interest.
Instead of debt Of seventy-eight dol.
lars for each individual in tho United
States they find an Indebtedness Of thir-
teen dollars for each individual, and in
stead of per capita interest rate of
$4.29 they now find an interest rate of
thirty five cents per capita.
Reduced Taxes; Increased Commerce.
All this they find interesting.
They find instead of country COM
PEELED to raise e519, 100000 by tax
alton in year ono which now taxes its
people less than 600, 600, 600 . year,
although her population has nearly
doubled meantime and tho expenses Of
government naturally increased.
They find a country with a foreign COM
MERGE of nearly s., 00o, OO0, 900 against
total of less than $500, 0o0, 900 in 1865.
They find instead of balance of trade
against the United States of SIS, 600, 600,
as was the case in 1865, that tho balance
of trade in our favor now is moro than
500. 000, 000.
They find instead of domestic exports
amounting to $136, 900, 900 then that our
exports during the past year were more
than a 81, oOO, 200, 900.
A Magnificent Pension System.
And this is not all.
They find magnificent pension Office
with thousands Of clerks employed in
examining into and paying the claims
for pension of the men who fought to
save the country.
Instead Of pension roll of S., 900 men
and widows which they found in 1865.
they find to-day a pension RON of 750, 600
soldiers and soldiers widows.
Instead of an annual payment of &c.
500. 900 for pensions which they found in
1865, they find the government paying
$50. 009. COOS year for pensions, and that
it has paid to them and their fellow
soldiers or their families 1,250. 600. 900
in pensions since they marched up Penn
sylvania avenue at the close of the war
. quarter of century ago.
One Painful Thought.
Ono thing more they find, and it
brings sorrow and pain to every heart.
1t is that in the record of all this pros
perity, in the record Of the nations gen
crosby toward its defenders and their
families, the one man who has lifted his
of q century which has passed since they
were last here did SO from the presidents
chair in the White House, and did so
rs the only representative of the Demo
cratic party who has filed that exalted
station since the war.
1t is painful thought to these old
soldiers as they gather here that the only
representative which the Democratic
party have had in the White House since
the country was reunited quarter of
century ago should have been the only
man to raise his hand against them, and
TO strike down with the official power
placed temporarily in his hands the evil
dencee of affection which the congress Of
. grateful nation had voted them.
Thatthe one Democratic president who
has occupied the White House since they
marched up Pennsylvania avenue TWEEN
ty-fve years ago should have welded
the veto power against them hundreds
of times in short four years term and
deprived 10000 soldiers homes and
families of the pittance which the con-
gress of grateful nation had freely
voted them throws shadow, even at
that long distance, over this gathering
of comrades.
Silver Lining to the Cloud.
But there is silver lining to this
cloud
The man who occupies the White
House today they look upon as friend
and a comrade. And they have reason
30 to do. His words and acts have ali
been ockindness and affection. He ex-
tends to them the cordiality of a com
rs6e's greeting. His own words ia his
recent letter Of acceptance are written
upon their hearts in living letters, a
comrade in the column of the victor's
parade in 1865, | am not less a comrade
now"
The Republican Party Did It
One other thought which comes &c
these old soldiers as they gather herr
and. no,a -he r,,arrif5rart record Of trs
past quarter of century: This reduc-