The National tribune., 1892-05-26
BIBLE BRIGADE.
AFFAIRS IN FLORIDA.
an Open Letter to the Old Soldiers of the
United States.

an Open Letter to the Old Soldiers of the
United States.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Fonr years
ago we elected Gen. Harrison President II saw
we. for it is a wei-known political fact that the
almost unanimous support of tho old soldiers
of the close States of Indiana and New York
regardless Of party ties carried those States for
him and gave him the Presidency and outside
of his being soldier we had every reason to
believe from his public utterances before his
election and during his senatorial term that
his old soldier comrades would receive due
consideration and fair treatment. Let US see
if we realized our expectations
will only show up small portion OF what
/ and the comrades here all know took place in
our State of Florida, although We have plenty
Of evidence that the same state Of affairs hold
good in great many other States, both North
and South. of old worthy soldiers being turn ed
down, and politicians, Democrats, ex-rebels,
and even old rebel officials of Confederate
prison. pens appointed over old soldiers ex-
prisoners of war, and Republicans who were
Republicans at the risk of their lives from
some Of the same rebels that now hold office
under Republican soldier President.
At Tampa, Fla, he appointed a young law
yer Collector over an old soldier perfectly capa-
bic of filling the position an old resident Of
our city. who was Endorsed by the party here
and by the leading Republicans all over the
State.
Tho Presidents appointce was a stranger.
not living in the Collection or Congressional
District. The old soldiers sent remonstrance
to the President. 1t received no attention
Bowling to the inevitable and hoping for the
best, we received our new Collector cordially,
supposing he would ill the positions in the
Custom House with Republicans and citizens
OF the District. The result was he brought in
strangers his special Deputy from Maryland
a1d ic hrst uf,-, I'D 80.
crat and one of the rebel officials at Anderson
vile, that place of horrors, the very name Of
which causes a thrill Of horror and indignation
TO flash over the comrades and friends of tho
victims OF its inhuman officials.
We again, as soldiers and Republicans, re.
monstrated with him, but effected nothing.
We then determined to carry the matter I'D to
the President, and selected an old soldier. AN
ex -prisoner of war, who had ii of his company
murdered by inches in that terrible slaughter
house for Union soldiers, Andersonvilc He
went to Washington, saw the President and
stated the facts Of the case to him. He (the
President) promised to investigate the matter
but instead Of doing so immediately sent the
name into tho Senate for confirmation, accom-
panied by personal request that it bo favora.
bly, reported. We begged and urged of him
that no would not put this insult and ind ienity
upon his old comrades; that they were soldiers
Republicans and faithful supporters of him in
the late election, and were intensely interested
in the success Of his inistration and had in
the best of faith relied on him, soldier Pres
ident, to give them fair and honorable treat
ment: but all for naught.
And now our Collector is Delegate at large
from the State Of Florida to the National Con-
veation, elected by a convention Of ofhcehold-
ers, declaring before he went into the Conyen-
ton that they had the money and were prepared
TO send solid Harrison delegation to Minne.p-
oils, pledged to do all they can for the renom-
ination OF their chief. for the purpose of secur.
ing continuance Of his position, and also the
continuance Of his Andersonville official Deputy
for another four-year term, as a reward for as
sisting his official head, Gen. Winder, to carry
out his boast that he would dispose of more
Yankees than any division in Lees army; and
he certainly made his boast good.
And now i ask you, comrades, will you per-
NIT this thing to continue? Old prisoners of
Andersonville and all the other helholes of
the Confederacy, you old Union soldiers who
at the North still hold the balance of power,
and who have risked your lives a thousand
times that this Nation might live" will you
assist to bind this burden and 10 continue this
insult to every old soldier, but especially to
your comrades in the SOUTH We do not believe
it. Let us hear from you with no uncertain
sound at Minneapolis.-AN OLD SOLDIER AND
EX.PRIsoSER OF WAR