Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1892-10-01
Peculiar Offering Made by the
Democracy to the Patriots
of the Union.
Pension Laws Endangered by
the Ascendency of Gro
yer Cleveland.
The Republican Party Rightly
Regarded as the Sol
diers' Party.

just at this time when the veterans
Of the nation have been in such joyous
reunion it is fitting that the contrast Of
the two great parties on the pension
/ question be shown.
! The republican party was the party
/ Of the union when the union was in
peril from democratic assaults. RePuh-
icans rcioiced when there was a union
I victory, ana the attitude of the repub-
/ lican party has been substantially III
/ favor of the soldier during the twenty
seven years that have elapsed since the
/ war closed 1t was expressed by
! Colonel Robert q. Ingersoll as follows:
! And right here ! want to thank
every soldier that fought to make ID
/ free. Every one living and dead.
I These heroes are dead. They are at
I rest They sleep in the land they made
free. under the flag they rendered
/ stainless, under the solemn pines, the
sad hemlocks, the fearful willows and
4 the embracing vines They sleep
I beneath the shadow of the clouds, care
less alike of the sunlight or Of storm.
each in the windOw4ss palace Of resi-.
Earth may run red with other wars
they are at peace. In the midst of bar
( tie, in the roar Of conflict, they found
the serenity Of death. / have one send-
ment for the soldier living and dead
cheers for the living and tears for the
dead"
In answer to these burning and elo-
quent words of Colonel Ingersoll, what
has the democratic party to offer? Two
candidates who took no part in the war
for the union Grover Cleveland who
rad sneers for the living pensioners and
yetoes for the pensions of the dead
heroes widows. In com non with thou
sands of other democrats the demo
cratic candidates believe The average
soldier shouldered his musket for the
/ money there was in it, and that hay
ing once been paid the nations debt to
its soldiers has been cancelled.
The mastering of this vast host, the
marches to the battlefelds the fierce
engagements, the frightful calm that
falls like a pall upon the scenes Of
bloody carnage, the widespread sorrow
and atliictiOn that followed never seem
to have commanded their attention, o..
cupied their minds nor thrilled Their
souls. No uttelauce, public or private,
has ever been preserved to indicate
that either Cleveland or Stevenson
ever thought Of those dead heroes 81
sympatheucany referred to by the
great republican orator.
There ~ growing undercurrent of
belief that If Grover Cleveland is elect
ed he viii recommend and succeed in
securing legislation that will repeal
some Of the present pension laws and
prevent all further legislation favor
able to the union soldier All demo
Gratis when not talking for publication
talk this way All democratic states
men give grudgiugly and bubble over
tie annual expenditures for pensions
And yet, ignoring entirely the senH,
mental side of the question, the present
pension rolls, when all facts are con-
sidered, are of comparatively small
moment MS rich and prosperous as the
United States,
fhe public debt has been almost wip-
ed out and Che interest on our bonds
has been faithfully paid That was a
legal and righteous debt to those who
loaned freely their money in the daE
ana doubtful days Of civil war aud its
attendant uncertainties. From nearly
St+4OOOO0O i'm 1867. the annual amour,
paiu 20 those who held the bonds o.
tho limited STATES has dwfulIpl to sgt