Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-09-06

Public opinion has become so thoroughly
aroused on the subject that iioke Smith and
his ex Confederate hackers have seen fit to
cali halt in their raid upon pension system.
Under their regime hundreds Of pensioners
have been dropped from the rolls daily.
Many Of these men have been utterly in
capscitated for work AMI in such destitute
circumstances that the withdrawal Of gov
.,umep, .upport has nccessitaicd their re
moval to poor houses! To such an end does
q powerful and prosperous nation permit
needy veterans 10 come under Democratic
rule But these outrsges were not permitted
to pass unno,iccd. Public attention was
promptly called to them and the Just iadig
nation among the masses at length became
too great even for bourbon administration
10 withstand. 1t became evident tina, some
thing must be done to place the Cleveland
administration upon at least pretended
hssis OF loyalty. The political exigeneie'
demanded that something like regard for
the old soldiers should he simulated even
IL IL we're not felt. The time for the
annual encAmpment was daawirg near
and eli haste must be made to sugar coat
the bitter pills that were being administered
to the defenders of the dag in their deciin
ing wears Northern members of Congress
have become very much alarmed a, the ex
Confederate pension policy enforced by
Hoke Smith. They feared its disastrous
effects upon their own political fortunes
Senator Voorhees, STACKED it with out
SPOKEN vigor and other prominent Demo
cratic members Of Congress from the loyal
states have been very earnest in asking the
administration TO call u halt upon further
abuses Of Union veterans. SO prominent a
Democrat ~ Watchdog Holman 10 reported
to have Informed Commissioner Lochren
that . confluence of his pension policy
would make 1t impossible for Democrat
to succeed him in the National House
There IL reason TO believe also that the fear
thstt courts would decide his high handed
proceedings to be Illegal in case test was
m de, Vas not without its influence upon
the commissioner. OF course Mr.. Lochren
has had the hearty commentator Of the
Southern states in his attempt to nullify ou'
u nsiou system, but these states are Demo
,rsic anyway and 1t was evident
th,t the Democrats were losing Erount
- = result of this policy. in places where
thu political parties are more evenly divided
The drst indication of change of front
"a, IA the announcement vociferousl,
h. r.Lisd, that delayed cases" under tn.
old Law we're to he taken up and passed
aIen. The country had grown 50 accus
toned TO connect the pension aepartmeu
uo.icr the iiake Smith regime, with thu
can u .tion and suspension of pensions
that the announcement that few new ones
nigh,. possibly, be granted was expected
10 act like tonic, and did wake consider
ably comment. But il did not have thu
desired result In the case Of the Arbitrar,
anil cruel suspension Of pensions, without
explanation or excuse, which went on viii
undated zeal and evoked no little criticism
in the loyal states. Already there was n
ominous rumor that the report on pension.
10 BE- presented as the annual encampmen
Of the Grand Army Of the Republic EN-
bviiSl . comprehensive and startling ex
pcse of the outragrs perpesratcd upon Tn
ion vesesans BY the ex- Confederate manage
-s - Al. .~~.;.~~ .3.u~s&ruorf ,ndap eb.