The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-03-06
THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS.

people. An inaugural address is couched.
as rule, in terms Of "glittering gener-
atty" and President Cleveland's address
is no exception to those Of his predeces-
sors. He does not say in so many words
that he would veto free silver bill. or
that he would sign a compromise bill, like
the Bland act of 1873: or that he would
favor q tariff for revenue only or a COM
promise bill. like the Mills measure Of
1887. He promises, SO far as he is con-
cerned, to give the nation . Sound and
stable currency" and ito maintain our
national credit and avert financial disas-
ter" OF course Republican or Populist
president could make this general prom.
Use. The best and most unequivocal word
in his address is when the president says:
The lesson Of paternalism ought to be IN
learned and the better lesson taught that,
while the people should periodically ana cheer
fully support their government, its functions
do not include the support OF the people
This is sound Democratic doctrine, and
is exactly what Democratic President
Martin Van Buren, bravely said in his
message to the extra session of congress
called by him to consider the financial
crisis and panic of 1887. In this connec-
ton President Cleveland challenges what
he terms
Wild. reckless pension expenditure, which
overleaps the bounds OF grateful recognition of
patriotic services and prostitutes to vicious
uses the peoples prompt and generous impulse
70 aid those disabled In their country's de-
tense.
Here Mr.. Cleveland is guilty of bit of
demagogy. OF the various pension acts
enacted by congress since the war the only
one that deserves the Characterization We
have quoted is the Mexican war pension
act, which is a general service pension
measure that gives every man who served
in tho Mexican war, without qualifica-
ton, rich or dependent, no matter
whether he had served in the field or had
never left the recruiting depots in the
United States. a service pension. This
utterly indefensible measure. which PEN
sions a soldier, not for wounds. not for
dependency consequent upon physical in
trinity, but for serricc. whether long or
short. in the field or the recruiting depot,
originally gave q pension of s. to every
Mexican war veteran, rich or poor, and
most Of them are well-to-do because they
were all given 100 acres Of land years ago,
which they located in the most fertile gov
eminent lands Of Illinois. lows. Minnesota
and other states of the Middle West. This
bill was Democratic measure, and yet it
was fought by Democratic Gen. Bragg, of
Wisconsin. on the ground that it
erected the vicious precedent Of q ser-
rice pension to all veterans whether
dependent or not. Nevertheless this,
the worst Of all our pension acts,
passed congress by Southern votes and
was signed by Grover Cleveland. Of the
other pension acts. mono are indefensible
in principle. however loose and careless
may have been their administration. This
Mexican war pension act was amended by
the last congress, and the pension raised to
$l2 month, and all the Democrats voted
for 1t with scarcely an exception.
This Democratic Mexican war pension act
gives every veteran OF the Mexican war,
rich or poor. the same monthly pension
that is given only to dependent veterans OF
the Union. So far as the passage of the
other pension acts is ever concerned,
the Democrats have largely voted for
them, and Democratic Senators Voor.
bees and Turpie have tried to make
capital with the soldier vote of In
diana by proposing a service pension to
every surviving soldier of the Union. For
the enactment of these laws both parties
are responsible, for both have catered to the
soldier vote, but the only indefensible meas.
ure Of all these pension acts was fought
by some Of the best men of both parties.
and only became law by the signature of
Grover Cleveland.
1t ill becomes Mr.. Cleveland, therefore.
to denounce pension legislation from a
party standpoint. What is wanted is not
the repeal of our pension laws, but Sc.
verer administration of them. The pen-
sion rolls need revision; the language of
the laws may need Qualification by amend
ment so as to enforce their intent. but 10
sweepingly denounce pension legislation
a. an expression of vicious paternalism is
absurd. 1t is not the legislation. it Is it's
loose construction and administration
that demands reform. You might rs we'll
obliterate the retired list of the regular
army on the ground of paternalisIn as
to assail the principle Of our pen
sion legislation as an expression of
vicious ra.ernalism. The only pension
measure that deserves this designation
became a law by the signature OF Mr..
Cleveland and could no, have become a
law without il.
A memorial presented to the house of
the last congress urged a reform OF the
pension laws and practice, having in view
the following objects: Ul The payment
Of pensions only 10 disabled soldiers, and
their widows and orphan children when
IN need; 60 the nurging of the pension
rolls Of all men. disabled or otherwise. who
have ample incomes for the support of
themselves and their families; 81 the cut
ting off from the pension rolls of all de-
serters and all who were dishonorah!y dis.
charged from the service. This is all that
IS wanted OF reform in tie matter of nen.
sions. and this does not demand the rensal
of any of our pension acts. but seek, only
better definitions and limitations Of their
intended benehcenec. Mr.. Cleveland,s
pension cry is false note, for he is com
spioaously responsible Tor the only indie
fensible pension act.