Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1893-08-02
The Case Of Justice Long.

A soldier who was wounded, and des-
perately wounded at that, in fighting
for the Union is naturally an object of
hatred on the part OF those who now
control the administration of affairs at
Washington. Long, of the Michigan.
Supreme Court is assailed by the enc
mics of the Union veterans in their
newspaper organs and their official re-
ports. The facts appear to be that
Justice Long lost his left arm above the
elbow through o wound received in
battle. and that he also received gun
shot wound in the left hip, which re-
quires even how to be dressed twice a
day by an attendant. In other words
this brave and faithful servant of his
country became in truth and in fact
physical wreck while doing his duty as
soldier in putting down the Rebellion.
He could hardly have given more, un-
less he had given life itself, to save the
nation in whose cause he enlisted For
these severe wounds, which continue to
cause him pain and suffering even to
this day, nearly thirty years after the
war, he is receiving pension of S72
month. AS his helpfulness is entirely
physical and has not affected his men
tai capacity Judge Long is able to dis
charge the duties of Justice of the Su-
preme Court Of Michigan. Those duties
do not require physical exertion beyond
the sedentary occupancy of the bench
and going to and from the place where
court is held.
1t is argued that Justice Long ought
not to receive pension because he is
receiving salary as Justice of the Su-
preme Court of Michigan. To that ar
gument The Press replies that the pen
sion list is roll of honor and not
register of charity. Not only the United
States, but every country pretending
civilization has made provision for the
wounded soldier, irrespective of any
other income received by him for public
or private services. This pension 10
universally recognized not as charity,
but as an obligation, due to the soldier
from the Government in whose behalf
he has lost his limbs, or otherwise sac
rificed his physical wellbeing. The
statutes of the United States, fairly in
terpreted. give Justice Long his pen
sion. 1t is by his legal right. How
ever widely people may differ as to the
advisability of paying pensions to per-
sons possessing comfortable incomes,
the fact is indisputable that under any
thing approaching an sauitable admin
istration of the law Justice Long is
fully entitled to the pension of which
the Cleveland officials afg endea vofing
to deprive him. Itmay be that he gives
the entire amount he receives from the
Government to needier veterans. This
is the practice of Representative Will
liam F. Draper of Massachusetts, and
numbers of we'll to do pensioners.
This, however, has nothing to do with
Justice Longs clear title to the pension
that belongs to him according to the
laws of this nation.
The real cause of the vindictive hue
and cry against the Michigan Judge is
that he is Republican. Partisan
malice, not desire for economy, is at
the root of the virulant Democratic and
Mugwump abuse Of citizen who
served his country faithfully and well.
There are many Democrats in receipt
of good incomes who are drawing large
pensions; but the Democratic organs
maintain dense silence in regard to
such cases. General John G. Black,
Commissioner of Pensions during Mr..
Cleveland's g former Administration and
at present a Congressman from Illinois,
with a salary of $4,000, has long drawn
pension, for total disability. No
Democratic newspaper is demanding
that General Blacks pension shall be
discontinued or calling him hard names
because he has taken theannuity which
the law allows him. Several Demo-
cratic Senators from the Southern
States are drawing pensions for SER
vices performed in the war with Mexico
Most Of these men, II not all of them,
bore arms against the nation in the
civil war. The salaries which they re-
ceive as Senators of the United States
are $4,000 each. But no Democratic
voice is raised in denunciation Of these
Democratic leaders for their course in
this respect.
The clamor against Justice Long is
cowardly and contemplate. The Off
cial attack made upon him is in viola
tion of paramount obligation to exc
cute the laws with fairness and impair
tiality. Justice requires and intelligent
public opinion demands that the pen
sion shall be administered without re-
gard to the politics of the pensioner.
The nation will not tolerate the re-
vengeful persecution of Republican
pensioners by the agents of Grover
Cleveland and the Bourbon South
New York Press.
Scribner's Magazine for August is, as
usual, fiction number, containing six
short stories, five of them illustrated,
and instalments of two short serials by
Robert Grant and Harold Frederic.
This idea Of a fiction number was first
realized in midsummer, 1889, and it has
proved one Of the most popular features
of the magazine. In it have appeared
an unusual number of short stories