The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-02-13
LETTER FROM GENERAL WEISSERT.
Letter to Congressman 0'Neil. In Which He
Scores the Anti Pension Kuklux.

PROVIDENCE. r. l.. Feb. 12.-Gen. A. C.
Weissert. commsnder-in.ch chief of the G. A.
r.. furnishes for publication o letter ad-
dressed by him to Congressman O'Nell, of
Massachusetts,, in which he says
Il notice in morning papers you quote
me In approval of your proposed amend
ments TO existing pension legislation affect
ing pensions OF inmates of soldiers homes.
Later. | received your letter of the 4th
terview said to have been held with me
on that specific point. Uncertain whether
represented or mlsrepresented in that In
terview. say to You that. while | am In
favor of Legislation giving the major por-
tlon OF the pension OF inmates of o home to
his family, get If he has no family. l say
let him have 1t all, even if it amounts to so
cents perday. For your proposed amend
ments generally. as published. | have no
favor. They are all calculated to restrict
benefits heretofore accorded surviving vet
Grams or their widows. Your restriction
to less than 5000 income per year is par
ticularly obnoxious. because 1T re-
quires public acknowledgment of poverty.
asked of rs when you were babe and we
were battling to preserve a Congress for
you to 81 III. / commend tor your consid-
GRAFTON the words Of another son of Massa-
chusetts, as he voiced the country's esti-
mate OF the services of the founders of the
O.
i refer to Webster. Your warfare In ad-
vance on those who, in the providence of
God, may become soldiers widows is
utterly repugnant to even average man.
hood.
..In the body of which you are O member
eits many q man who fought us man.
fashion, open and above -bOard-Gordon
his face scared with the track of Union
lead; Butler. short one leg; Wheeler. the
wild rider who gave us so little rest. and
fiuh nf ~,
were in the line of battle. soldiers in time
of war, but l hazard the prediction that
none of them could be induced to leac in
such fight AS you are making. You cry
out against the sum total OF the annual ap-
prOpriations for pensions, and capitalists
and towards comprise the ma orlty of those
who applaud. Figure the total on oil pen.
sIons from 1865 to 1S95-it Ia little more ti an
half the amount paid in the same time for
interest alone to the bondholders He
bought his bond always below par, at times
as low as 80. The men | now have the
honor to command and their deceased CON-
rades. indOrsed those bonds with their
hearts blood and by their yalor put them
financial markets of the world. With tre-
mendous unanimity they stood for honest
money in peace. insisting that Uncle Sans
promise To the bODdhoider ehould be TO.
deemed at 100 cents on the dollar. with all
interest payable in gold.
1.-The next President of the United States
goes into office having been voted for by
hundreds OF thousands OF veterans. have
no criticism for their coure. The soldier
earned the night to vote as he pleases-be
he Democrat. Republican or POpulIst. IL
some of them. advanced in years. enfeebled
by disease, see tit to totter to the polls and
vote the mugwump ticket. that is their
right, and beg you to stop this warfare
which will drive them to lay aside their
consideration Of other matters germane TO
our sy stem of government. and tend TO weld
them into nearly solid political mass.
that nearly inevitable in my opinion"