The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-06-10
Gems. Boynton and slocum on PEN
sions.

As was to be expected, Secretary Smith s
/ order directing re examination of the pen
sions issued under the act of 1890. so as to
weed ont all those improperly allowed. has
called forth considerable criticism from Re-
publican partisans, who have been eager to
seize it as pretex for reiterating their thread
bare charge that the Democratic party is hos
tile to the old soldiers, as well as from the
pension agents and others who have profted
by the Raum and Bussey methods of admins
tering the pension laws. There is no doubt
but that there will be an effort made to use
the great weight of the Grand Army OF the
Republic against the Democratic administra.
ton on this account, although it is strictly
against the constitution of that order for it to
be used for political purposes in any way. Ia
view of this attempt to array the veterans
against the administration, letter Just pub
Iished by Gen. H. " Boynton, of Ohio, is
significant as showing how the real veterans
of the war look upon the pension question.
General Boynton's war record IS part OF the
history of the country and his Repubicanism
is above question Whatever he has to say
on the subject of pensions therefore must be
looked upon as the utierances of Republi-
can veteran, and as such they have more
weight than they could have coming from
supporter of the same political party as that
of the administration. General Boynton
warns the Grand Army not to make the mis-
take of opposing pension investigation.
He points out that the war was not fought on
the Northern side by Republicans alone. but
by Democrats and Republicans alike, and he
protests against treating the pension question
as party issue. He quotes President Cleve
lands letter of acceptance as showing his
position on the subject and says the question
has now assumed such magnitude that not to
give it careful and vigorous attention would
be grave neglect Of executive duty. The
re examination ordered by Secretary Smith,
he thinks, strikes at the root of the trouble,
probably atfording the most practicable way
of testing the real condition of the pension
roll. 1t will be time enough TO condemn 1t
when the hand of the government, AS result
Of this proceeding, is unjustly laid upon =
single deserving pensioner. He says the
reputation of the Grand Army of the Rephb
lie is at stake in this matter and it owes II TO
itself TO support searching examination of
the pension rolls. He concludes AS follows ::
Under the present widespread belief the
pension roll cannot be fully established as
a roll of honor until such investigation has
been thoroughly and honestly made. And
when the country is satisfied that the roll is
worthy one, and not until then, will the
| feeling pass away that pension expenditure is
in considerable part an unjust burden Re
publicans, and especially Republican veterans,
have high duty TO perform in this matter.
To neglect it will be reflection upon their
patriotism.
This letter ought to be all the answer that
is needed 10 the criticisms that have been
made upon the course of the administration
toward the pensioners. 1t ought to bring to
the support of the President every veteran of
the war who esteems his country above his
party and leave in the ranks of his critics only
the bounty jumpers, pension grabbers and
claims agents, who have already done so
much to bring dscredit upon the pension
system.
The Brooklyn On " Eagle on Monday
published an open letter from Gen. Ii. w.
Slocum. addressed 10 John T. Raper, editor
of the Ohio Soldier, Chillieothe, Ohio, in
reply to recent article published in that
journal The article referred to criticised
some of General Slocum's recent references
to the pension system, and intimated that the
Generals utterances came with bad grace
from imam who is drawing service pension
of about 81, 600 year. retired major
general.
General Slocum begins his letter with the
statement that he is not on the retired list
and that he has never drawn dollar from
the government except for services rendered.
At the close OF the war a commission giving
him high rank in the regular army was offered
him, but he declined it.
The General declares himself strongly in
favor of paying pensions to the real soldiers
of the civil war who are now disabled or in
want. but emphatically objects to any pay
ments to bounty jumpers or men who enlisted
in the closing days of the war and who never
heard a hostile shot The General is very
bitter in his denunciation of the bounty jump
ers, three of whom, he says, she had the
pleasure of seeing shot in one day." These
same men, who risked death and disgrace
during the war to secure the bounty of the
government, do not hesitate to seek that
bounty now in time of peace. when they
really risk nothing.