Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1893-01-05
RANcoRous CHARGES,
UeFeoifcans Writing Under Coutsm-
plated Pension ReForma


0eFGhitcans Writing Under Contsm-
plated Pension ReformA
The republican organs are full of
sneers at the reform of the pension sys-
tenn proposed by the democrats. In
TACT, every reference to the need of
such reform throws the organs into
spasms, during which the country
learns once again that the democratic
party is simply an aggregation of
traitors banded together TO accomplish
what the armies of Lee failed to &C.
eomplish. and determined to wage a
crusade of determination against the
surviving soldiers of the union.
The organs, furthermore, seem to as
sumo that they are approved in these
indiscriminate and rancorous charges,
ii not by the people, by the federal vet
Grams They have SO long pursued a
policy of attempting to buy votes by
turning over the treasury to pension
agents and their confederates, that
they infer that every man who draws
pension or who wants to draw a PEN
sion belongs body and soul to the re-
pubiicans, and that the people. having
apparently acquiesced in this SO long,
will continue to acquiesce in it indefi-
nitely.
They are mistaken in both assump-
tons They overestim ate the patience
of the people and they underestimate
the patriotism Of the veterans. There
is general and emphatic demand in
the ranks of both parties for an honest
and judicious administration of the
pension department and for a radical
revision of the system which already
pours out in alleged lawful pensions
nearly one-half of the entire national
revenue in a stream which is charging
at an appalling rate every year. More
over, it is an insult to the old soldiers
themselves to say that they are not in
sympathy with the people on this ques-
ton. Such an allegation carries with
it the charge that the old soldiers do
not deserve pensions, but have been
pensioned by the republicans through
either charity or desire to bride
them. The truth is, thousands of the sur
wing "boys in blue" both pens;oned
and unpensioned, join heartily In the
demand that the pension roll shall be
one of honor and merit instead of bar
ter and sale for partisan purposes and
priv ate gain. and it is estimated that
fully one-third of the soldier vote was
east at the last election for the politi-
cal party making this demand.
The Grand Army Gazette, a recog-
nized and reputable organ of the G.
A. R., speaks thus plainly on this
point:
IF to-day every man and woman whose name
is on the pension list were required to appear
before the proper authority, there to substan
ttate their claim TO pension by evidence that
would be admitted in any court OF law or be al
lowed by the most lenient of juries, there would
undoubtedly be q great many names taken.
from the list altogether and q far greater num-
Der Of pensioners reduced in amount
THE people should have this money saved for
them We believe the incoming admin1stra-
sion will do it. No honest man should object
Assuredly no fair veteran will do so.
The Gazette has always favored high pen
sions for deserving veterans II soldier IN
actual service was MANNED disabled so that
his power TO make q living for himself and
his family was gone or impaired his loss or i'm
pairment should be made good That was the
purpose in granting pensions. So long IS the
republican party did that the people sustained
them
"when they left that safe ground and en-
barked a treacherous sea OF extravagance.
taking aboard the great army Of claim agency
sharks. they began to lose the confidence of the
people,
The republican party has "worked''
the soldier vote to the utmost and has
been overwhelmingly beaten more than
once. If that is its dependence for a
restoration to power it may as well go
forthwith into LIQUIDATION
Courier-Journal.