The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1893-01-13
rhs SAME OLD shlckEssNee.
republicans writing Under Contem-
plated Pension lseforma

republicans writing Under Contsm-
plated Pension lscforma
The republican organs are full Of
sneers at the reform of the pension sys-
TEN proposed by the democratic. In
fact, every reference 4 the need of
such q reform throws the organs into
spasms, during which the country
learns once again hat the democratic
party is simply an aggregation of
traitors banded together TO accomplish
what the armies Of Lee failed to ac-
complish. 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
indiscrimina.@ and rancorous charges,
II n by the people, by the federal vet
erans. 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 mar who draws
a pension or who wants to draw a PEN
sion belongs body and soul to the re-
pubiicans. and that the people. having
oHHhA tAhN atIultNttQ III WIS 81 OAks
will continue To acquiesce in it indeti-
nitely.
They are mistaken in both assump-
tions. They overestin ate the patience
OF the people and they underestimate
the patriotism of the veterans. There
is "A 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 n stream which is charging
at an appalling rate every year. More
over. il is an insult to the old soldiers
themselves to say that they are not in
sympathy with the people on this qucs-
tion. 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 a desire to bride
them. The truth is. thousands Of the sur
viving boys in blue" both pensioned
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
private gain. and ii is estimated that
fully one-third Of the soldier vote was
cast at the last election for the politi-
cal party making this demand.
The Grand Army Gazette, n recog-
nized and reputable organ of the G..
A. r.. speaks thus plainly on this
point:
AZ to-day every man and woman whose name
Is On ttc p'rslon list were required 10 appear
the proper authority. there To substan-
tiate their claim 10 pension by evidence that
would be admitted In any court Of law or be al
by the most lenient OF iurics. there would
undoubtedly be a great many names taken
rom the list altogether and a far greater num-
OF pensioners reduced in amount
The people should have this money saved for
them. We believe the incoming adminstra-
will do IT, No honest man should object
no fair veteran will do so.
The Gazette has always favored high PEN
Hons for deserving veterans. II a soldier in
ctual service was MANNED or disabled so that
liz power to make a living for himself and
MS family was gone or impaired his loss or i'm
'airment should be made good. That was the
in granting pensions. So long as the
party did that the people sustained
hem
when they left that safe ground and en-
arked ona trcacherous sea OF extravaganza.
aking aboard the great army OF claim agency
harks. they began TO lose the confidence Of the
eople." n
The republican party has worked"
he soldier vote to the utmost and has
cen overwhelmingly beaten more than /.
nee. If that is its dependence for a
To power it may as well go !
orthwith into liquidation. louisville {
ourier journal. I