The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1893-06-10
rhE PENSION PROBLEM.

Pointed Paragraphs from the Pen of Gen.
H. v. Boynton-The PervieIitles Of the
Problcm-In Order that h Should be
What % Purports TO be, . Roll Of Honor,
the Frauds Must be Hunted Out and
Dropped.
WASHINGTON. June 4.-Gen. III. v.
Boynton, over his own signature.
speaks at length of pension reform in
the Post. The following are extracts
from his communications:
by the action of the highest officials
OF the G. A. R., quite as much as by the
recent orders of the new democratic
secretary of the interior and the COM
missioner Of pensions, the country has
been brought face to face with the
gravities and the serious perplexities
of the pension problem
The discussion has been precipitated
1one too soon for the honor of honest
and deserving pensioners: for the good
name and fame of the Grand Army
itself; for setting up o distinction be-
tween that patriotism which is as pure
as any flag ever led to victory and that
humiliation of patriotism which Is
found in the hot quest for undeserved
pensions, and for relieving the country
from such portion of the vast and fast
growing pecuniary burden as may be
proved unjust.
''While, in its essence, the pension
question is non-partisan. it is such an
easy one TO conjure with for the demo-
Gratis, that the moment one of this par
ty undertakes to correct the abuses
which every fair man sees and admits,
a general hue and cry is raised at once
that the democrats are at last wreak-
ing their spite and their vengeance
on the old soldiers. No one stops to
think that a very large proportion Of
these old soldiers who went to
war in 1881, when the question of PEN
sions was not in the remotest thoughts
of any of them, were democrats Even
democrats themselves forgot to make
answer that a great company of the
leading captains of the Union hosts
Grant, Sherman. Buell., George II.
Thomas, Mcclellan, Logan, Butler.
Rosecrans. Franklin, Sickles, Slocum-
an unending column of such men and
their followers were democrats. And
ever since the pension question became
prominent both parties have nursed
it and juggled with it to Sc
cure political advantage. And
now. when it has become n burden
which can not be ignored, and should
not if it could; since pension expendi-
lures are growing, and now nearly
equal all the other ordinary appropria-
tions together, it should not be treated
as a partisan affair.
That the pension question has as
sumed a magnitude and an Importance
which compels attention from any
administration which takes proper
cognizance of the public interests is
too clear to need argument. Not tc
give it careful and vigorous attention
would be grave neglect of executive
duty
The examination ordered by the Sec
retary of the interior strikes at the
root of the trouble. 1t probably af.
fords the most practicable way of test
ing the real condition of the pension
roll. 1t will be time enough to con.
denim it when the hand of the govern.
inCtt. oS Itouit VI NhlS
unjustly laid upon single deserving
pensioner. No administration, and,
above all. no democratic ad-
ministration can withstand the
shock that will come to il
if any veteran, disabled by wounds or
disease in the service, is dropped from
the pension roll which he honors. On
the other hand, every deserving veteran
suffers If unworthy pensioners are not
taminated roll of honor.
THE reputation and honor of the
Grand Army of the Republic are at
stake in this matter. by the action
of its highest officers it has
been committed to the remarkable
proposition that Grand Army posts
shall not openly discuss and uphold
pension reform. II is idle to make an
swer to this charge by pleading tech
nicalities- The Grand Army now owes
it to itself to support searching ex-
animation of the pension rolls When
this is done not only the Grand Army
but the whole country can he relied
upon to insist that none but unworthy
cases shall be dropped from the rolls of
honor.
Under the present widespread be-
re-esta blished as a roll of honor until
such investigation has been thoroughly
and honestly made; and when the coun-
try is satisfied that the roll is worthy
one, and not until then, will the feel