The National tribune., 1893-05-11
WELT They MEAN
Some Expressions of the Soldier
HaterS Against the Pensioners.
CALIFORNIA.

CALIFORNIA.
Mr. HawIey, of Connecticut, and other apollo
gists for the system, have promised that enough
pensioners will die soon TO make a considerable
red uction, but everyone knows that when 8
veteran Is once on the psusIan-rOlls he is in a
position to outlast his generation, and then to
leave behind him blooming young widow and
a second or third crop of soldiers orphans TO be
taken of by their grateful country.
Our PretOrian friends do not intend to die
or to resign their hold on the Treasury. They
say they saved the country and that they own
it that d" the rebels " ought TO have TO pay for
the trouble they caused before admitting that
they were whipped. This is a cheerful view,
but it does not meet the objections Of some who
were not rebels" and OF some who were not
born when that quarrel was being stirred up
by people who ought to have known better.
The world continues to move, and as it moves
there will be continually increasing number
of people who viii object to paying a war in
demnity because OF a war for which they were
in no way responsibilities GatOs NeUs.
CoSNECTICUT.
The suspension Of further issues Of certid-
Gates under the disability act would greatly
reduce expenditures. 1t certainly should be
done.-New HarsI Register.
MASSACHUSETTS.
Charles Francis Adams declares belief that
one-third of the pensions paid by the United
States are given to frauds. Kate Field adds:
Should Nr Cleveland clean out the Augean
stable within the pension Office he will go down
in history as the third savior Of this county,
Boston Globe.
MISSOURI
We are now paying probably not less than
S600O0.0C0 year in pensions to men who have
no sort of claim upon the bounty of grateful
Nation.-!St. Louis Post Dispatch.
There sfs men on the pension-rolls who
honor them, but they are lost sight of in the
immense number to whom pension is a mark
of disgrace. Any man who can earn a living
is disgraced ii he goes to the pOOrheuse, or ae-
cepts relief from the public Treasury without
going there's. Lotts Republic.
NEW JERSEY.
As regard the tricksters, the deserters, the
bogus soldiers and few other bsrnacles that
have fOisted themselves by fraud, by perjury
or by political pull on the pension lists. they
should be swept remorselessiy aside and should
ment for their nefarious mpudence.-NecGrk
Nelrs.
NEW YORK.
"Unwarrantably extFayagant" would be
very mild description of the pension legislation
which we have had during the score Of years
since this deliverance upon the subject by one
of the highest authorities. The most reckless
prohigacy has long characterized the action CT
Congress in voting money for this branch OF
the Government service, and equal recklessGess
has characterized the distribution of the money
by the Bureau. The result has been the build
ing up of pension roll which is a disgrace to
the NatiOn.-NeU YORK EEeTa;Hg Posi-.
1t would be eminently wise to provide in the
appropriation bill that no new pensions shall
be granted. say, for one year, which would
give time for a careful review Of the Wh0ls
subjeet.-Nes0 York Times
So. leaving out of consideration an army Of
frauds who are drawing pensions, and whose
lack of right to do SO will be readily exposed
by proper action of the authorities. we find the
pension roll swollen to size that almost sp-
pals the aginatiOn.-BrOOElyn Citizen.
OHIO.
The reform of the pension list and the stop
page OF further abuses will be effected in spits
of all the whining and bowling of conscience
less demagogs and unprincipled party organs
1t will be done under Democratic Administers
ton, but we have no doubt with the aid OF
honest Republican members Of Congress who
think more of the public interests than of mar
row partisan considerations. The action il
wisely takeu-and it cannot be carried through
unless wisely planned-will have the hearty
approval of the people without regard to party.
.CleUelaHd Plain Dealer.
OREGON.
It is only strained idea Of patriotism. not
the principle itself, that makes the ex-sOldier
a privileged man, or his class privileged class.
: If be is pauper humanity acknOwl-
sdges duty toward him, and this it is ready
to discharge by extending to him the same aid
that it gives to others OF his class. There Is
not the slightest reason to believe that the
pauper ex-sodiers will be any better cared for
in a Soldiers Home than they will be at
County-farm or poOrhOuse. and. furthermore,
there is no reason why they should be.
TENNESSEE.
Pension extravaganza has done more to pre-
ong the bitterness of the war feeling than all
other causes combined. 1t has been by heap
ing bitter deDunciatious upon the heads OF
. rebels" by eloquent appeals In behalf OF
those who saved the Union from the hands o.
:. traitors" who crushed the foul slaveh0lderI
etc, that criticism has been over
awed and successful opposition to the scandal
Dus prOhig2ey and corruption of our pension
system made impossible. Every defense OF
pension rOttennesS has been terrific blast
against the "rebel South" 1t has been under
the cover of spurious patriotism and bitter seq
.ional hate that the pension thieves have plum
1ered the Tressury.-MeHphis Commercial.
MASSACHUSETTS.
It ia time for the GAR. to cease from allow
ng it's organization 70 be used 3 ralIyIng-
place for pension sharks. The question has
become one of vital moment because the i'm
nense expenditure it is causing has very much
20 do with the proper adjustment OF the new
.ariff schedules that are expected. The public
motto of honest men is, millions for pensions 20
lisa bled veterans, but not cent to those who
kulkingly would cheat the Federal Govern
neut by claims which timid politicians have
heretofore approved from fear of party cOnse-
iuences In other words, political eOwardice -
for millions upon millions Of PEN
ion xpsnditures.-BostOB Transcript