Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-08-12
IupsE r. d. COCHRAN
Favors the Pension Policy of the Admin
istration.

AT the soldiers reunion az I'm hsA
Dor, Ohio, on the 9TH inst, Judge Il. ID.
Cochran delivered long address, main
ly devoted to the pension question, ana
took strong ground in favor OF the
policy of the administration. Among
other things, he said:
THE committee inviting me TO ad-
dress this convention Of old soldiers ex-
pressed a wish that part OF my Talk
should be upon the matter OF pensions
now exciting so much discussion ana
| criticism, and with desire not TO mis-
! lead myself or others, l at once began
an earnest examination OF the matter.
whatever of sympathy or polltlcai
prejudice l had-one was for my Ola
comrades and the other was against the
party In power, but IL seemed 10 DC
legal question from the consideration
of which any misleading sympathy or
prejudice should be excluded.
Few men are more liberal than as
to what the law should be, for believe
that most soldiers exposed TO field or
| camp service, even for short period,
carry through life some harmful physl-
cal effect of that exposure, but what the
law should be and what the law Is are
very different matters.
LET US assume that the Department.
means to be fair and just and not con-
demn without reason or knowledge.
THE Commissioner of Pensions, Aoe-
sides being an eminent citizen and
jurist, is our comrade with fine soldier
record. He loves US for the dangers
we have passed and on the first day OF
| this month said, My old comrades may
feel sure Of receiving everything TO
which the law-most literally con-
strued-entitles them and that promise
| invites and commands my faith.
"He further assures us that the Board
! of Revision is composed of the aoest
and most experienced men Of the bureau
r. fair men, whose ability hts them
! for the work, most Of whom, with their
chief, are Republicans.
with such d commissioner and Board
OF Revision, so proceeding under the
same construction OF law given by two
heads Of departments of opposite poll
| tics, | am free 10 declare belief that
| the department is not moved by hostll-
-ity towards worthy subjects OF pensions,
or by other motive than desire and
purpose to fairly interpret and admin
| lister the laws enacted by Congress.
1T is often the case now, my COM
rades, that while the majority Of the
brave old boys rest modestly under their
laurels, content with what they ala,
content to let actions speak louder than
words-it is often the case, say, that
some there are who by extravagant
boasts and claims, that come not from
the true soldier, will discredit the really
brave and deserving. Some there are,
let us hope not many, who would prac-
tice fraud ia order to secure pension.
l Even among the apostles there was
Judas. But are all survivors or
that grand army TO be judged
by the exceptional and guilty few?
Shall we silently sit By and permit the
noble old comrades TO be judged Oy the
notions OF the erstwhile camp-follow-
ers? We made short work OF such fel-
lows during the war, boys, and we
ou0ht 10 make short work OF them
now. Who should oe more jealous OF
the good name of the boys in blue than
the boys themselves?
"Who but the boys In true blue
should spot the frauds, slanderers and
unworthy who seek place In the
ranks? Is it wholesome for US II we
hermit the unclean to come among US?
"If thy right hand offend thee cut 1t
off. Cast out the leper ere the poison
infest the whole camp. II an unfaith-
fnl comrade cast discredit on you by
false pretense and conduct un6ecoming
q soldier OF that glorious army, shall
Won BY silence or by sympathetic pro-
test in his behalf become his gkllty
partuerP
81 say to you, my comrades, that the
most persistent, brazen and dangerous
enemy we have to-day is the soldier
who betrays his comrades and con-
dennis mis- cause by fraudulent repre-
sensations 10 securing pensions.
IL we stand together as We stood In
'61 and fight for truth and right as we
tonight during the war, all the presl-
dents and all the politicians In America
cannot detract from the soldiers one
iota of the transcendent glory earned
in the battles which gave victory TO the
Union cause and established this coun-
try as one and indivisable forever. A
glory that is common heritage OF
which all are proud-the citizens who
worthily wears defeat alike with him
who won the victory which made foe
man brethren.
What is the Grand Army? Who are
the soldiers? Will any one say they are
a grand army of beggars or looters|
Dare any one say that to this gath
ering of the ola bows whose heads are
whitened for the skies and whose ieet
are nearing the river?
"Idon't believe any man worthy the
name of man even thinks it.
IL believe the President OF the undl-
vided United States respects the men
who made IL possible for him TO hoId
that high Office. You may not know
that two OF his brothers were our com
rades, and that be, too, would have
been but for the fact that they insisted
and duty required that he remain TO
care for a widowed mother.
~ don't believe he would permit any
man to control the Pension Department
who does not respect the soldiers. L
know that partisan criticisms have been
made, and we all know
that unjust criticisms and
harsh judgments have driven
many OF our best public men into an
early grave. l know that attempts have
been made by demagogues 10 ian into
| g.. 81 n ,,roi,tScas ~ the old soldiers: