Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1894-10-27
AN OPEN LETTER.
By Capt. j. M. Walker 10 The Chairman
Of The Republican State Central
Committee.
Mr. Chairman:

Dear Sir:-I am in receipt of cir
cular from your committee entitled,
democracy ard the Soldier" / fully
appreciate the honor you haye done
me in sending it to me and will frank /
~ state TO you my objections to it,
| haYe given it a careful hearing and
find it lacking in two essential points,
either of which is fatal The first is
its lack Of patriotism. II it is Inten-
ded TO do anything it is to prejudice
the old soldier against large portion
of his fellow citizens and In this
think it open to a very serious objec-
ton. We are now nearly 80 years
from the close Of the war; every citi-
zen of the republic las long since
acquieced in the results of that great
struggle; for more than 25 years we
have had profound peace. Our nation
has advanced in material prosperity
more rapidly than any other. We
have more than doubled our popula-
ton In that period and we stand to-
day without peer among the nations
Of the earth. We know no north, no
SOUTH no east, no west, and we should
know none One common country,
one glorious union, one starry flag is
what the old soldier fought for, is
what they maintained, is what they
have since enjoyed, and is what they
desire to transmit to their children as
their common glorious heritage. We
quit shooting in 1865, and partisan
appeals, such as the one you enclose
me, are powerless to arouse our hatred
against our Democratic fellow citi-
zens. So much for its want of patri-
otism. Now as to its truthfulness-
Let us candidly investigate that. 1t
asserts that the Democratic party IS
) and has been unfaithful to the soldier
10 relation TO pensions. This charge
| utterly derry, and IN proof thereof
submit a portion OF the record and
facts as TO the action of the Demo
cratic party to pensioners. | cannot,
ia one letter, cover all the ground and
give all the facts, but will condense
my statement to the following facts
taken from the records
o lst Since 1875 tle Democrats
S have controlled the House Of Repre-
sentatives all the time Except 4 years
5 and have never failed 10 report and
c pass bills appropriating the money to
S pay all the pensions granted by the
Pension Bureau.
End. The act OF Feb. %, 1877, in.
creasing the pension Of those who lost
S both an arm and leg was passed by
n a Democratic Congress
Sd. The act OF Aug 10, 1876, issu.
j ing artificial limbs to disabled sol
diers and seamen was passed by a
Democratic Congress.
4th The act of Aug %, 1888, in,
creasing pensions on account Of deaf.
ness was passed by Democratic Con.
gress.
9th. Act OF Feb 10, 1889, grant
ing an increase from So to 500 per
month TO all persons who lost both
hands in the line Of duty, was passed
by Democratic Congress.
9th. The act of Aug. 4, 1856, in,
creasing the pensions of more than
10000 armless and legless veterans
from s24 to $50, $50 to 36 and from
$3.50 to $40 per mouth, was passed
by a Democratic Congress and signed
by Grover Cleveland, a Democratic
president
18th. Act of March 10, 1885, in.
creased from IS to - per month the
pensions Of $4,000 widows and de.
pendents on the rolls at that date, and
tens of thousands who have since
been placed on the rolls This ACT
was passed by Democratic Congress,
approved by Democratic President
and the certificates for the increased
amounts were issued without penny
OF cost to the beneficiaries or without
any unnecessary delay by that gallant
and warm hearted Democratic soldier,
Gen. Black of Illinois, then commits