The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-10-20
LOOK OFT VETERANS.

No doubt every citizen il Wichita
was angered at the thought that Grip
pied old soldier should be struck down
on our streets for expressing an opinion.
In political season or out, in a civilized
land or out of civilized land, there Is a
code of decency which condemn strap
ing youth for using violence to age.
No land is so savage and so dark but
that young men respect age and shrink
from doing it harm. How much more
repugnant does it appear in a civilized
land and in progressive CITY when the
old man assaulted is crippled veteran?
But it is no time to feel angry. The
cooler everybody is the better it will be
for US all. Besides it will not be safe
probably for any decrepit old soldier to
express bis opinions in putlic. There
may be some stalwart young Populist
about who will fell him Immediately.
1t is time to exercise judgment and to
be ready to express it next month at the
polls.
This land honors the cid soldier. 1t
does not believe with Tucker, the Popu-
list candidate for county commissioner.
that the old soldier went to war for the
money there was in it. On the contrary
it upholds him and reveres him as
hero and a tried and true patriot.
1t has so happened that the Repub IL
can party has been foremost in admira-
ton for the veteran. Its speakers and
its leading men never fail to pronounce
a panegyric on the old soldiers, partly
because they feel It, and partly because
their audience which is Republican de-
mands it.
No such expressions are heard from
the Populist speakers or leaders. Our
candidate for congress, Mr.. Chester
Long, declares himself daily as friend
of the old soldier. He is like all other
Republicans in this. Congressman Simp-
son the Populist candidate says nothing
about the old soldiers. He does not re-
gard them as part of the campaign ex-
cept as regards the matter OF pensions
and ne fears that the pension appropria-
tons have already been excessive.
The man who honoIS the old soldier of
this county should not hesitate about
casting his vote. If he believes that it
was something TO wade in blood and
bare the breast to tornado of lead. he
should now sustain the declared friend
OF the old soldier-the Republican party.
On the other hand, if man believes
the old soldiers deserve no honor and
should not be honored, he should hide |
his convictions, because he is a savage |
in highly civilized state of society.
Because men, regardless of political |
belief, who are men, honor the brave. |
They honor personal bravery. They |
honor patriotism. And what is |
more, they will resent a brutal
attack on 4 crippled old SOL
lier by brawny young Populist
when the old mans only fault WIS that
he had conviction.
The time will never come in this coun-
Try or any other country when the peo-
pie will stand bv and see a man
who risked his life and lost his leg for
ais country grow old and infirm to be
attacked and dropped like an OK because
ne has the temerity to express an opinion
when he has lost the physical ability to
it.
Young Populist Wilson's attack on
Jomrade Rhodes of the Thirty-third
ohio volunteer infantry for the express
ION of an opinion on the streets of
Wichita may be rare instance. But
me instance should be enough for the
people of Wichita.