The National tribune., 1894-10-25
WE WANT THE VERDICT IN OUR FAVOR.

the United States will pass judgment
upon issues of momentous consequence.
They will decide whether they are to
continue in the Slough of Despond
whittier they were led by the political
quacks and fakirs two years ago, or
whether they will leave it for the clear,
straight highway of prosperity upon
which they had travelled up to 1892.
Important as the decision will be to
the people at large, it will be vital to
the veterans and their dependent ones.
We cannot too strongly impress this
upon every comrade and every friend
of the comrades. Should there be such
direful thing as a repetition of the sad
folly of 1892, the country at large can
still hope for reparation of the disaster
at another time. 1t will simply be to burn
deeper into the heart the lesson of the
lamentable consequences of giving that
element control Of the country, and
make the final overthrow more certain
and complete But no such hope will
be left the veterans. To hundreds of
thousands, if not all, the result this Fall
will be finality. The verdict at the
polls will be the seal of their fate.
Two years ago we admonished them
with the utmost earnestness as to the
situation which confronted them, and we
ask them to now recall our words, and
say how nearly our prophecy has been
realized. We challenge them to COM
pare our words then with what has actu-
ally followed. They will find that we
understated rather than exaggerated the
calamitous consequences to them of the
accession of the Solid South and Cop
perheads of the slums to power We
can 90 still farther and confidently in
vite them to indicate single instance in
all the years of the past where THE Ma
TIoNAL TRIBUNE has failed to point
out the true course for them, or one where
its warnings have been ill-founded and
not justified by the results. Of nothing
else are we so proud as the fact that no
paper in the country can show itself to
have been such an unerring guide to its
constituents as The NATIONAL TRIB-
UNE.
Now we say to them with all posi-
BILE emphasis that the situation, so far as
they are concerned, is far more critical
than it was two years ago, or than it
ever was In the fewest words possible,
it is that one of the main issues before
the people of the United States is
whether the pension policy of the last
IS months shall be cordially approved
or emphatically denounced. The pen
sion policy is ON trial before the whole
people. Every vote in favor of the ele-
ment which now controls Congress will
be accepted as vote in approval of the
present pension policy, and will be taken
az direct encouragement to continue
in this odious policy, and make it still
more unjust and oppressive Every
vote, on the other hand, in favor of
Republican nominee will be taken and
construed as an expression Of condem-
nation of the present policy, and COM
mand to return to the more just and
liberal course Of two years ago.
Comrades, make no mistake about
this. 1t is of the weightest possible con-
sequence. Many of you were deceived
by blathering demagogs two years ago,
and have been sitting in sackcloth and
ashes since. DO not repeat the error.
Do not allow yourselves to be caught
again by the traps cunningIy set for
you. Think over carefully what we say.
Remember what we said two years ago.
Remember also the falsehoods with which
these same men deluded you then Com
pare with them the stuff they are
pouring into your ears now.
The Germans say, eff dog bites me
once it his fault. If he bites me again
it is my fault" It was their fault if
they deceived you two years ago, but it
will be yours if you allow them to de-
ceive you again.
Selfpreservation leaves but one course
omen for Won and tbot is 70 vote ,lJI