The National tribune., 1894-10-18
THE SITUATION rs IMPERATIVE.


For the veterans the situation is much
the most critical of any time since the
close of the war. We simply must elect
Republican to Congress wherever such
thing is possible, in order to offset the
vote against us of the slums of the great
cities and of the Solid South. We know
to an absolute certainty that every man
elected from those places will be bitter
enemy of justice to veterans. This is
something that we can calculate upon
as surely as that the sun will rise to-
morrow.
Not only will they be personally hos
tile, but those who send them to Con-
gress will expect them to do all they
can to cut down pension expenditures
and reduce the number of those receiv-
ing the benefits of the pension system.
This is the platform upon which they
all stand more or less openly. In the
South they make no pretense of conceal
ment of their purposes, but commend
themselves to their rebel constituents by
harangues upon the iniquity Of the pen
sion system and the crushing burden
Of taxation" borne by the Southern
people to pay pensions to those who in
vaded the South, devastated the peoples
homes, insulted their fathers, mothers
and sisters and murdered their sons"
In the North they attempt more con-
cealment, by prating about "no deserv-
ing pensioner need fear" "only the
buns and shirks must be stricken from
the roll they disgrace" and similar
demagogery. But they all mean ex-
actly the same thing, and when once
elected the Copperhead Representative
of the Northern slums is a meaner
enemy of the veterans than the ex-rebel
from the Solid South.
AS rule the Populists are not par
ticle better. During the last session Of
Congress not one Of them raised his voice
In favor of the men who saved the
country. Not sing lie protest went up
from them against the cruel injustice
being done the broken and dying vet
Grams. We got very much more con-
sideration from the ex-rebeI Representa-
tives than from the Populists.
These undeniable facts outline our
course with the utmost clearness. They
make it plain to every man that there
is but one thing for US to do to protect our
interests and secure our rights. This is
o vote solidly everywhere for straight
out Republican candidates for Congress.
Every vote so cast will be interpreted by
the country-at-large as one in favor of
justice to the veterans and liberal treat
ment in the matter Of pensions. A vote
against them means an approval and in
dorsement Of all that we have suffered
In the past two years, and all that is
threatened against us in the future.
We appeal TO all veterans to be gov
erned by these considerations. Let
other and minor issues wait. They can
be settled in the future. We did not
stop to discuss religion or politics when
forming for an assault or to repel an
attack. Our only thought then was
how to most effectively meet the general
enemy, and we left smaller questions to
be debated after the emergency had
passed.
This is our browning emergency. The
fight now will be decisive. If we lose it
we may resign all hope. If We win we
should have a conclusive victory which
will give US peace for the rest of our
lives. Let US make it conclusive by a
solid vote of all the veterans in the
country, which viii insure an over
whelming triumph.
SPECIAL NOTICE TO COMRADES.
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