St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-04-01
THE QUESTION OF PENSIONS.

The question of pensions is rapidly
assuming purely moral aspect. Its
dstinctively political character is
changing, and the whole mass of citi-
Zens, regardleSS Of partisan utilization, are
beginning to survey the topic with
view to settling it on a nOn-partiSan
basis.
Patriotism is an abiding virtue. Love
of country may slumber during long
seasons of peace. and the sword grow
rusty in its scabbard while men toll for
gain, or seek for laurels through victor
les to be gained in the quiet paths Of in
tellectual pursuits. But the longer
the implement of war hangs sus-
pended in its dark closet, the
more sacred it becomes. Time. which
eats with its rust into the polished
brightness Of its blade, surrounds and
envelops it with perfume of tradi-
ton which finally converts the ances-
trail sword into fetch. Children are
taught to honor it, grandchildren come
to gaze upon it with awe and worship;
and so the sorcerv of courage which
clings TO it grows and expands with
each succeeding generation, until it is
transformed into rune to cOnjure for
defense when the nation calls her SONS
to protect homes and fireSides from as
sault.
The civil war was peculiarly herce
and cruel confiict-fraternal struggles
are additionally bloody-butit required
that mighty atonement to wash away
the stain of centuries of injustice and
oppression. God is supposed to pre-
side at the battles of His children. and
to award victory as decree of His o WI
unerring Justice. The nation was re-
united by that decree, and Was forever
freed from the curse of slavery. The
men OF the North, who, leaving homes
and wives and children-the pursuit of
gain and the pleasures of peace-tO
fight and die and conquer, have earned
the eternal gratitude of their fellows
who love liberty in all lands. The
country promised such among them as
might be disabled by wounds or strick-
en- by disease its protection and assist
ance in old age: and no honest or patri-
otto citizen would today withhold a
penny honestly due from any one of
the real veterans who was stricken
in the full and manly discharge of
duty to his country. A full generation
has grown to manhood since the war
period. Millions of the children of
other lands have found homes and for
tunes in the United States since the
close of that mighty struggle. To these
al ha iStn of 10 r
is as unreal and shadUwy as the story
of the parliamentary conflict in Eng
land two centuries and half ago, or as
the annals Of GustavuS AdOlphus and
the Thirty Years war. Yet, by the
force of their surroundings, they sympa-
| thiZe with the survivors and generously
| cast their influence in the scale to meet
the heavy obligations which congress
has declared to be debt Of honor.
But, unfortunately. the payment
| of pensions to soldiers has been
seized upon by class of dishonest
| and designing men as an agency
through which they may rob generou:
government. The pension attorneys
have sought out every veteran, anC
by appealing to their dormant selfish
ness induced them to apply ell masse
for aid from the government. They
have gone further in rascality, by plac
ing thousands of fraudulent name:
upon this roll of honor-names tina
carry disgrace and suspicion into tn
ranks of the worthy veterans them
selves, and compel the new generation
to look askance upon the claims OF thos
who actually fought and suffered TO
the country in its terrible travail.
| 1t is just here that the question o
morality comes in. 1t is right at thi
point where the subject Of pension
should cease to be a political question
and commence to he one of abstrac
| justice and manly rectitude. Mr.. Cleve
land, I'D the beginning of his admins
| tration, repeatedly confessed that TIL
| selection Of pension commissioner occa
stoned him greater anxiety than tn
choice of his entire cabinet. His effort
during his previous administration t
purify the roll Of honor had been mis-
understood or maliciously misinter
preted; and yet. upon his return t
| power, he had determined to persever
| i'll his efforts. By an accident so fortu
nate as to bear evidence OF being provi
Dental ne called to the head of tn
pension office a citizen of Minnesota
peculiarly equipped to perform tn
delicate and thankless task O
introducing common honesty into tina
unsavory bureau. Judge L0chren's mil
itary service had been modest but mag
nifcent. His civil record was tiawless-
honorable in every detail, and more fire.