The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1894-03-14
THE WAR ON THE PENSIONERS.


arbitrary interpretations of the
pension laws, are not likely to
derive consolation from the fact that
the millions o! dollars withheld
from them will indirectly go.to benefit
British manufacturers and import
ers. 1t is openly stated at Wash
ineton that ono motive for with
holding from "those who had borne
the battle and their widows and
orphans the provision promised to
them in behalf of the native by
Abraham Lincoln is to help the
ex-Confederates in Congress to cut
down duties as much as possible in
the Wilson bill. Thus the Con-
gressmcn from back woods and
bayous are able to pay double
debt of gratitude and revenge
gratitude to the British for assist
ance in trying to destroy the Union,
and revenge on the Union soldiers
who prevented the Union from
being destroyed. The Wilson bill
goes in harness with Hoke Smiths
management Of the pension office,
and both are equally hostile to the
North, which is punished on the
one hand for being loyal and on the
other for being industriou
There may be Union veterans who
voted for Grover Cleveland in 1892,
and who really believed that the
leopard could charge its spots and
the Democracy be friendly to the
soldier. By this time such veterans
have come to q wiser understanding
o! Triumphant Democracy. The
substance and essence of the
Democratic party is the Southern
element. THIS was the case before
the war, and the only chance since
the war has been in the increased
bitterness Of the Southern and
dominant wing of the Democracy
toward Northern Republicans.
The Northern branch of the
Democracy is a plant appendix to
! the Southern kite, and goes
wherever the kite Is headed. Oh
course there few honorable ex.
ceptions to this rule, and the ex-
ceptions will probably grow in
number now that Southern objects
are becoming distinct. One Of
these objects is. to deprive the
Northern soldiers of the benefits
of the pension laws by Withholding
pensions under frivolous and
fictitious pretenses, by harassins
the pensioner, and by making il
both troublesome and odious, to
seek a pension, however we'll
merited. The pensioner is treated
as a public enemy; he is received,
no matter how honorable his record,
with a presumption of fraudulent
design, and instead of being assisted
he is hampered at every step. He
is made to understood that what he
receives is given reluctantly, and
that the nation which he helped to
save from destruction grudges him
the few dollars'.th save him from
the almhousc.
1t is shameful -doubly shameful
that in this contemplate work
the former enemies of the Republic
should have some Northern assist
ance. But 1t was always so The
Northern doughiace Is no more
conspicuous in Washington to-day
than before the war. Then, as now,
he was the object instrument OF
Southern arrogance, ignorance and
injustic. Then, as now, he assisted
In fastening on his own section
whatever disabilities la pleased his
Southern masters to impose. Then
he voted for Fugitive Slave law
as readily as he now votes for the
Wilson bill, or would-if the South
dared to order it-vote to repeal
the pension laws. The surviving
soldiers of the Union are intelligent.
1t is said that of the Confederate;
who surrendered at Vicksburg
two-thirds could not sign theil
names. That could not be said o.
the Union soldiers, who knew what
they were fighting for, and who
fully comprehend the programm,
of malice and injustice of which
they are being made the Victims
in. \. Press.