The San Francisco call., 1896-08-10
WAR VETERANS LEAGUE.

No doubt the attempt will be made by
managers of the Democratic campaign to
discredit the Union Veterans Patriotic
League by charging that it is 8 Republican
organization in the guise of war veterans
but the answer will be that were it Re.
pdbliean political machine, 1t would not
have such stanch Democrats as Generals
Sickles and Siegel for leaders. The fact
is, the League is composed of veterans oil
the war of the republic irrespective OF
party utilization, who are impressed with
the gravity of the economic and financial
situation. They are men who believe that
the Altgelds and Bryans are preparing to
attack the good name and credit of the
Nation, and they are coming to the rescue
of the republic, just as they did third oi
century ago. It is no more a political
question with the war veterans now than
it was in 1861. Then there was a conspir-
acy to divide the Union, and now there is
a conspiracy to bring discredit and dis
honor upon the republic.
The soldiers of the war of the republic
reunited the country upon broader and
f1rmer basis than it was before. and now
they are falling into line to protect the
good name and the credit of the republic
against conspiracy that is formulating
its plans under cover of the stolen mantle
of the party of Hancock, Mcclellan,
Sickles and Siegel. 1t is just as incumbent
upon loyal Republicans and Democrats to
join in the rescue of the Government from
dangers that threaten it in 1896, as it was
incumbent upon them to go forward as one
man to its rescue IN 1861.
The oneness, the unity of the country
was assailed when Sumter was fired d oon,
and now not only is the commercial honor
and business integrity of the country at
tackled. but there is conspiracy to deprive
the country's wage-earners of oppor-
tunity to employ their skill and muscle,
except at such remuneration as will con-
form to the wage schedule of Europe and
the Orient. Is it a crime, in view of these
facts, for the survivors of the struggle
which restored the unity of the country to
now rally to protect the country from
financial and commercial degradation9
1t will not do for the Altgelds to cry out
against these Republican and Democratic
war veterans, nor Will it do to question
their honesty of purpose. No doubt there
is a thread of selfshness running through
that which is moving these veterans to fall
in line. There are nearly LOCO, 900 names
upon the Nations war pension roll, which
call for an annual distribution of about
$140, 900, 900, and it behooves the old soldier
to see to it that his own and his comrades
pension money is not tampered with or
played upon until its purchase power is
reduced by half, or in any amount. These
veterans are not laying down policy.
They merely demand that the integrity
and honor of the Nation be maintained,
and without reference to political ties and
associations they are telling into line to
battle on the side that is for the mainte-
nance of the credit of the Nation. Natur-
ally they are advocating the election OF
Major Mckinley, not because he is himseli
war veteran, nor because he is Repub-
lican, but because his candidacy stands for
the preservation OF the Nations good
name in the worlds channels of trade,
cnmmeree and financa