The San Francisco call., 1896-10-09
Attention Called TO the Fact
That the Examiner" Ut.
tered No Protest.
SOME RINGING RESOLUTIONS
Democratic Committee Denounced
Speakers Warmly Commend "The
Calls" Editorial.

several OelegaIlODS OF Ofduu AIu! AnOA
visited THE CALL Office yesterday to ex-
press hearty qualification on account OF
an editorial article which appeared in
these columns rebuking certain Demo
cratic newspapers and campaign stump
speakers for wanton and unjustifable at
tacks on members of the Grand Army Of
the Republic because they have seen fit to
exercise the right of free citizenship and
support the man of their choice for the
Presidency; a man who, like themselves,
saw service during the dark days OF the
late unfortunate civil strife.
The article in question covers the ground
so fully and has been the subject of so much
comment in political circles throughout
the City that it is but right that 1t should
be reproduced:
GOING TOO FAR.
No part of the Bryan campaign in the Mis-
sissippi Valley has been more offensive 10
American loyalty and common decency than
the attacks which have been mace upon
Generals Sickles, Alger and Howard by some
of the radical supporters OF the fusion ticket
The canvass of these veteran defenders OF The
Union seems to have excited the worst pas
sions OF the Bryanites, ana the oraVe olo
soldiers have been maligned and lnsulted
leyond the bounds OF liberation by good
citizens.
The Omaha World Herald, of which Bryan
was at one time the editor, is included by our
Eastern exchanges among the organs which
have been most vindletlve IN their attacks
-s1ut as we have not seen the language used
by that journal we may let 1t pass Another
Bryanite organ, however. the South Omaha
Daily sun, is quoted as having said:
A carload of old bummers, called generals"
now touring the country on free passes ana
telling the people how 10 vote They were in
Omaha last night. When the people stop to con-
sider why such skunks are SO terribly interested,
IL Is enough TO settle the mat er that II Is not any
love for the poor or the laborer that prompts
these "ginera S" to thus swing around the circle.
Such attacks upon men whom the country
honors have naturally aroused the indignation
Of the people. 1t is not surprising, therefore,
TO learn that when "Coin' Harvey ventursd
upon a similar attack ct Clinton, Iowa, he was
hissed and hooted into silence by the audience
which had gathered to hear him. He is
reported TO have referred to the generals as
fold wrecks Of the Rebellion who have los t
their honor and patriotism, and are tools of
political shysters." Further than that, it seems
he was not permitted TO go by his audience,
and some OF the more indignant patriots
present could hardly be restrained from drag
ging him OFF the platform.
The American people allow to newspapers
and 10 stump orators large license of speech,
but there is Limit to that as to all things.
General Sickles, General Alger and General
Howard have attested their devotion to the
Union, their loyalty and their patriotic love
OF the Republic by services too arduous, too
citizen to sit in silence and hear them
ma1igned. 1t is about time that the agitetors
and demagogues who have sprung up among
US were made to understand that the Amerl-
can people have feeling OF profound rever-
ence for the veterans of the war for the Union,
and regard any defamation of them as an in
suit to themselves.
Those are the sentiments we indorse,"
said Joseph Steele, member of the COM
mittee. 1.-THE Examiner might have said
as much if its sympathies had been with
the old veterans, but it let the shameful
incident go by without word Of protest"
+. Hanson. president of the Mckinley
Veteran Soldiers and Sailors Repub blican
Club, heartily seconded Mr.. Steele's re-
marks and added that he and his compan-
ions were surprised because no censure
had been passed on those intolerant and
bigoted speakers and editors who had
thus violently attacked American citizens
for exercising privileges guaranteed to
them by the constitution and the laws.
In taking the position which it does in
this matter THE CALL feels that it is but
doing a plain duty. It would equally as
warmly defend Democratic veterans
should they be assailad in an unwar-
1t would be pretty state OF affairs,
surely, if the men VINO fought for the
preservation of the Union should at this
late day be coerced into a position when
they must accept instruction from cam
paign orators as to the manner in which
they shall perform their civic duties. OF
all the men in the world these veterans
ought to be left free to Judge for them
selves and to act without restraint. Such
immunity The CALL desires to see ex-
tended to the Democratic and Republican
veterans alike, and for this ii will ever
contend.
Yesterday afternoon meeting of the
executive committee of the Mckinley
Veteran Soldiers and Sailors Republican
Club was held at lib Turk street, where
the following resolutions were presented:
WHEREAS, The editorial columns of the San
Francisco CALL of October 8 show that attacks
of q scurriIous nature have been made on ex-
Union veteran Generals Siekles. Alger, How
ard and others because said gentlemen nave
seen fit to ally themselves with the National
Republican party and work for the success of
William Mckinley in the coming election,
thereby upholding the honor OF the Nation
they fought to preserve; and whereas, those
attacks have not been discountenanced by
either the National Democratic Committee
or their party organs, therefore be 1t
ResoEUed, That the executive committee OF
the Mckinley Veteran Soldiers and Sailors
Repu bllcan Club do denounce the National
Committee for not rebuking its
speakers and party organs for traducing men
that risked their lives for the preservation OF
Resoived That the committee recommend
that at its next meeting the CLUB orders oOOo
copies of THE CALL containing the article re-
ferred to, the same to be mailed TO ex-Union
soldiers and sailors in this State at the ex-
pense of the club.
Stirring addresses were made in support
of the resolution and THE CALL was
warmly commended for its utterances.
Colonel John Whiteside in few WELL
chosen sentences replied to the aspersions
Of the Omaha SIM on the characters of
the distinguished gentlemen mentioned.
In a quiet, manly way, he said that be
felt he was but expressing the feelings OF
all veterans, North and South, when he
denounced such calumny as un-American
and unpatriotic.
The resolutions were unanimously
adopted and ordered to be spread upon
the minutes, Secretary e. P. Morey being
requested to supply copies to the daily
papers of San Francisco for publication.