The National tribune., 1896-12-24
c1yn sERvIchiiREroRM.

ex soldiers (the writer 'includcdl have been
thrown out of their positions uncer Ihe
present Administration to provide for Dem
ocratic politicians IL, it, to be understooa
that we can't he restored to our places next
year? Or that the men who took our places
cannot be subjected to the same process tnat
we were? "Sir: Yotif services are no longer
required ought to be made us effective on
them as it was on us.-EDGAR l.. ADAMS,
Co C, Cd Vt, New Orleans, La.
We do not know what others under
stand" AS for ourselves, we distinctly
understand that the victory last
month was victory for the Republicans
and the veterans. Maj. Mckinley says
that he SO understands it. If this be SO,
it means reversal of the conditions and
things which were made to follow the
victory of the present Administration in
1892. It means--it cannot help mean
inr-that the veterans who suffered I'M
Justly by reason Of that untoward event
shall be righted. 1t would be a mock
erv If this were not done.
No prating about Civil Service Re-
form must be suffered to defeat this.
The true idea of Civil Service Reform
was violated when these faithful, deserv-
inc men were turned cut to make places
for men who had merely rendered pollti-
cal and partisan service. 10 continue
the latter in their places, at the expense
of the veterans whom they displaced,
would be to make mockery not only OF
the popular verdict, hut of Civil Service
Reform. President Cleveland has at
tempted to give psrmanency of position
to his appointees by putting them IN the
classified service. 1t was natural that
he should try to do 80. But it will be
equally natural and far more just for
President Mckinley to say:
81 am Just as devoted to Civil Service Re-
form as anybody. Bat believe in its es-
seuce-not in make-belieye for partisan
benefit. My first step shall be in the direc-
lion of true Civil Service Reform by restor-
ing 10 their places tihe men who were I'M
Justly dismissed in order to make room for
political workers. With that start, Civil
Service Reform will go along right merrily."
WHY NOT THE B0SDHOLDERS?
In view of this pressing need for ships and
for:s it is suggested tiiatsonr pensioners give
mp their Coyernmeht money for one year.
About ], 100000 soldiers and others are now
! receivisg pensions. Some Of the others are
| orphans, tender little things from 80 to 80
1 years Of age, who haze l,een living on Gov
| eminent pap for the last, 30-oddsyears. We
1 nre paying to these people Sl40000,000 a
| year. This sum wouid provide New York,
| Boston, San Francisco, and all theother poris
| with splendid and permanent forts, improved
cuas, submarine roiectiGn, and would add
| several ships to our Navy. The pensioners
risked their lives on behalf of the Republic
| once-some Of them. Are they not willing
| TO risk little of their income for the pur-
/ pose Of securing the rest? Should this cOun-
try be invaded in the next year or so by the
| armies of England, Germany, Russia, or
4 France, it would be long time before the
pensioners could get their pensions again.
| What will be paid 10 them in the next year
wonld keep any of these armies out
| Brooklyn Eagle.
Why not begin by asking the bond
holders to give up their emoluments fol
a year or two for this patriotic purpose
They did not give anything like a.
much to the Government-even ir
money-as the soldiers who fought it
battles did, and they have received
several times as much from the Treasury
Let the bondholders set the example
and then we may consider the PROPOSE
| ton.
| What unconscienable ignorance tn
| Eagle shows about orphans pensions
Everybody else knows that an orphan
pension ceases at the age Of is.
| The Spanish denial of atrocities com
mitted in Cuba, and the revolving Cit
cumstances connected with Maceo'
death are fatty contradicted by thei
own version Of the affair. The officia
statement admits that the bugler VIII
killed Maceo was engaged in plumber
ing the dead and wounded. FindinI
that Maceo gave signs of life, be cut hi
throat with his maclete. The Span
iards can see nothing wrong in thi
On the contrary, they have showers
favors upon the brutal bugler, and hor
ors upon his eo01hhander. Nothin
, could be more sfetolting to civilize
people than the idea of going over tn
battlefield and mdfdering the wounded
; That this was done with the approvs
of the commanding officers tells til
. whole story Of villsinous ferocity.
] IMpoRTANTT 0ALL CLIENT