The herald., 1896-08-18
GENERAL FRANKLIN ANSWERED
A Veteran at the Soldiers Home Talk
Plainly to His Comrades

PLAINLY TO Ills (0mra0eS
At meeting of the Patriots Of Amerl-
ca, which society is composed of old
soldiers in the Pacific branch Of the
Soldiers Home, on the 18th instant, an
old soldier said:
Mr.. Chairman and Comrades: I am
requested to give my opinion Of General
Franklin's address to the old soldiers, to-
gether with the addresses Of Daniel L.
Sickels and Horace Porter Of the Union
Veterans league. which is in substance
as follows:
Comrades, you country Is
in great danger. In the present presi-
Dental campaign dangerous combina-
tion is threatening the honor and integ-
rity Of the government. Misguided men
conspire to bring reputation, dishonor
and financial ruin upon this ma
ton, once saved by your valor. Should
this dangerous and revolutionary con-
spiracy against the financial honor and
integrity Of the government meet with
success, every pensioner, every savings
bank depositor, every insurance policy
holder, etc., would lose one-half what
is due him by being paid In f1fty-cent
I'VE appeal to you to lay aside
all partisan differences, to prefer coun-
try to party, now as you did in the civil
war and rally to the support of Major
Mckinley, the first private soldier ever
nominated to the high Office Of president
of the Unated States, who in the ranks
with you defended the union, and who
now stands for the maintenance Of its
honor. We urge you to form an asso-
citation, to be known as the Union Vet
erans' Patriotic league, and to do all
in your power to secure the triumph OF
the right. We urge the veterans and
sons of veterans to send their addessses
to the secretary of the league, Col. Edwin
Dudley, No. l East Ninth street, New
York"
AS the discussion Of politics in
the soldiers homes is forbidden by the
rules presumably prescribed by Major
General William b. Franklin, the super
intendent of the National Soldiers
homes, 1t is only fair to request General
Franklin to keep from meddling with the
politics Of the old soldiers who may diff
fer with him, and claim the right to vote
as they please. This address Is not only
impertinent. but it is an unjustifable
insidious attempt to frighten, browbeat
cajole or purchase the old soldiers sup
port of Mckinley for president.
I'VE old soldiers need not be told thai
our country is in great peril from thu
effects of the fraud of the demonetizin;
chased by British bankers, unknown tt
our people for nearly two years. Wher
1t was discovered, the Republican party
then in power, denied that they knew
when or how 1t was done, and, as 1t re
duced American labor and Its products
to half-price, contributing billions Of ou
wealth to Europe, every Republican
platform for twenty years has prom
ised relief by restoring silver ii its for
mer place as primary money But they
have failed to redeem their promise t.
the people, and say they now want in
ternational agreement to permit It
which Is equivalent to surrendering ou
national independence and blood-pu
chased right of self-government, tina
few old soldiers ever can or will approv',
1t is not only ridiculous, but it insults
the intelligence of the old soldiers to tel
| them they will lose half their pension
| by being paid in 50-cent silver dollars
| when we know now that silver is depre
ciated by unfriendly legislation, and tina
| when 1t is remonetized and made ful
legal tender, it's commercial price viii
rise to coin value, at which price 1t Wi
| eventually remain all over the world
and below which it cannot fall while w
! maintain free coinage Major McKinle,
Is entitled to great honor for his service
In the war to defend the union. but a
the Wall-street candidate for presiden
| whose obvious purpose Is to give q for
eign bank syndicate control Of our ffnan
! ces. many old soldiers will hesitate {
vote for him. Comrades. If you stud
this finance question you will learn tina
the English gold standard will destro
American liberty Prepare to vot
with understanding and don't get scare
at any bugaboo of 50-cent dollars 70
| pensions or bulldozed by any major
| generals in this presidential fight"