The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-08-21
Army and Navy Republican
League Fires the First Gun
for Victory.
THE CAUSE Is PURE POLITICS.
Old Warriors Again Summoned for
the Honor of the Country and
Glory Ct the Flag.

The Army and Navy Republican League
of California, through General Robert A.
Friedrich, its ommander-in-chief, has
issued an appeal to the Union soldiers and
sailors to support their late comrade in
arms Major Mckinley.
Ten thousand circulars will be dis
tributed to-day.
LAS in the days of '61," the Giro ular
states, 1.-THE people look to you to stand
for the honor of the country and the glory
of the flag"
On the first page in large letters is the
command and appeal, "Ex- Union Soldiers
and Sailors to the Front" Following
this is letter to the Union soldiers and
sailors of California. 1t reads in part as
follows:
Comrades-The battle for the restoration OF
the country to that condition of prosperity and
happiness in which il was turned over to
Democratic rule four years ago, and to save it
IRON National dishonor, reputation and
anarchy, is on.
rades, disregarding past party affiliations and
actuated solely from high sense OF patriotic
duty, making Loyalty to and love OF the Union
paramount TO every other consideration, are
coming to the front and pledging their un-
wavering support to William Mckinley and
the great principles of protection, prosperity
and personifies.
They see and realize the danger which
menaces the welfare and perpetuity OF the
Union if the wild and reckless theories advo-
Gated by those nominated on the Chicago plat
fUrm should prevail.
The letter further recites that on the 8th
inst, in New York, a meeting of distin-
guished soldiers was held and an organic
alton effected for the purpose OF aiding IN
the election of Mckinley. Among them
4 i IL
Daniel E. Sickles, always a Democrat;
General Franz Siegel, Horace Porter, l..
Edwin Dudley, Oliver o. Howard and
seventy-tive former heterogeneous and
officers of the Union army.
Another letter succeeding this is di-
rected to the surviving soldiers and sailors
who served in the Union army and navy
during the war of the Rebellion; it states:
Comrades-Your country is again in peril.
In the Presidential campaign dangerous COM
binations again threaten the integrity OF the
Government. Misguided and INSCRIPTIONS
men conspire TO bring reputation, dishonor
and finan cial ruin upon the Nation once saved
by your valor.
Comrades you believe in liberty under law;
in public order; in the maintenance OF our
courts of justice and in National honor and
good faith. You are unalterably opposed to
the red flag of anarchy and mob rule We be-
lteve that yon resent with earnestness all at
tacks upon the executive and judicial depart
ments of our Government and commend all
measures which Yindicate the supremacy of
the law and restore pubic order whenever en-
dangered. Should this dangerous and revolu-
tionary conspiracy against the financial honor
and integrity OF the Government succeed
every pensioneT, every depositor in savings
banks. every poliey-holder in any company,
cooperative and building and loan association
and assessment society would lose one-half of
what is due him by being paid 5O-cent silver
dollars.
Continuing, the circular quotes letter
written to comrade by General Sickles,
speaking of Mckinley admirable military
record and one to whom every soldier
should look with pride.
The declaration of the late Republican
convention on the subject of pensions and
the rights of soldiers follows. This is put
IN strong contrast to the declaration of the
Democratic platform, which says:
We heartily indorse the rule of the present
Commissioner of Pensions that no name shall
be arbitrarily dropped from the pension roll.
Commenting on this the circular says:
Can any soldier be deceived by this misera-
Bile subterfuRe and lie? II is an insult TO your
Intelligence. Is not this just what Mr. Com
missioner OF Pensions is aud has been doing
dropping worthy soldiers arbitrarily from the
pension rolls by hundreds after farce OF m
investigation by his inspired appoinieesP is
there any pledge OF future legislation in the
platform Tor the soldier or sailor? Is there ann
promise OF employment or recognition? Read
the TWO platforms and judge for yourselves.
The circular concludes with a brief
sketch of McKinley's army career.
Tue roll OF the Army and Navy Repub-