The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-12-17

AlOblSCu III lIG IcWS NOlulllAAho SA N-'S public prints, few days ago, the state- ment that more than ordinary distur- bance on the solar orb has been discoV- cred by our scientific experts, the spots" by actual measurement, esti- mated to be one hundred thousand miles in breadth, and readily observable by the aid of Q smoked glass. This discov- cry is certainly frightful but when we stop to consider that there are social and political disturbances of nearly equal magnitude on our own globe we l may well become indifferent to the threatening aspect of "old Sol' in the consideration of the more immediate and dangerous conditions. Perhaps the inhabitants of neighboring planets, by means of strong telescopic aids, are en- abled to discover these great social and political agitations of ours, and are wondering what is to become of this 1 planet which has swept through space | for so many thousands of years.
 Without mentioning in detail the many social and political questions now serving as disturbing clements in our pdl lliGuldl pClllOtlS OL lLlG SlODS, uSoilS to express my firm belief that not even 1 the ominoGs agitation now in progress on the solar orbit creates half the con- sternation, in the minds of many of our | fellow mortals, that is produced by the extensive figures that emanate, from time to time, from the pension depart ment at our national capital. The men, tai agitation thus caused is almost suf- | GoiaOt to thrAur a1 111v the strong opponents of the pension sys- | tem--into g. state of complete nervous l prostration.
 Now, while it must be confessed that these figures are rather startling, yet no one has occasion to doubt the ability of our government, under the operation of a good tariff schedule, to fully and equitably discharge its duty towards those who are justly entitled to assist ance in their declining years
 l I perused the article of Comrade Linsley with much interest, and must say that admire the sturdy patriotism he has exhibited, although Comrade Allen, in his reply to Comrade Linsley's | communication, seems to think that his motives were more sordid than patrio- tic, an idea which I am not ready to en- 1 dorse. If mercenary motives can be at- tributed to any one who figured, in one way and another in that great conflict, the bondholder is we'll entitled to cur | consideration, for he, like Shylock, ex- acted his pound of flesh,' figuratively speaking, on every occasion. Those | who sprang to arms during the first stages of the war did not enlist for the
 small monthly stipend allowed by the government for the privilege of being used as targets for rebel rifles and can
 non shot, but were governed by the
 highest patriotic impulse. The same
 cannot, of course, be said of a great
 majority of those who filled up the dec
 imated ranks during the last years of
 the war. And no honorably minded
 veteran advocates the bestowal of pen
 sions on those who accepted large boun-
 ties and performed no duty to speak of,
 but, on the contrary, watched every opportunity to desert their colors and
 flee to the enemy's lines, which some of
 them did. If any of these war survi-
 vors are now, by some dishonest means,
 on the pensiom list they should be
 hunted down. and given the grand
 bounce"
 Considerable is being said, periodical
 ly, about ''purging the pension list of
 frauds" an idea that strikes the honest
 veteran as emnently proper. This war
 cry is now being sounded throughout the country, consequent upon the reas-
 sembling of congress. But it is well to remember that great efforts were made
 to this end during the Cleveland admin
 istration, and the result, to say the
 least, was very disappointing to the en- emies of the pension system.
 So far as regards the granting of a
 small pension to a disabled and needy
 veteran by which his few remaining days on earth may be rendered little less miserable, no person but selfish niggard, who believes that this world
 was made for his own especial pleasure,
 can take exception. But great injustice
 is done-not meaningly-in the dispen-
 satiOn of these allowances. While some : are receiving more than they ought
 others, quite as deserving. by reason of failure to substantiate their claim, are , receiving nothing. For this reason l
 maintain that the only just measure to be adopted is the granting of a service , pension to every veteran whose record
 during the war was such as to war . rant it. This would dispense with boards of examination and much of the
 machinery of the pension office, and , the money thus saved could go where it
 more justly belongs. And the expense to the government, I believe, would be
 but little, if any, greater than it is at present.
 There are two classes, I think, now
 receiving, to some extent, the benefits of
 the pension system which should be de- ,, prived Of the same. There is the vete-
 ran in good circumstances who. no mat ter how much entitled under the provi-
 sions of the law he may be, should fanl , ashamed to be considered government beneficiary. And there is the woman
 who has become veterans wife at q comparatively recent period, and is now 2 a widow, her husband having been a pensioner Does any one consider that her claims to a pension should be al lowed while so many veterans them
 selves who suffered the dangers and
 hardships of the war are debarred Your suggestion that "veterans of the war of the rebellion be married hereaf- , ter only for love" is very reasonable. : Comrade Aliens fine sense of patrio-
 tic duty seems to go to the extent that
 no veteran who is drawing a pension
 has good reason to consider it badge of hopor ba On1y rnpIV tO tfis Whipl