The sun., 1897-12-22
rHE PEorIE AVN rHE pBNs1ors.
Het tss werthy Pen-,sser bat tho Unwsrthy
IL the rarEet.

Het tns werthy Penutsser bat the Unwsrthy
IL the Target.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir. Your arti.
Gle dealing with the systematio looting of tho
Government Golfers by an organized band Of
pension thieves throughout the country and In
the halls Of Congress at Washington is conclu-
sivo and 10 the point. How the governing ma
chinery Of this country could permit such q
state OF affairs to exist surpasses comprehen-
sion. Keep your guns In action on this target
NEW YORK, Dec. 20. J. F. TERR1BERY. .
To THE EDITOR OF THE suN-Sir: Thank you,
thank you, thank you for your splendid article,
"Robbing the Nationi''
Keep IL upi Only by hard knocks and the flre
Of the press can such q piece of metal be ham.
mered into shape.
You never before deserved moro thoroughly
the thanks OF the people.
A MEMBER or LAFAYETTE Posi- No. 14O @. A. r.
NEW YORK. Dec 20.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: Tho PEN
sion article published In THE Sun to-day de-
serves careful perusal by every American. And,
with tho exception Of 1,139,317 persons, by no
means all Of them Americans. the conclusion
would appear just to everybody.
You have brought out the facts with remarka-
BILE clearness, but there is something more deep
-
It costs, namely, paternalism. This was the evil
that cursed Rome and Athens and caused their
downfall. Hordes Of shiftless. worthless vaga-
bonds woro fed, clothed. and supplied with
amusement by these two great States. Before
Athens fell. paternalism was rampant, and be-
fore Rome changed TO an empire tho dema-
gogues were clamoring for "freo corn for citi-
sens."
In the history Of every republic demagogues
have arisen who have encouraged men to live at
the States expense II they succeeded. the State
fell We believe We arc the greatest nation
that is or that has been. It seems impossible
that we. who are the clcanest and most upright
people to-day, should fall through our own rot
tenness. But do not let us, therefore. play with
this instdious corruptor, patcrnalism, which
crushes its victim suddenly. out of the dark.
THE Suns suggestion that the record OF every
pensioner on the rolls DO rigidly examined is ex-
cellent. am in hopes THE SUN will continue
the hRht with its wonted vigor. It is by far our
most vigorous. fearless. and distinctly American
newspaper. May it's shadow never grow leq,,
]. NJ. PATTERSON.
New HAVEN, Conn.,. Dec. 20.
To THE EDITOR OF THE suN-Sir: Just a
word Of praise for the finest article ever written
on the pension swindle, which appears in THE
Sun to-day. It seems pity that few more
such papers as THE SUN cannot mako q bold
stand, and bring such influence to bear on tn 0
public opinion that our representatives in Wash.
ington will see the writing on the wall. and act
accordingly.
Don't let up. but give It to 'em every day.
More power to your armi e. A. H, JR.
NEW YORK, Deo. 20.
ToTHE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: How wish
could put in writing my thoughts concerning
your magnificent paper Your fearlessness in
exposing things that should be exposed is some.
thing we do not find every day in the week.
How glad was to see your splendid article in
to-day's issue on the gigantic robbery of the age
the pension business.
Several times during my life have run across
people getting pension who had no more right
to it than yellow dog. Living here in this city
are people who have an income Of from $50 to
$50 week and yet are getting pensions. An.
other who owns three houses anxiously looks
for "penson day."
Let me tell you little story that will probably
interest you. man living in this city enlisted
In the navy two years and nine months prior to
the breaking out Of the war. You will see he
still had three months of his term of enlistment
to serve when the war broke out. Instead oi
turning around. Just at that time when our
country needed his services, and reenlistine,
what did he dol He got as far away from the
front as he possibly could. and now he wants a
| pension. This man. know. always enjoys the
best of health. and one day when telling him
about an uncle OF mine who lost leg In the wal
land has never drawn pension). he made q re.
mark to the effect that "the cruel war made
cripples of US all u
am an American and am proud to think
| that my father served through the entire war
My greatgreat-grandfathe was in the Revolu
| tion. My greatgrandfather was "drumnel
boy" in the war of 1912. My grandfather served
through tho Mexican war. My father served
through the war Of the rebellion, and my brother
"slept" twenty-one nights on his gun at Val
paraiso during the threatened trouble will
Chill ME-.
PAssAIo. N. J.. Dec. 20.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: Youl
article of to-day on pension grabbing is worthy
| OF all praise. Such praise every honest citizen
without regard to party. who has the welfare
this republic at heart, must accord it. Only las
night a number of gentlemen and good citizens
assembled socially. were talking over this out
rage on the good name Of our Government, ant
wondering how 1t was that no other newspape
had the courage to take up the fight agains
this gigantic swindle. The editorials on tha
subject published from time to time In you
columns were mentioned and Just tribute paid
| to them.
| Your stand is the right one, but it 10 only the
first movo in great fight to relieve the natiol
| Of running sore which will eventually poison
| 1t to death.
The currency 10 Gil right. the taxation is al
right, the tariff and all other questions are al
right. and will regulate themselves according
to the demands of the times, but our terribly ex
trava giant governing household is not all right
and there is the root of all the evil.
Do your best to remedy this by q persisten
| fight against the pension swindle, and don't le