The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-05

THE QUESTION OF PENSIONS.

Seattle Feb. T. 1888.
To the Editor A feeling akin TO indig-
ration exists in the heart OF every man
who fought TO save the union because a
portion OF the public press had seen hit 10
use their columns to defamc them for de-
manding and receiving the same treat
ment which this government has accorded
her defenders from the close Of the war
OF independence until the present time.
The war OF 1872 was small affair and no
more TO be compared with that of the
civil war than Il mole Hill 10 Mt. ST. Elias.
and yet their widows are all placed upon
the pension rolls and no questions asked.
The first serious opposition to pensions
began agains. the ex-union soldier for
ak parties are agreed on the wisdom OF
providing for all others.
There seems TO be three classes OF our
fellow citizens who are wonderfully exer-
cised for fear that some poor broken down
poverty-stricker old soldier his widow or
orphan should have the temerity to ex-
tract "A few more haif-pence from this
great government than these crafty critics
think they are justly entitled 10. In their
eyes there is only one kind OF a patriot
who fought to preserve the union and that
Is the sanity individual that refuses to
apply for a pension because forsooth his
heart is wrung at the frauds committed
by his comrades. As but one OF those
specimens of humanity has made himself
known. notwithstanding the many report
ed. he should be canonized. lie really
deserves martyrdom and most OF his COM
rades would like 10 be in attendance when
the transition takes place
There are three classes OF critics: first
the young men who have grown up since
the war. who had no near relatives In the
great contest and hence have no conccp-
ton OF the magnitude OF the struggle ami
know absolutely nothing of the sacrifices
and surerings OF the participants. Sec
ond. the foreigners who came to orr
shores to escape military duty and whose
pretudices are fully developed. Third.
and the most venomous. are the million
aires who took the fun pound OF flesh
though it's victims wrIthed In anguish
AT the operation.
The latter class control the great metro
poiitan press and IL IL IN these dens that
nine out OF ten or the fakes about pen
sion frauds originate. One OF the worst
of this class of denominations is the New
York Sun, the majority OF whose stock IL
owned and controlled by one J. Pierre
pom. Morgan. whose unsayory name has
become a stencil in the nostriis of every
patriotic citizen OF this nation. Ia there
n human being verdant enough to believe
that this robber OF the public treasury
cares one whit whether the country ~
''pinched'' or not so he gets his coupons
cashed ia GOLD?
II was this same patriot VINO lifted
up hls hypccritical eyes and pretended
amazement because some one made a
proposition 10 pay. the soldiers IN gold
or course the soldiers did not ask or de-
mand any such generosity, because the
most OF them had already become pluto
Gratis At the immense monthly stipend OF
La Ia. The Pioneer Press. which pinched
Bill King for sa0e1a and Window I'm 80
much that our knowledge OF arithmetic
refuses TO chronicle. secured the names
OF the most prominent pensioners and then
detailed small army Of reporters 10 run
them down. These fellows entered upon
their duties with light heart and after
exposing the victims 10 all the publicity
possible, had the manliuess TO admit that
there might b, frauds In the rest of tho
country. bat there was none IN the city
OF ST. Paul. Grover the First wanted tn
review the @. A. II. in 81 Ieouis but the
boys said nay. Then Grover applied TO i!.
"cuckooS for enough money TO expose
the frauds ard make the pension roll 4
roll Of honor " The "cIckoos'' appropgtat-
"a $40 90 aud an army Of ConferNdats
and coppefhead statesmen started out "a
secure cabinet positions by running down
the "hummeYz. OF course they did nor
run very fsst after Mrs. Grants $500 or
Mrs Garaeld's like amount. nor did they
complain because Mrs. Jefferson Davis
vas robbing the nation nor was a peep
made against Mrs. Pickett. Mrs. Stone
wall Jackson. Mrs. Cooper and they ais
soguteIy forgot that John G. Black wax
on earth. You say the roll is large and
increasing I admit that e - large btff
stsutly deny the latter premise. IL II anv
wonder that 4 - large over 23@.sso men
went into strange climate 20 battle with
about essoe.1 men equally az good as
themselves ana the band played on for
four long years. while toe boys kept tho
thing in motion simply 10 get a pension
Thlrty-one wears have passed. and during
that time some heavy lighting has taken
place with different Indian tribes Tle~@
wars we're continuation for over TWEEN
~ years and these well a. the @lr-
viyors Of other Indian wars antsdafing
The rebellion as wsil the Mexican war
all help 10 swell the SUN total But after
alt there is one way 20 stop pensions. and
that ia not TO have var. and IL certainly
IS not the poor private that begins TIRE
tragedy. J. r. kISEDchfH-