The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-06-30
AN OPEN LETTER
To the Union Veterans of the War of the
Rebellion

have forgotten some of the flattering
assertions made through the columns
of the press and from the stump, by
aspiring candidates during the cam
paign of 1896, sthose especially to the
! old soldier. How they referred to us
as the gallant old veterans who placed
our all upon the altar of our country
in the day of its national peril, ready
for the sacrifice, if need be. that the
union might survive Glorious old
union; it has survived to become one
of the greatest nations of the earth +.
The cost of the sacrifice you remem-
Der, being witnesses of the same, and
the cause of the survival you know.
How they promised to look after our
interests and our needs, which were
yearly becoming greater, exerting all
the influence in their power to give
us pensions according to our disabili-
ties, and how in comforting subordi-
nate positions under the republican
administration, such as postoffices,
flerkships and other positions; the
old soldiers who were qualified, all
ether things being equal, should be
preferred.
Now, gentlemen, to what extent
have these promises been, or are now
being carried out, especially in this,
our honored old state of Maryland?
You all know that it is almost an
impossibility to obtain an increase or
rerating of a pension claim under
either of the laws, even when it would
seem sufficient and satisfactory evil
dence has been obtained. and the
tendencies seem to be rather toward
cutting down than increasing pen
slons. You of course know that at
the very beginning of our hostilities
with Spain, an act to pension the
soldiers for wounds and disabilities
incurred in line of duty in this war,
passed both the branches of Congress
almost without dissenting voice,
and it at once became law. In that
believe they voiced the sentiment of
every American citizen, and the
amount they deserve can hardly be
exaggerated. Yes, give it to them;
they deserve it.
But is the memory of our services
at time when our government was
in the gravest danger of being over
thrown, to sink into oblivion because
of the present war? We, too, at the
date of our enlisting, thirty-six years
ago, were in the strength and vigor of
youth, but the three or four years of
hard marching, exposure, excitement
and continued subsistence upon hard
tack, bacon, coffee and sugar part of
the time, wrought constitutional
changes which no well informed ply
sician of to-day will say is not the
cause of our premature old age. and
the racking pains which many of us
have suffered from the date of incur
renee while in the line of our respect
i've duties in the service. Had the
proper course been taken each mans
discharge would have been marked
as evidence of his disability at that
time if known, but the authorities
did not take the trouble to know.
Our discharges were made out and
handed to us in envelopes with the
balance of pay due us to date of dis
charge, thus allowing no opportunity
of knowing beforehand what they
contained, making it so difficult to
prove a disability claim to-day, when
the most common reasoning would or
ought to convince every official con-
nected with the pension department
that soldiers claim, who served
honorably from one to four years, is a
Legitimate and deserving claim
Another evidence of the fallacy of
some of the political promises is the
retention of the present incumbent
in the postoffice at Mt. Lake Park.
His character, though, save that of
being lifelong democrat and prohi-
bitionist, neither of which principles
can reflect any discredit upon him or
any other man, is unimpeachab BILE:
but, by precedent established long
ago, ito the victors belong the spoils,n
and which has been strictly adhered
to under all administrations and es-
pecially under those Of Grover Cleve-
land, the position rightfully belongs
and was promised to a republican
during the campaign, and there are
two old soldiers who are applicants,
both having lists of unquestionable
indorsers and each a goodly number,
who are ignored, all because Mr.. Nc
Donald and others wished to favor
the Mt. Lake Park Association. Mr..
Wellington made this fact known to
the writer.
Now, gentlemen, considering all
these facts and others to which
could call your attention, similar
case being at Deer Park, can you not
see that our representatives are no