New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-11
PRESIDENT Not COuRADE MhNLhl'

president, NOT COHhADh u hiN""''
Tho Grand Army Of the Republic. which has
inst been holding an encampment III 'lh'il'ii'''
odoptcd n long series OF resolutions cohcerhihS
pensions which demanded changes III the rul''
enforced by the Pension Bureau in me eAh'.''n-
Ing of claims Denouncinc one OF inc oru''S
made by the last Administration and SIN con-
tinued in force 1t declared:
This iniouitous rule is maintained up 10 tn.S
hour and we submit that 1t Is not such 10 10
ment as we had a right 10 expect rom I'm IN.
radc William Mckinley. And we are c"n ,,t
10 ,,ban no is once relieved from the mighty
matters of National and worldwide iinpoi %
which now command his attention ne VIII DC
that justice is done
Now. as to the right of the Grand Arm! VI
the Republic to crticse the conduct OF the rem
sion Bureau and petition for changes Ill ',S poi'
icy there can he no doubt. Every pa'rlo'o o'''
zen recalls with gratitude the services 10 'io"
country Of the men who form that orgai"'''"'
and even those who fear that ehiluSaSn'' I"
help old companions may lead the "rano army
men at times TO shut their eyes To real ap"S,'
and regard as enemies of the soldiers ""ioi''
who desire 10 keep swindlcrs from using the
honored name of veteran to deirhuu 'he WV
eminent wish every soldier 10 op'hln ''"'
thing 10 which he is entitled under the III" ann
have every proper facility TO prove HIS Chill
How far lhe complaint of the 'rahd Atm! III
the present instance is justified we nave no
means of knowing If injustice Is pelhE """'
II certainly should be corrected NeNer'hci'H'
we think the appeal for correction Is not one "
he commended as model of petition 10 'he
head of a republican government. IL Il one
that asks favor. not judgment; that appears 10
uprsonal ties not official duty; mat suggests W"
LEGATIONS other than those To the whole p'oPi''
Doubtless this Is without intention. II l. ho' ~
he presumed that the Grand Army has any Sill
lister purpose. but the wording OF lis resolution
* unfortunate To pass II over without notice
Is TO invite all sorts of interests TO make II
precedent for appeals TO favortisn
The ncrson 10 whom the Grand Army should
nresent It's grievance is William Mckinley
President of the United States. not Comrade
William Mckinley. However loyal member
of the order Mr.. Mckinley may be- he executes
The laws Of the United States as President oil
The United States. and not as member OF Il
Grand Army post. That is distinction tha'
cannot be made too positive In TINS Kcpunll'
md M amount Of gratitude to any body of men
must be allowed TO blind our eyes 10 the evil OF
even n tacit assumption that some oflcai ac
,ion sbo,,Id he taken because Of their relation
shin TO some official. As Chief Magistrate MI
Mckinley can no more be- Comradc Mckinney
than he can be Uncle Mckinley or Cousin NC
Kinley or the Right Worshpful Brother Nc
Kinley Of a secret society. 1t needs no special
activity of Imagination 10 picture the storm OF
INDIGNATION which would be let loose II some
nephev or cousin of tho President should mint
that the executive powers were employed di-
fercntly with regard to him than with regard 10
some other person. that he could obtain thihs'
from the Government because he appealed 10
Uncle Mckinley. We believe Mr.. Mck inley Is Il
deyout member Of the Methodist Episcopal
Church What would happen II Methodist
convention reminded Brother Mckinley that D."
belonged to that denomination ana ought 4"
give II more Army chaplainciest Yet The Meth
odist Episcopal Church and Mr.. Mckinley- rel
atlves and the lodge, II he belongs 10 one nav"
lust as much right to ask The President OF the
United States 10 do some official act because oil
the tie that binds him 10 them rs has tn" Grand
Army Of the Republic to suggest that IN" "oV-
eminent does not give T. the treatment II has a
right 10 expect from Comradc William Me
| "KIney."