The herald., 1898-03-17
VETERANS DIsGUSTED

During his first term Mr.. Cleveland
vetoed the dependent pension bill, and
he also shelved many other private pen
sion bills during both his terms. Eff
fective use was made of this by Repub-
lican managers in prejudicing the old
Union soldiers against the Democratic
party, though this action of Mr.. Cleve-
land had no more support from Demo-
Gratis than from Republicans. The
Democratic senators and represent
atives from the south have been very
generous in supporting pension legisla :
ton, considering that the southern peo-
pie pay their proportion of the taxes,
while very little pension money Is paid
out in that section.
The Democratic party has never taken
a position of hostility to pension leg
islation. Charges of fraud have pro-
ceeded from men of all parties, and to
an extent at least, they have been true.
And no class of our people have de-
nounced pension frauds more bitterly
than honorable union ex-soldiers. They
feel that their reputation as a class is
at stake, and the worst of the injury
that results from pension frauds is in
inflicted on them.
The union veterans have generally
voted with the Republican party, and
with greater unanimity in 1896 than since
1872 The veteran vote elected Mckinley,
and just, if not generous, treatment was
expected from his administration.
Charges of fraud have been renewed,
lent than ever before, charges which
have originated with the commissioner
of pensions appointed by Mr.. Mckinley.
Senator Gallinger and other Republicans
in the senate and house, have evinced
decided relaxation of zeal for the hitherto
codded veterans. The action of Com
missioner Evans is ineXtricable to those
familiar with his demagogsm in polit-
ical campaigns when he was candi-
date for office, except upon the theory
that the old soldiers have ceased to be
q political power Of any consequence
as compared to the pension fraud howl
ers.
The situation is fully understood by
the Grand Army men, and they are max
ing their displeasure known. The Ma
tional Tribune, published in Washing
ton, which is the recognized organ
of the G. A. r., and Is extensively cir
culated among the members of the or
der, weekly addresses an editorial let
ter to Commissioner Evans excoriating
him for his conduct in regard to the
pensioners and for rejecting on the ad-
minstration Of the bureau for the last
thirty-siX years. calling on him to give
the public the facts on which he founds
his charges of fraud. The veterans be-
gin to see that they have no more friends
ccrats, and the determination of the blue
and gray, as manifested in their frequent
reunions has dispelled the idea of sec
tional or class hostility.
These things have had the effect of
weakening the tie that has bound so
many Of the veterans to the Re-
publican party. They now realize
that they have no more enemies
in one party than in the other; that
those are enemies on whom patriotic
sentiments have no weight, and who
begrudge The payment of taxes to pen
sion those who endured hardship and
deprivations and exposed themselves to
dangers to preserve the union. There
are manifestations on every hand that a
feeling of independence is being rap
idly developed among the veterans, and
ations and prejudices, and to act for
the best interests of all classes and of the
whole country.
Unless appearances are deceptive the
sided as it has been in the past; here
after the question will not be asked
whether candidates We're from the north
or south, or whether they wore the blue
or the gray, while on every hand frauds
in the pension bureau, as we'll as in every
other branch Of the government, will be
and efforts made to punish
the perpetrators. The pension question
will not be in the issue, except to make
the laws more liberal as the veterans
advance toward the end of life. No
class of our people will be more generous
on this subject than their old enemies
in battle and their friends in these days
Of peace.
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