The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-08-11
ANOTHER OPEN LETTER
To the Veterans From COmrade in
Arms.


GENTLEMEN:-In my letter of the
9th of June promised to write again
but unavoidable circumstances caused
delay.
In it | mentioned promises made
which had not beenfulfilled, and they
are yet awaiting naturalization and
from the present attitude will con
tinue to wait. / need not rehearse
the matter, as | am fully persuaded
that all old soldiers possess an acute
sensitiveness to the wrongs done
them, and | here reiterate my asser-
ton that we have been basely deceiv-
ed and wronged; and the course
taken in the Mountain Lake postoffice
matter bears me out in this charge, if
no other grievance existed, but I'M
fortunately there are others.
The doloTous manner of giving our
little pensions, though we cannot
blame those in the Pension Depart
ment, for they are bound by the laws
governing their acts, but why should
honOrably discharged soldiers whose
records are stored somewhere amongst
the archives of war, be compelled to
procure long lists of evidence, in many
cases costing large sums on account
evidence, acknowledging claims, etc,
to be turned{ down upon its examina-
ton. 1t seems to me better system
can be adopted. But who's to do it?
Our House and Senate, of course.
They may say they have done all they
can, but that will not prove that they
have. If they were as persistent and
energetic in their efforts to formulate
and pass laws just and equitable for
US as for monopolies, they could easily
accomplish it. You all know with
what ready response every financial
emergency has been met by Congress
and people in our present difficulties.
Every act, too, has been lauded by
the people and press. and we our
selves are in accord with them, but
have you observed one particular
feature of all the commentaries, that
not one word is mentioned of our
services?
1t may SAVIOR of egotism to say it,
but | believe we yet deserve a place
of honor on the pages of our countrys
history The press says we are the
greatest nation in the world. We
know that and are proud of it, but
who made it possible for it to be such?
What was its condition in 81? Who
responded to the callfrom the sixteen
states that remained true to Old
Glory to defend and preserve the
union, and after the accomplishment
in every detail of all we set out to do,
who stood by and kept the republican
party in power during the drawing
together, cementing and reconstruct
ing of the then discovered, torn and
hInpHjnr and bout -,
power for twenty-three successive
wears? We did, comrades and veter-
ans. And now to whom shall we
submit our case and be sure of obtain
ing justice or even fair dealing? 1t is
evident we cannot trust those who
have once deceived us. Then who
shall it be? With no intention to re-
fleet on the law profession, I'll tell you
we don't want lawyers. They have
no interest in our affairs. | think
men can be found in our own ranks
worthy and well qualified. We have
a man in the person of A. G. Sturgiss
whom | believe has every interest of
ours at heart, and | believe can be
elected if he will accept the nomina-
ton. We have long been supporting
the men of the central and lower
district, and | do not think thew will
object, as our vote may be of some
Importance to them in future cleo
tions. So let us say Sturgiss, and if
he declines and we cannot find one in
Garrett, then an old soldier who is
honest and qualified from anv of the
other counties in the district To get
at the root of the matter, we must
"a 40 Nrit n,,in ole loIa
gates to the nominating convention
and hold them responsible for their
ballots if cast in favor of ring and
monopoly candidates. The necessity |
is imperative and binding on every |
one of us. We must bestir ourselves:
talk to our sons and get them to |
understand the situation. We are |
getting old and many of us are now
unable to work, we must soon become |
burdens on our children or exc out a
miserable existence as subjects of |
charity and aims. This must not be, |
need not be. We are the sovereignty. |
We make it possible for those who |
hold the reins of government and en-
act our laws to do so. Our votes put |
them where they are; they are sent |
there by the people and | suppose |
tllCg SO pICuStu III SOlllt 10TH 10 40 |
certain things, which is proper and !
right, and in the majority of cases is
carried out. But our representatives
have failed and in a sangfroid manner
that justly entities us to boycott them.
We must arouse ourselves, claim our
rights. We are entitled to better
pensions. Every soldier who served |
honOrably in the war from 1861 to 1865
is entitled to a pension in proportion
to his disability.
read in the Baltimore Ne1CS today
that Col. John Jacob Aston had slept |
two or three nights on the ground in
Cuba and contracted malaria. Well, |
we followed the same course three
years; so did some of our representa-
tives, but | suppose in many ways
circumstances alter cases. Let us
now see to it that we send no man to
congress who will yield to selfish cir
cumstances.
And now, since our own, together
with our sons votes, is more than
double what it was ten years ago, and
as the old vehicle upon which the
republican party has been riding,
propelled and moved along by our
strength, with the same old gong
sOundinp the death knpll TO orr vel |