The times., 1899-09-09
A Brave Republican.

1t is so rare to catch an Administration
Republican with honesty and backbone that
we are inclined to regard the case of Pen
sion Commissioner Evans as one of atavism,
going back to the era Of Lincoln at least.
Evans has outraged all the ethics that
the Grand Army of the Republic, in other
words the noble army of pensioners, ever
heard about These ethics are few in num-
ber, and the principal one is that Pension
Commissioner who does not stretch, evade.
or defy the Law in order TO meet the views
of any applicant or attorney is illiberal, an
enemy of the -'eld soldier" and ought to
! be bounced.
We are not at all inclined to be hard
on the Grand Army for taking this posi-
tion. It has been encouraged to do so for
twenty years past by Republican politicians.
and some OF Mr. Evans predecessors have
acted in a way to give the impression that
every veteran of the Civil War has the
privilege of the national till, without any
possible reference 10 the equity OF his claim.
Strange to say, and the fact, we must ad-
nit. has greatly surprised US, Evans has
shown a sturdy American determination to
obey and administer the law as ne finds it.
and tc refuse to divert, misappropriate, or
/ embezzle public money to make himself
popular with the large class who, being
/ benehciaries of the nation, are making a
I desperate effort TO disgust the American
people with their past and present liber-
ality.
Because it is liberaiity and sentiment,
and not duty, that causes the taxpayers of
this country to spend as great sum in
Pensionfng the soldiers of 1916 as
would support one of the great armies
of Europe in active service This view
Of the matter has been generally ig-
nored in the past. It is time that it should
be brought forward. The citizens right TO
participate in the government of free
country. to enjoy its protection of life,
liberty and property, involves the duty to
bear arms for it. Where the consequent
right OF the Government to compel military
service is not enforced, and a sufficient
number OF men volunteer for war, they do
not, thereby, place the nation under un-
limited obligations to them. A generous
people will consider their patriotism, as
this one has done in the case of the vol
nnteers of the Civil War The United
and extended the benefits CT its pension
system to conseripts substitutes, and under
more than equitable regulations to their de-
pendent survivors. But it may as well be
understood that this national boon has
been bestowed as matter of grace, and
not as matter Of right
No one in the Union with any sense of
patriotism, begrudges national charity to
the old soldier whose chance in the strug-
gle of life has been minimized by wounds
Or actual disability incurred in the
service. But, for years, there has been
too much of a sentiment which assumes
that the Treasury of the United States is
an institution to be held up and looted,
law or no law, by the pension sharks
The perfectly outrageous schemes of rob
berry which have been carried out success
fully under a succession of Pension Com
missioners, and, we fear, to great extent,
with their knowledge, If not their consent,
have scandalized the country
| Commissioner Evans has apparently done
hnat ne could to correct the evils of
system which has become overgrown with
corruption and rascaIity. He has the good
viii Of all right thinking persons in his
efforts in that direction. The element in
/ the Grand Army of the Republic which
seeks to discredit him and to bring the
bureau back to the obnoxious, wide-open
policy of the Tanner regime. should think
twice before it presents the pension sys-
tenn for fresh Congressional investigation
and legislation.