Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-06-27


and | am ready to fight fcE the mem
bors of the Grand Army to the last
President Mckinley OWES much to the
Grand Army Of tho Republic, whose
members voted for him, but would not
have dono SO had he not promised to
get rid Of Evans. He should have up.
pointed his SUCCESSOR last March.
know who is to be appointed to nuc-
coed Mr.. Evans | was told confiden-
italy, so am nor at liberty to Disclose
the name.
General Sickles' assertion that Com
missioner Evans has ''pictured the
Grani Army Of the Republic ms thieves
and mendioants'' is gratuitous one
and its substance is purely imaginary.
The commissioner has done nothing of
the kind. lie has merely performed his
duty ms a faithful, efficient officer OF the
government, and fearlessly declined to
misinterpret our already too liberal
pension laws in favor of n small, noisy
element In the Grand Army that is In
reality composed Of "thieves and men.
dicants" We have had occasion to
talk TO number OF old soldiers, men
who had the privilege Of fighting for
the integrity Of the Union on the field
OF battlo--and not in camps aud the
commissary department land without
exception they have expressed conf,
dence In Comm issioner Evans and up
held his policy Of granting pensions
strictly In accordance with the law. 1t
seems to us that 1t would 30 the bet
ter part Of wisdom for the Tanner
Sickles syndicate and the horde of
bocdle hunters behind it to wait until
December and attain their ends by
special legislation. This has always
bean n most effective means Of rohhing
the Treasury, and in the present in
stance 1t would relieve the President of
an embarrassing problem and at the
same time enable him to give tho
pension grabbers everything they want.
There is no likelihood that he would
have tho courage or the desire to vote
any fraudulent pension bills tho night
sessioners OF Congress might send him,
and thus the way would be wide open
for most complete aud effective loot
of the government pension fund with
the least danger OF meddlesome opEosi.
tion on the part OF outraged public
opinion.
General Sickles' dastardly threat that
unless Commissioner Evans is auper-
seeded the Republicans will loose the
next Congressional elections is hardly
| ,ra,,bu ~ oa,,o,,a molina IL IL No 81 ahd
parcel of Corporal" Tanners dis
graceful intimation that it was owing
to the above alleged promise of the Ma
/ tional Committee that many old sol,
diers were kept in line for the late Re-
publican national ticket, an assumption
that no one who has faith in the
patriotism Of the Grand Army will 40
cept for moment. II the Tanner Sick
les view is correct and their interpreta-
tion of the attitude of the Grand Army
is true, then the public must believe
that that organization stands ready in
every national election TO sell Its vote
for hard cash and to the highest bid
der. The idea is preposterous and We
hope the army will at once repudiate
tho reflection cast upon its honesty and
its loyalty. II 1t remains silent under
the cowardly imputation it will simply
give force to the assertion made In
many quarters, both North and South,
that the Grand Army of the Republic
would go to pieces in six months il
the pensions 1t receives from the gov
eminent were to suddenly cease and
never again be allowed,
General Siokles further asserts that
he Ia authorized to speak for the Grand
Army and that it Twill not tolerate the
retention of Evans in Office What
does this meanY Are we to under.
stand from this sumo time military
gentleman that the President ia nc
longer in a position to retain an honest
and faithful government agent in
!, Office? The practical phase of such ar
idea is not conceivable. We would ad
wise General Siekles to exercise more
care 10 the expression Of his opinions
We do not believe that he represents
} the true attitude Of the Grand Army.
.