Gilpin observer., 1904-10-06


The war closed nearly forty years
ago. In the meantime many of our
soldiers aud sailors long survived the
age OF sixty-two. and passed away
without receiving any pension. Skill
ful pension attorneys hunting through
the statute failed to find there pro-
vision giving a pension to all who had
reached siXty-two. Many prominent
veterans urged the justice of congress
eiOnal action giving n service pension
to all veterans. Bills to that effect
were introduce. in Congress. And not
until March of this year did any ono
ever claim to have made the discov-
cry that the President had power to
treat the statute as If 1t read that when
u claimant had passed the age Of sixty
two years he is necessarily disabled
iOne-half in ability to perform manual
labor and therefore entitled to pen
sion.
The President of the Civil Service
Commission General John G. Black.
formerly Commissioner of Pensions,
and Commander-in-C Chief Of the Grand
Army of the Republic, indicated his
view Of the order when in recent adj
dress lie thanked the President for
what he had done, and advised his
hearers to rse their influence that II
law might be passed to the same
effect. Fall confidence after all seems
not to have been placed on the defense
Of justifica ton. for it is pleaded in miti
cation that a forTuer Democratic Pres
ident did something looking in that
direction. Even If that were So
which Is not admitted-Our present du-
ty would be none the less plain and
imperative. Our people must never
tolerate the citation of one act of
usurDat:On of power as an excuse for
another. The first may possibly be due
to mistake; the second, being based on
the first. cannot be. In explanation.
however, it should be said that the or
der relied OIL simply provided that the
age Of seventyiive years should be re-
garded as evidence of inability to per-
form manual labor. Few men are able
to perform manual labor ut that age,
but nearly all men are at siXty-twO.
The first order is based on q fact that
experience teaches. the other is based
on the assertion of that which is not
true as general rule.
ROOSEVELT'S CHALLENGE.
THE old inquiry, t"What are you 60
ing to do about it?" Is now stated in
new form. 1t is said by the admins
tration. in reply to the public criticism
OF this order. that at is easy to test
our opponents sincerity in this matter.
The order in question is revOcable at
the pleasure of the Executive. If our
opponents come into power they can
revoke this order and announce that
they will treat the veterans of sixty.
two and seventy as presumably in
full bodily vigor and not entitled to
pension. Will they authoritatvely
state that they intend to do this? If
so, we accept the ISSUE"
This suggests the suspicion, at least,
that the order was made to create an
1ssueTthat it was supposed to present
strong strategic position in the battle
OF the ballots. On the assumption
that the order. as stated by the Admin
1stratiOn. is revocable at the pleasure
of the Executive. it having been an at
tempted. though perhaps unwilling ell.
croachment upon the legislative power,
and therefore unwarranted by the Con-
stitutiOn, l except the challenge and
declare that If elected 1 will revoke
that order. But I go further and say
that that being done. will contribute
my effort toward the enactment of
law to be passed by both houses of
Congress and approved by the Execu-
tive that will give an age pension with
out reference to disability to the sur
viving heroes of the Civil War; and
under the provisions of which a PEN
Son may be accepted with dignity be-
cause OF the consciousness that II
comes MS just due from the people
through their chosen representatives.
and not as a largess distributed by the
Chief Executive.
UNDER BONDS FOR PEACE.
The foreign relations of the govern
ment have in late years assumed
special Importance. Prior to the nc.
QUESTION Of the Philippines, we were
practically invulnerable against at
tacks by foreign States. Those tropical
possessions, however, seven thousand
miles from our shores, have changed
all this and have in effect put us under
bonds to keep the peace. The new
conditions call for management of
Foreign affairs the more circumspect
In that the recent American invasion
OF foreign markets in all parts of the
world has excited the serious appre-
henslon of all the great Industrial peo-
pies. 1t is essential. therefore. more
than ever. to adhere strictly to thu
traditional policy of the country as
formulated by Its first president and
never. In my Judgment. wisely de-
parted from-to invite friendly rela-
tions with all nations while avoiding
entangllnS alliances with any Such n
policy means the cultivation of peace
instead Of the giorifcatlon of war. and
the mlnding of our own business In
lieu OF spectacular intermeddling with
the affairs of other nations. 1t means
strict observance OF the principles of
international law and condemns the
doctrine that n great state. by reason
of Its strength. may rightfully appro-
prlate the sovereignty or territory of
small state on account of its weak
ness. 1t means for other American
states that we claim no rights and will
assume no functions save those OF a
friend and OF an nlly and defender as
against European aggrcsslons. 1t