The National tribune., 1904-07-14
PENSION plANKs IN THE PLATFORMS.


The pension planks of both the plat
forms are distinctly unsatisfactory.
The Republican platform dsmisses the
subject with this brief acknowledgment
of the rights of the veterans:
eve are always mindful of the coun..
try's debt to the soldiers and sailors OF
the United States, and we believe IN max
ing ample provision for them and in the
liberal administration of the pension
laws"
This is we'll enough as far as it goes.
but it does not 60 very far. and is. after
all, nothing more than very general pO-
lite commonplace. Its practical meaning
and effectiveness are nothing. 1t promises
nothing, and binds nobody to do anything.
The Democratic plank makes a much
more strenuous attempt to be specific and
catchy. Let us see with what success:
1.-The Democracy would secure to the
surviving soldiers and sailors and their
dependents generous pensions, not by an
arbitrary Executive order, but by legis-
lation which a grateful people stand ready
to enact. Our soldiers and sailors who
defended with their lives the Constitution
and the laws have sacred interest in
their just administration. They must
therefore, share with us the humiliation
with which we have witnessed the eXal-
tation of court favorites, without distin-
guislled services, over the SCARED heroes of
many battles, or aggrandized by Executive
appropria tons out of the treasures of a
PROSTATE people, in violation of the act of
Congress which fixes the compensation
and allowances of the military officers"
While this is full of sounding phrases,
we confess to an inability to understand
what much Of it means We shall have to
wait for the author Of the plank and the
party organs and orators to give us dia-
grams and working plans, aud show us
the connection between the first and last
sections of the plank. Just what "gen
erous pensions have to do with "court
favorites" "aggrandized out of the treas
uries of a PROSTATE people, passes our
comprehension.
Had they been really desirous of doing
something practical and tangible for the
veterans, both parties missed great Op-
portunity.
Intead of glittering generalities and in
coherent rhetoric, they could have prom
ised the veterans something which the
latter greatly desire, which they have for
mally asked from the country, and to
which they are all agreed.
If the Republicans, instead of talking
fiamboyantly about 'ample provision"
and "a liberal administration, or the
Democrats, instead of effusing about
generous pensions" and a grateful peo-
ple," had said briefly and succnctly:
"We favor the immediate passage of a
tp of
a month to all Union veterans who served
80 days and were honorably discharged,
with a similar allowance to the widows
of such as have died." the effect would
have been electric. 1t would have at once
brought every veteran and friend Of vet
politicians were rising from sounding
platitudes to meaning realities. The
plank would have meant something direct
and practical, just as it did when it de-
clared in favor of an Isthmian Canal.
There was no excuse for not doing this
Both parties know that if their decla-
rations in favor of pensions mean any
thing they mean the passage Of the
Service Pension Bill.
There is nothing else before the house.
1t is the next step that must be taken.
Then why did not one or both of them
say so?
Such a declaration would have been
worth tons of speeches and miles Of edi-
torials.
Again. we say, there was no reason for
not making it.
The National Encampment of the
Grand Army of the Republic had for
mally requested such legislation, and Con-
gress had been deluged with petitions
signed by practically all the veterans in
the country, earnestly asking it.
Everybody admits that such legislation
must soon come.
Why were not some politicians far-sight-
| ed enough to put their party on a record
| to which they could point with pride?