The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-09-26

them unable TO earn a support" This
specified requirement OF incapacity is In
effect set aside by order No. ~ as 70 all
persons over sixty-two.
The war closed nearly forty years ago
In the meantime many of our soldiers ana
sailors long survived the age OF sixty-two'
and passed away without receiving any
pension. Skillful pensions attorneys
hunting through the statute failed to
find there provision giving a pension To
all who had reached sixty-two. Many
prominent veterans urged the justice or
congressional action giving a service pen
sion TO all veterans Bills 10 that effect
were introduced in congress. And not
until March OF this year did any one
ever claim 70 have made the discovery
that the president had power TO treat the
statute as II II read that when a claimant
had passed the age OF sixty-two years ne
! IL necessarily disabled one-haif IN ability
to perform manual labor and therefore
entitled to a pension.
The president of the civil service COM
mission, Gen John @. Black. former COM
missioner of pensions and commander
in-chief of the Grand Army OF the Re
public indicated his view rscsOt o,
address ne thanked the president
! for what he had done. and advised his
hearers TO use their influence that a law
might be passed TO the same effect. Fun
confidence after all seems not TO have been
placed on the defense of justification for
II is pleaded In mitigation that former
Democratic president did something look
! ing In that direction. Even IL that were
so-which II not admitted-our present
| duty would be none the less plain and i'm
perative. Our people must never tolerate
| the citation OF one act OF usurpauon or
power as an excuse for another The
| first may possibly be due 10 mistake; the
| second, being based on the frst. cannot
! be. In explanation. however. IL should
be said that the order relied on simply
provided that the age of seventy-nve
years should be regarded as evidence OF
inability to perform manual labor Few
| men are able to perform manual labor at
that age. but nearly all men are at sixty
two. The first order is based on a fact
that experience teaches. the other is
based on the assertion OF that which Is
not true a general rule.
The old inquiry. What are you COINS
to do about it7' is now stated In new
form. II is said by the administration
in reply 10 the public criticism OF this
order that 1T is easy to test our oppo'
nents' sincerity in this matter. The
order in question Is revocable at the
pleasure OF the executive. II our oppo
nents come into power they can revoke
treat the veterans OF sixty-two anC
seventy as presumably In full bodil!
vigor and not entitled to pension. VIII
they authoritatively state that they in
tend 10 do this? II SO, we accept the is
sue"
This suggests the suspicion. al least
that the order was made to create an is
sue-that II was supposed to present
strong strategic position in the battle o
the ballots. On the assumption that th'
order as stated by the administration 4.
!. revooable at the pleasure Of the execu
tive. II having been an attempted. though
perhaps unwilling encroachment upor
. the Legislative power, and therefore un
warranted by the constitution.
accept the challenge and declare that
elected, will revoke that order. But
go further and say that be
ing done, will contribute m,
effort toward the enactment OF Law
to be passed by botn houses OF congress
and approved by the executive that wi
give an age pension without referenc
{ 10 disability TO the surviving heroes o
, the Civil war; and under the provision
of which a pension may be accepted wit
, | dignity because of the consciousness tina
; II comes as a just due from the peopl
through their chosen representatives. an
o not as largess distributed by the chic
= executive.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
a The foreign relations of the govern
Q ment have in late years assumed specii
!. Importance. Prior to the acquisition
: the Philippines, we were practically II
!, vulnerable against attacks by foreig
: states Those tropical possessions, hov
r ever. seven thousand miles from o,
shores. have changed all this and hay
e in effect put US under bonds TO keep II
% peace The new conditions call for
a MANAGEMENT Of foreign affairs the mo
crcumspect in that the recent Americs
invasion Of foreign markets in all par
- OF the world has excited the serious a
- prehension OF all the great industri
an people II is essential. therefore, mo
- than ever. 10 adhere strictly to q
= traditional policy OF the country as 70
20 mulated by It's first president and nevs
~ in my judgment, wisely departed from
er TO invite friendly relations with
~ nations while avoiding entangli
u alliances with any.
a, Such a policy means the cultivation
- peace instead of the gloriication of wa
rs and the minding OF our business In lieu
ce spectacular intermeddling with the a
rd fairs OF other nations II means stri
81 observance of the principles OF intern
e. tional law and condemns the doctri
" " that a great state, by reason OF
pe strength, may rightfully appropriate {
IN sovereignty or territory OF sm'
state on account OF it's weakness.lt mea
II for other American states that we clai
10 M rights and will assume no functio