Year: 1878

James w. Owens, member OF the
Ohio State Senate, has stepped TO the
| front as the champion and defender
Of the outrage committed by the
SiXty-thiTd General Assembly in the
passage Of what Is known as the
| OCOnnOr bill for the reorganization
OF the Soldiers and Sailors Orphans
Home. This news will, to say the
least OF it, be rather discOuraging to
certain gentlemen, who have been
endeavOring to pull the wool over the
eyes Of the veterans and their friends
/ by telling them that the democratic
members OF the Legislature passed the
Infamous law without knowing what
they were doing, and that they will
/ hasten to correct the mistake rs soon
/ as they mRat nOzt wintor. He says
the Law Is just and right, and inti-
mates that he and his Democratic col
leagues are proud Of Whist they did.
Now let US hear no m9re Of this dana
nable act having been passed "inad-
vertently" and by mistake,


This learned Senator justifies the
I action OF the O'COnnOr Legislature by
saying that the original act establish
ing the Home allowed the Trustees,
in their wisdom, to admit other than
soldiers orphans to the benefits OF the
institution. But he fOrgets to tell his
readers that when the Home began to
fill up when II was discovered that
there would be no roam for any but
the children Of soldiers, and that
when an effort was made to induce
the Democratic Legislature Of 1874 to
change this feature Of the law, the
idea was secuted at, and it was left
for Republican Legislature to make
this change In 1876.


But II seems that this sainted gen.
tleman is the author of the very
meanest and most Objectionable fea-
tures Of the law, and he says that his
object was to make IL Home for the
children Of soldiers exclusively.
Well, we will agree that he has sue
ceeded in making the law exclusive
enough IN all conscience. It excludes
the children of all soldiers who were
not so unfortunate as to have been
killed, or so badly disabled as to have
been placed on the pension rolls Of
our Government. The child Of no
other soldier need apply for place in
this Democratic Home, no matter
how poor or how destitute it may be.
The Republican law was too broad
and too comprehensive for these very
exclusive patriots-it provided for the
admission OF the children OF all de-
ceased, jRdigBsHt di!a permanently
disabled soldiers.


But this accomplished legislator did
not want to tear the child from its
mothers breast, and thus break her
poor heart hence he was careful to
provide that no child ahOuld be ad-
mitted during the life OF its mother
until 1t had arrived st the age of
twelve years-that she should wash
on, and make q living for her dear
one until it was capable OF taking care
OF itself, and then these refOrmers
would take ii and undertake to re-
ceive the benefits OF its labor. Pro-
vided, however, that the poor mother
will agree to pay 70 them the pittance
she receives as 3 pension in eOnse-
quenee Of the death OF the cLild's IA
ther.


But then this immaculate patriot
sees 8 "step-father" in the dim dis
tance, and fearing that the poor wild
oW may succumb to the blandish-
ments of some modern Democratic
refOrmer who would squsnder h er lit
tie po.tion In riotOus living, he says 1t
will be much better for her to pay it
over to them for whom her son or
daughter Is working-the Trustees OF
the Home. Ye gods, what a picture
of philanthrOphy is this


Now that these men have thrown of
their disguise and are entering upon
q defense Of their neiarioUs conduct,
the people Of the Gtate Will no longer
be deceived by the cant and hypocrisy
of those who are going about with q
lie upon their lips, telling the veter.
ans that the passage OF the law WAS
q mistake, and calling upon the voters
| to forgive its authors for they knew
not what they did. 1t is true that
the attempted defense OF Owens is so
weak that it will disgust every honest
man who reads It, but then it will
prevent them from pleading the baby
act sny longer. They must now 'ss-
sumo the pressure" as the immortal
J. n. would say, and we believe that
before they have borne it long they
will feel like calling upon the rocks
and bills to fall upon them and hide
them from an outraged people.