The Stark County Democrat

A REPUBLICAN ON PENSIONS.

Gen. H. V. Boynton, an old line Republican radical and entitled by service and position in the Union army to speak for the veterans of the Grand Army of the Republic, enters protest against the revocation of the charter of Noah M. Farnham Post, New York for the passage of resolutions demanding a purification of the pension rolls and says:

The reputation and honor of the Grand Army of the Republic are now at stake in this matter. By the action of its highest officers it has been committed to the remarkable proposition, that G. A. R. posts shall not openly discuss and uphold pension reform. It is idle to make answer to this charge by pleading technicalities. The Grand Army now owes it to itself to support a searching examination of the pension rolls. When this is done not only the Grand Army, but the whole country can be relied upon to insist that no lie but unworthy cases shall be dropped from the roll of honor.

Under the present widespread belief the pension roll cannot be fully re-established as a roll of honor until such investigation has been thoroughly and honestly made. And when the country is satisfied that the roll is a worthy one and not until then will the feeling pass away that pension expenditure is in considerable part an unjust burden.

Republicans, and especially Republican veterans, have a high duty to perform in this matter. To neglect it will be a reflection upon their patriotism.