Throughout the whole web of National existence we trace the golden thread of human progress toward a higher and better estate.

-J. A. Garfield.

CLAIMS FILED AND ACTED ON. (Continued.)

Numer of pension claims filed and allowed each year since July, 1861, and the number of pensioners on the roll at the close of each year, together with the annual amount paid on account of pensions since July 1, 1860.

The contest that is being waged by the Democratic party to pass this Wilson Bill is a war upon the laboring classes of America.

-Hon. Albert J. Hopkins, Illinois.

In the total number of applications filed in 1893 are included 65,002 invalids and 20,914 widows, etc., under the act of June 27, 1890; 4,505 survivors and 4,514 widows of the Indian wars, and 930 Army nurses. In the number of claims allowed in 1893 are included 62,291 invalids and 36,917 widows, etc., under the act of June 27, 1890; 2,599 survivors and 1,347 widows of the Indian wars, and 286 Army nurses. In the number of pensioners on the roll, under the heads of "invalids" and "widows, etc.," are respectively included all male and female pensioners of every class.

The eternal law, "In the sweat or thy face
shalt thou eat bread," will prevail. It will never
be repealed.
-Senator George F. Hoar, Massachusetts.

From 1862 until 1875 the Government, in all its branches, was controlled by the Republican party. During that time our pension system, as it now exists, was built up. The fundamental act was that of July 14, 1862, and between that date and the election of a Democratic Congress in 1875, fourteen other acts were passed enlarging and improving the system. Under these acts the greater part of the annual expenditures for pensions now being made was authorized. They were all Republican measures. Every law, every section, every line, word and syllable relating to pensions in the Revised Statutes of 1874 was enacted by Republican Congresses, by Republican votes, and approved by Republican Presidents.

The Republican party has always maintained that one of the first duties of the American people was the practical recognition, in a material way, of our sacred obligation to the volunteer soldiers of the United States. In a long series of official utterances, this party has always, in its great representative national conventions, pledged itself to the maintenance of a policy of liberality, unlimited by technical or burdensome restrictions in the award and distribution of the fund cheerfully offered to pensioners by the votes of a grateful people. It may add to the inspiration of loyal hearts to recall some of these utterances, and to hear anew what we have said, and what pledges we have made from time to time. The pension policy inaugurated by the Republican party has become so closely incorporated into our governmental system that in quoting these glorious and patriotic expressions we feel almost as if hearing anew the voices of the revered men of the historic past.

When the factory fires are extinguished nothing follows so surely as the enforced idleness of the laborer. -Hon. J. W. Babcock, Wisconsin.

REPUBLICAN PARTY ON PENSIONS. (Continued.)

At Baltimore, in 1864, the Republican national convention said:

Resolved, That the thanks of the American people are due to the soldiers and sailors of the Army and Navy who have periled their lives in defense of the country and in vindication of the honor of the flag; that the Nation owes to them some permanent recognition of their patriotism and their valor, and ample and permanent provision for those of their survivors who have received disabling and honorable wounds in the service of the country; and that the memories of those who have fallen in its defense shall be held in grateful and everlasting remembrance.

That was in 1864, just thirty years ago, and during the very height of the war. The Republican party did not wait until after Lee's surrender, but announced its policy while its defenders were in the field.

Pension Legislation.

From 1861 to 1875 the Congress was under Republican control, and all legislation upon pensions during that time was Republican legislation. With the latter year the Democrats obtained control of the House of Representatives. In 1878 the effect of Democratic control began to be apparent. The Republican law of February 14, 1871, was amended by the Democratic act of March 9, 1878, so that widows of soldiers of the war of 1812 should lose their pensions upon remarriage; the term of service was reduced from sixty to fourteen days, and the provision which prevented those who had been in rebellion in the late war from receiving pensions was stricken out.

The effect of this was to restore to the rolls the names of all pensioners of the war of 1812 which had been stricken off for participation in, or encouragement of the rebellion. This, with another act approved in 1879, giving three months extra pay to officers and soldiers of the Mexican war, were some of the measures of that period of Democratic ascendency, and both were intended mainly to benefit persons who lived in the Southern States.

The principal measure of the six years of Democratic control in the House was the "arrears" act. But this was a Republican law, in that it was introduced by a Republican (Cummings of Kansas), was put on its passage by a Republican (Haskell of Kansas), was voted for by 116 Republicans and 48 Democrats in the House, a majority of the Democrats in the House voting againstit.

In the Senate there were 27 Republicans and 16 Democrats voting in favor, and the 3 nays were all Democrats. A later Democratic limitation of the arrears was put into an appropriation bill reported by W. A. J.

The American market for the benefit of
American laborers, American farmers, and
American manufacturers.

Hon. Albert J. Hopkins, Illinois.

PENSION LEGISLATION. (Continued.)

Sparks (Democrat) of Illinois, creating a limitation of less than one year and four months-that is, from March 3, 1879, to July 1, 1880-and that law has remained in force to the present.

Let us now present a similar table of the votes upon various pension measures in 1890, which will show:

Combining the two tables it will be seen that so far as these reported roll calls show, there were:

We will now separate the House and Senate votes upon pensions, as above tabulated, and present the Republican and Democratic standing, by percentage in each body, upon pension legislation. We find that the following is the average respective standing of the two parties in Congress