a desire to see those who
defended the Government when it needed defenders liberally treated.
Unfriendliness to our veterans is a charge easily and sometimes
dishonestly made.

I insist that the true soldier is a good citizen, and that he will be
satisfied with generous, fair, and equal consideration for those who are
worthily entitled to help.

I have considered the pension list of the Republic a roll of honor,
bearing names inscribed by national gratitude, and not by improvident
and indiscriminate almsgiving.

I have conceived the prevention of the complete discredit which must
ensue from the unreasonable, unfair, and reckless granting of pensions
by special acts to be the best service I can render our veterans.

In the discharge of what has seemed to me my duty as related to
legislation, and in the interest of all the veterans of the Union Army,
I have attempted to stem the tide of improvident pension enactments,
though I confess to a full share of responsibility for some of these
laws that should not have been passed.

I am far from denying that there are cases of merit which can not be
reached except by special enactment, but I do not believe there is a
member of either House of Congress who will not admit that this kind of
legislation has been carried too far.

I have now before me more than 100 special pension bills, which can
hardly be examined within the time allowed for that purpose.

My aim has been at all times, in dealing with bills of this character,
to give the applicant for a pension the benefit of any doubt that might
arise, and which balanced the propriety of granting a pension if there
seemed any just foundation for the application; but when it seemed
entirely outside of every rule in its nature or the proof supporting it,
I have supposed I only did my duty in interposing an objection.

It seems to me that it would be well if our general pension laws should
be revised with a view of meeting every meritorious case that can arise.
Our experience and knowledge of any existing deficiencies ought to make
the enactment of a complete pension code possible.

In the absence of such a revision, and if pensions are to be granted
upon equitable grounds and without regard to general laws, the present
methods would be greatly improved by the establishment of some tribunal
to examine the facts in every case and determine upon the merits of the
application.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _Ju