The 'Damn the Old Soldiers' Scandal of 1886
A political rumor, a fiery public denial, and the high-stakes battle for the soul of Washington Territory.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
William Cochrane has denied the statement in the Post-Intelligencer to the effect that he recently said, in speaking of old soldiers, 'Old soldiers be damned. They are no more entitled to office than anybody else. They were all paid for what they did, and that ought to end it.' A number of old soldiers who heard this denial requested of the Post-Intelligencer its authority for the statement, and in every case, the authority was promptly given. Everyone who took occasion to investigate the charge was satisfied of the fact that Cochrane said precisely what he is charged with saying. Among those who looked into this matter was Mr. S. F. Hoskinson, a veteran of the war, who thus vouched for the truth of the charge: 'I understand Bill Cochrane denies the story headed 'Damn the old soldiers.' Says it's a campaign lie. I have traced it up today and find that he did say so, and in the presence of more than one person, at that, who are willing to substantiate the fact. Now, I think any old soldier who votes for such a man as that deserves a very bad end. We were in the service fighting just such men as that, and they are getting the control of our government too much altogether. I for one mean to vote as I fought—against all such men.' And this is the man who today asks old soldiers for their votes! Remember that William Cochrane is the soldier candidate. He is the first man who has ventured to run for office in a Northern State with the legend 'Old soldiers be damned' inscribed on his banner.
“I think any old soldier who votes for such a man as that deserves a very bad end. We were in the service fighting just such men as that.”
Political character assassination and the use of 'roorbacks'—false stories planted right before an election—are as common in modern digital cycles as they were in the 1886 Seattle press. This historical echo shows that the visceral use of veterans' grievances to sway voters remains a potent, if wearying, staple of Washington State politics.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.