The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-08-28
Religious Intolerance In che Army.
THE CASE or THE SOLDIER h'GRATu AT FORT
SCHUYLER.
HERALD.
McDouGALL UoSrrrAL. FORT SCHUYLER, !

TO THE EDITOR THE HERALD.
McDoUGALL HosrrrAI, FoR1 SCHUYLER,
<N August "a, 1884,
An article appeared in your paper Of the 22d rejecting
severely the conduct Of certain officials with
the United States Military Hospital at this place To
those acquainted with the persons whose names are
used and indeed to any the SPOT refutation
Of those charges would DO needed and although the ami
OF the writer (who 10 well here) apparent
from hts attempt to mike out Of sregious intol
erancs' where, from his showing nothing Tx
intolerance existed, ask tho privilege OF making few
statements which will place the case in ito true light
In hospital containing thousand pateots cases
will occur in which the reason able wishes OF Soma may
be seemingly neglected. With tho strongest desire
TO crafty such wishes II may be really imprac
ticabe 70 DO 50; and where this Is not the case
attention often lead TO uninteuionai omissions
and oversights which are regretted by than
by these cbargeabe with them 10 that 1t s easy for
person having fancied injuries TO avengc TO make up
case which will seem like Of gross neglect even
persecution but which little examination will prove
possess very different character.
Such is, am convinced the truth in regard to the
McCrath. In the OF duties few men
more uniformly courteous and gentlemany than is
Steward Post, and have his authority for saying
tho language attributed 20 him by your correspondent
he never employed On the contrary, he answered the
reQues; by saying that while 1t impossible to send
for priest that evening ne would try do the fol-
loving morning Il 1t was not done It WAS simply be-
cause in the multi picny OF his duties, the request had
ed bis mind There is dsinclnation the part
senoc Of MS wishes in regard 10 religious matters.
Though tho chaplain is Protestant las nineteen.
tweptieths OF the mon who come to this hos
ptsD his services urged on any
man. Where patient 10 OF another faith
hs cooperation in obtaining the religious ADVISER
desired has been cnccrfuy given. Many times has
Catholic priest been sent for 10 such wants, and
has he hso cause complain Of lack or opportn
nifty confer with the patients OF want Of courtesy
the part tho "o1cials Religions intolerance has
no p,sce In this hospital except may exist in the
jaundiccd mind Of determined 10 discover channel
lnrnt n rugV taaF
In regard TO the oicia who took charge of tho mo-
Of Mrt;rath IL IS enough to did the
performances OF ms appropriate duty, passing II i.
mediatcy 20 the surgeon ia charge, whom II il held
for the benefit OF the family OF the deceased Men en-
trusted with such position usually possess character
ana be injured BY the nsnuatons " cowardy
eutngh TO write, after naming the amount 2O "Thsre
some sasp,cca nc mad more, wisely aDstaning from
informing Ia wbCsn mind this 'ssuspiciOn' rests
Tho funeral services OF Mc6rath, which your ccrre.
spondent tells us "imposedH him. as
the government makes obligatory the chaplain In
charge Unviiug that our brave soldiers should DO
RED 20 the grave With the burial of dog, Congress
passed sv making tie duty OF cbRpaius to " hold
appropriate religious at the funeral OF every
soldier dying IL tho command TO which they as
signed those services or simple and unscctaran
character aud the cOnntrys tribute Of respect 10
noble dond. On The day Of McGrsths funeral FIVE
others. who ike him had faced death the cause Of
country, brought nto tie little chaps, and the
bodice OF men, each equally hon0red rcpossd side
BY side while tho solemn words Of Holy Writ read
above theu and the prayer for the stbcress tue
widow followed, religions Intolerance alone could
have objected to The simple rite by which ths nation
would testify her respect for those Who die IN the
penpios caete
10 few editorial lines you call the attention or Cen
eral DIX, or whoever may DO tho proper authority
this case have no hestasiop In saying that such at
plcated 10 tee Charges OF your correspondent
JUsTITA.