Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1866-10-09
A Soldier Widows Letter to the Pres
ident.

The Philadelphia Press OF Friday
publishes a letter from q soldiers
widow Of that city, to President John
son in answer to that portion Of his
Cleveland speech in which lac asked
his audience, "Who made greater
sacrifices in the war than / 2" "Who
suffered more than T." &c, and sub
mits to the just judgment of the world
whether on the score Of sutferings
and sacrifices his claims to popular
sympathy and support bear any com
parason to hers. She says
Before the rebellion, sir, | had Il
husband, kind, loving, industrious,
economical, who for myself and our
four little ones made comfortable pro-
vision. Our home. was the abode OF
peace and plenty. What has become
of him? lie lcaS starred to death at An
derS0nciile, and that by the 'chivalric'
men whom your policy would tain
restore without repentance to the
rbsad Of oar government. Since then
/ have been striving my best to earn
bread for my little ones by plying the
nee lie. AT times when that kind of
employment has failed me, | have
been obliged to stand from early
morn till night over the wash tub
l had two brothers, steady men, kind
and generous Had the rebellion
left them as it found them, pinching
poverty should have never known,
Alas alas one of them persisted
from exposure and want on Belle
island, and the other had his right
arm taken oft by rebel shell at An
tietam. He cannot assist me. The
privations and hardships have had
to endure have so shattered my own
health and strength that ] feel unable
at times even to endure the fatigue
of plying the needle. SO that except
my trust in a merciful God, | have
sacrificed for my country my ALL
husband, brothers, house, home, liv-
ing-and ! am east beggar on the
cold charity of the world. And all
tins | owe to the Southern slavehold-
crs, and TO their iniquitous attempt
to murder my beloved country as
they did murder my husband and
brothers.
Now Mr.. Johnson since you invite
the comparison what have you suffers
ed Exhibit your scars and wounds
and bruises Did you lose leg or an
arm, or were You cecn so much I
rs scratched or bruised? Whore IS the
blood you shed? Would it stain a
white cambria handkerchief? How
much property did you lose Why if
report speaks true, during most Of
1hc time Of the war you were living
on the fat Of the land, in Nashville
out Of harms way, protected as you
were by Union bayoncts Out Of,
Uncle Sans Overlooking commissary
stores you drew plenty to eat and to
drink-the best OF meats and what
was Of still more consequence to yon
the choicest of liquors. Add to this
your handsome salary as Military
Governor. The great Union party,
whom you since have 50 foally be
trayed, made You Vice President with
y salary Of $4,000 per annum. Then
10 crown IL WI JolH w hNNS 1OoLil
made you President and there you
are yet to the tune Of $4,000 year
with 'fxins. The rebellion found
you | learn comparatively poor
man. Now you are rich with Il sound
body not to include your mind whose
soundness is not SO certain.
You, Andrew Johnson talk Of your
sacrifices and your sufferings and
challenge comparison Fie! Fe !!
upon you Why sir on that score
I ought to be Americas Queen and
you ought to be sweating over the
Wash tab And now sir are your
questions as to who suffered more
than YOU ? who sacrificed more
than you by reason Of the war an
swered ! did, sir, and | know hun
'dreds of poor women, tossed from
The nights of atlluence into the vale
of perjury and want who have sut-
QYed and sacrificed ten thousand
times more thau7you and are making
no ostentatious parade Of it either
Yours Respectfully
MARY JANE CATHERwAITE
A soldiers widow and the mother
Of four fatherless Children