The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-06-28
"BEsT ABUSED"

The world, in rocess of development and pro-
{ ress to that millennal time, ardently looked to
and hoped for, when the "Lion shall lie down with
the Lamb, have inaugurated its many societies
for various purposes, and laudably commendable
obje:ts, charitable, humane, reform, and last,
but not least and unimportant, is the Society for
prevention of Cruelty to Animals" with those
beautifully ornamental adjuncts "Founts," to
safe thirst and refresh them. have watched
with undated interest and curiosity to see If
they would recognize the claims of the biped,
and am ready to cry out, with disappointed
amazement and indignation, 10 temporal o
moresl" That the infictons of torture upon
this interesting and large class of cruelly-treated
animals have not come within the purview of
their God-like operations, and am disposed to
exclam, "Cui Bono!" the pretentious tender
ness and humanity; while the claims o considera-
ton of this class of humanity are ignored.
Now, sir, let us inquire who the indi-
viduals alluded to? And what their claims
First. 1 will tell you Qrom intimate business
relations with them for eight-and- twenty years.
who they are not, and as ii is not expected of me
in logic to 'prove a negative" will aver, first,
tliey are not drones in the busy hive of the
striving throng; nor the leprous loafer, waiting
sleepily, doggedly, for something to turn up"
as some of their prosecutors are. / will
now, sir, assume the affirmative, if you please,
and respond to the interrogatory, by Quaker
like, asking a few replcative questions. Who,
when our country in peril, and almost de-
spairingly lifting its eyes to heaven for rescue
in her dire distress; when treason, cupidity and
hate ruled the hour; who more ready to fly TO
the front and present their bodies, hardened by
excessive toll as living wall, to prevent the
incursions of those who sought to divide and
no in tha dpn61 hrao och
and more ardently, prayed for their frac-
tured discovered country, with glazed
eye they gazed upon the folds of the be-
loved starry banner, or suffered more unrepin-
ingly the loathsome incarceration of the enemy's
prson-pens? When ordered by my superiors
to take on my steamer some of our paroled pri-
soners to the camp in rear of Annapolis almost
the first person recognized in the serried ranks
of our embarlling expedition was the stalwart
Sibert of one of Pennsyvania's regiments, as
marker-a canal boatman. ''Where bound,
Sibert?" / asked. 'To Texas" the exultant
reply. He was only the type of thousands of
his fellows, who were a living rampant to their
country IN her greatest need.
Time passes My boat lies as hospital dispatch
boat for Department of Virginia and North Caro-
lima, loaded with surgeons, medicines, bandages,
lint, and all such appliances, to meet the advanc
ing army of the worried but pertinacious, in
flexible Grant, fighting it out on that line' from
Rapidan to James river, at the "White House."
AS the marching-stained army filed into that
temporary bivouac camp, nearly the first person
boarding my steamer to crave q meal after
the toll, struggle, and peril from Chancellor
Vile, through the body-paved Wilderness, and
equally desperately y-contested Coal Harbor was
the famished, bleeding, dying canal boatman.
Our boatman aban doned his boat mid
way between home and the metropolis,
mounted his team, sought home, hastily
embraced his dear ones, waited hasty adieus
to friends, and filed the ranks of assem-
bling armies to leave their bleaching bones in
the distant field of strife, Or exhumed, returned
to the "city of the dead" at home, their graves
to be annually bedecked by fair hands with
floral contributions, or their mounds consecrated
by the more precious tears of their surviving
loved ones.
But the returned surviving, mutilated, heroic
boatman. What is his fate? Impoverished by
patriotic devotion, he has returned to be fol-
lowed by the ''sleath-hound' harpies of every
calling and profession, with whom they come in
contact. They are legitimate plunder for all.
What of body and substance the Rebs left
when ''going through them," is now appro-
priated by every person, corporation, body
polite, legislative, administrative, executive
and last of all, and most hagitiousy iniquitous
the Government for whom they fought, bled
and their companions died to rescue and
save. With one hand with flourish Of
trumpets, the beating of drums, and
sound of sweet-toned bands, you forally orna
ment their comrades graves, shed pretentiouf
tears, laud the prowess of the dead-their noble
deeds. With the other hand you literally take
the limping, halting, perforated, legess, arm
less, returned hero by the collar, and demand
what? The last of the beggarly four or eigh
dollar pension to satisfy the exactions of thu
Offices of customs to pay for what2 The inesti
mable privilege of dragging their boats
their snail-like monotonously-slow lengtl
along the stagnant waters OF th
interior arteries OF commerce to th
marts of trade and say to him, you can TAX
the products of field, forest, mine, and well L
market Ca concession, il is said, to the mauufac
turing domestic interest; put your finger there
Mr. Editor a rich yet deserving consolidation o
capital); but If you dare Mr., returned member
less hero, to steer your handbook x-built crai
from whence you came, amid the umbrageou
forests of Pennsylvania or the grand primitiy
granite mountains, where abide your rustic ye
lovely companions in the voyage of life; an
take them the apparel to clothe their lith,
uneonstrained forms with attractive added blaI
dishment; those who bid their humble yet mob
husbands and brothers go, your country calls
or the comforts of the table or culinary impl