Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-08-31
1nJusice to Heroes.

Inc asfllnggn Post speaking OF
the injustice done to military heroes
claims that we haNgiven to q few the
glory that bclongedo many, that we
have permitted heroeso live in obscu-
rity and die under a cIud while others
no more worthy, have ben set up as
National idols and says "In no in
stance has distinguishd general,
nominated by either Of the treat par
ties been defeated by candidate who
had no army record. In no Instances
have great generals been deleatd by
smaller ones, but those results wen due
to other causes than the failing iAiu-
ence of martial prestige Scott Ms
beaten as the candidate of moribuAl |
party, and Hancock, after splendiAl
race, was beaten at the close by the
unstinted use Of money. Our politi-
cal history shows conclusiveIy that the
soldier is the idol of the masses.
But we have been cruelty unjust in
our treatment Of soldiers who have de-
served high places in the affections Of
the people. Take, for instance, the
case OF General Porter, who, until his
destruction was decreed in older to
save the reputation and crafty the
malice ofPope, was one Of the foremost
figures in the army of the Potomac
We need not 90 into the details of the
terrible wrong inflicted on this man.
lfGeneral Grant is good authority, if
the generals who constituted the court
of inquiry in his case are honest men,
General Porter has suffered injuries
worse than a thousand deaths. And
still he is denied justice. This deeply
wronged hero has been compelled to
sue for pardon as if he had been
criminal, and any further reparation is
denied him. The country has had
three idols, Grant, Sherman and
Sheridan, and in the worship of these
it has not seemed to care how many
great and proud souls were ground in
to the dust of humiliation. Another
case is brought before the public in a
most pathetic light by this recent tele-
gram from Newport, r. l.:
1t was known soon after the death Of
General g. X. Warren that the financial
affairs of the household were in deplo-
rable condition, entirely the result of
the great strain upon the generals re.
sources TO pay for plans of the ground
which was the scene of the battle of Five
Forks, the collection of testimony and
the general expenses of the recent court
of inquiry. The state of affairs was
made known, and the result is that a
committee to raise funds for the general s
family has been formed and it is expec.
ted that large sum will be raised.
In the annals of the human race
since time began there is nothing more
deeply tinged with terrible pathos
than the story of General Warren. He
had fought the good fight and kept the
faith until the last hour of war, when,
almost at the moment of final victory,
he was disgraced in the presence of his
gallant corps. From that hour to the
day of his death he vainly sought to
have his name cleared from unjust re-
proach that he might leave it thus as
the heritage of his children.
We mistake the people of this coun-
try if the family of the dead hero, the
hero whose deeds are written on the
hearts of his countrymen, are not plac-
ed above the reach or fear of want.
Gen. Sheridan has terrible re.
sponsibility in connection with the
treatment of Gen. Warren, that will
some day require him to rise and ex-
plain,