The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-03-27

The air was thick with poisonous exhaia-
enabodiments of health. siciSened and died
in night. The camp swarmed with vermin
TINT preyed on our wasted bodies as we slept and
Illness impossible4 Soap an unknown
quantity. and even water was scarce. Many of the
prisoners were all but stark -naked. and unayoid-
able indeeency was common. The. sick voiied
their excrenent where they lay, and prior to deaf
maggots invaded their entrails. Medicine WAS not
to be had Tor love or money. DecoetIons of roots
and barks were doed out in insufficient quantities
to such were lucky enough to reach the hospital,
but thousands died in camp without ever seeing the
doctor, and the first notice the prison authorities
had of their sickness was the appearance of their
skeleton remains in the dead-hou5e.
AN UNJUST REQUIREMENT.
From these horrors the law presumes that men
may have escaped uninjured in heathi The ex-
prisoner IS required TO prove the incurrence of his
disabilities, when, perhaps he was the sole sur
vivor of the band that accompanied him TO prison.
His failure TO show treatment where none to
be had IS taken evidence against his claim.
What moekery OF the plainest precepts OF justice
and common sense. Show me the ex-prisoner
whose health WAS not permanently impaired by the
privations he endured, and l will hail him as
miracle OF bodily and mental endurance.
Wounds and death upon the battlefield are the fire.
quent not the usual, incidents OF war. hardship
aud privation are inseparabe from the soldiers
lot. But above and beyond the sulphur canopy OF
battle there shines the sun Of peace of honor, and
renown. At the close of the toiisome march there
is repose for the war-broken patriot food for The
hungry and medicine and nour,shment for the sick.
All Lhat skill and science accomplish IS eDcom
passed for the Nations defenders. Clean clothing,
comfortable quarters, careful nursing invigoraiing
food, fresh air-lll and everything that may WOO
back tile bloom of health But as il is appointed
to all men once to die these sometimes fan. Hush
siippered attendants steal poiselessy the couch
OF the dying, and press the cooling draft TO parched
lips. Ministers of religion pray around his bed
side, and fair angel of mercy bends over him to
catch his last words and carry them to the dear
ones at home. But at Andersonviile and Belle Isle
There was lack of woman's nursing; there was
dearth OF woman's tears"
From the moment of his captivity the personality
and fate of the prisoner sllrouded ia the gloom
OF blacklist night. For him there shone single
ray OF hope. Cut off from all communication with
home and friends; temporarily, at least. aban-
doned by the Government that had truly
gagged to succor him as he had sworn to support
and defena-t, he WAS left 20 die ike poisoned rat
in its hole, condemned to months of torture as
an unwilling witness and participant in such
imaginable squaior and wretchednes5 made him
envy the beasts of the field their insensibiiity
human misery. Ambition died within mis- breast
His cherished hopes OF glory and undying fame
We're baked by the very courage that led HIM too
the battles front orfhe solderly rashness that
induced him 10 too literally obey the orders OF his
commanders. Who knows, gentlemen, but some
OF Us might not be occupying your places but for
the policy that condemned us To what proved to be
an intending captivity to nearly one half our COM
rades, and sent the remainder back TO the world
enfeebled in body and mind?
DEATH BEFORE DIsHoEoR.
The motto of our association is Death before
Dishonorn 1t is a reminder of the fact that as a
last desperate measure to recruit their wasted
armies. the Confederates undertook to enlist their
prisoners. Persuasion alone used, yet il las
of the most subtle description. Sick and starving
men not wont To entertain many scrupies when
plenty and health are promised the one hand
and there Is naugbt but death TO choose on the
other. Yet the comrades who stand before you,
and those whom they represent made that choice,
and they made it grandly and herocaiiy. With
more than Roman hrmness and Spartan virtue,
they welcomed death before dishenor, refusing 10
suliy their lips with false oath. though life
Itself were the reward of perjury.
We have been tod that Congress would grant
our demands ii Senators and members felt assured
that public sentiment would sustain such action
their part OF this we do not complain. This is a
Government of the people, and their representa-
tiyes shonld do no act that AN enlightened public
sentiment viii not approve. In comparison with
the millions you represent the few interested In
this bill are but feeble band, indeed, and yet
the paucity of our numbers should be bar
to our claim If otherwise deemed just On its
justice alone we rely, leaving the question of
popularity for you TO decide. We have means
of knowing or testing public sentiment except
as expressed through tbs representatives OF the
people In Congress But, whatever may be the
case at present. there was time when the popular
heart throbbed responsive to ours. When the
alarm bells reused Nation to arms. these comrades
were but boys in years. though men IN determine
ton and patriotic purpose. They responded to the
| appeal that thrilled the land and were assured
that, living dying, they would always be held
in grateful remembrance by their countryulen.
That pledge, made on thousand platforms during
and since the war, has remained unredeemed so
/ lar as We are concerned OtncF OF our comrades
have little reason to complain of the Stnted gem
crosby of the Nation. And those OF you, gentle
men, who were permitted to win distinction and
! renown upon the battlefield whether your blades
were welded for our against the Union, have not
| been forgotten by your counfrymen; but ] speak
for the uncrowned heroes who languiShed IN hope
less captivity midst horrors from which the lost
spared, but never fatered in their devotion 10
that banner whose beauty and glory is the pride oil
| the heavens.
LOOK TO THE FUTURE.
In conclusion. we utter no note of defiance We
are not here to threaten mutiny against our coun-
try her in this committee shall fail 70
| see its way clear to make the recommendation we
crave. True to our motto. we shall continue to
prefer death before dishonor and yet small blame
will attach if hereafter fail to appreciate the
friendship of any leader who insists upon continu-
| ing the palpable injustice under which we labor.
/ The policy of pensioEing disabled veterans and
/ those who have encountered unusual hardship OF
! performed extraordinary services, is based not
only upon justice, but the highest considerations
! of patriotism well. The Nation may again be
forced TO rely upon the ardor of its young men TO
protect its life and the liberties of the people from
assault. Let it not then, be said that the republic
Is ungrateful. Let 1t not, then, be SAID that il
| placed the humblest of It's defenders in a posi-
/ ton where their health was wasted and vitality
| horrors to be denied crust when they knock ed
at the door of Congress. But rather, let the hero
| boy who, in future years, may buckle on the
sword Of patriotism feel that the omnseent eve oil
the Nation is upon him. and that sacrifice he can
make on his counrys altar shall outatrp the graft
their representatives. Economy is always duty
but the injustice that witholds the need of honest
merit viii surely breed canker in the heart Of
| Peace.