Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-08-09

1t least the courage to prove that there is
nothing sentimental in his composition,
and that his patriotism is for the hour of
the day present. When he was voted
down by an angry and humiliated House,
he raised points Of order and filibussered
the best he knew to defeat a final vete, and
it must be recorded that he SO far sue
ceeded as to force the bill over to some
future day for consideration, aaad as that
is indefinite in the present state OF the
calesdars, the chances are that the monu-
meat will not be erected foC long time,
though the Senators of the United States
unanimously favor the proposition, and
every man in the House of Representa-
tives expect Mr.. Kilgore-who, in moving
to cut down the aid proposed for State
homes for disabled Union soldiers of the
rebellion, pronounced them paupers-is for
it. That the merits of the proposition for
the monument to the prisonship patriots
may be better understood We give an ex-
tract from Representative Spinola's reply
to the unpatriotic Mr.. Kilgore:
Mr.. Speaker, history establishes the fact that
there were more lives sacrificed in the prison
ships in which the British confined the prison
ers OF the American Revolution than were lost
in all the battles of that war. Eleven thousand
ana five hundred were sacTifced-men who had
their liberty at command on any day when they
would consent to abandon the cause of the col
onieS and enter the British army. There was no
one day during their long confinement and suf-
fe' ing but the Provost guard approached them
and offered them their freedom if they would
embrace the British cause; and, 10 the credit OF
twenty thousand American patriots who suf-
| fered on board those prison ships, there was but
one single one who betrayed his country and
left his associates and joined the British service.
lApplausel Now, sir, will ask attention for a
/ minute or two while read from the history OF
the Wallabout prison ships and the martyrs who
died there.
Il will cite one case where the British had
captured company of American soldiers in
South Carolina and the Hessian Captain who
commanded the enemy offered those men their
[ freedom If they would go into the British ser
vice. Said he, after they had refused his offer
Go, then to your dungeons in the prison ships,
where you shall perish and rot. But first let me
tell you that rations which have been hitherto
allowed to your wives and children shall from
this moment cease forever, and you shall die
assured that you are the authors of their fate.
That was the declaration Of the British officer
to the company of American patriots that had
been captured in South Carolina. A sentence
so terribly awful appalled, the firm soul of every
listening hero.
"A solemn silence followed the declaration.
They cast their wondering eyes one upon the
other and yalor for a moment was suspended
between love Of country and love of family.
Love OF country at length rose superior to every
other consideration, and, moved by one impulse
this glorious band of patriots Numbered In the
astonished ears OF their prosecutors; The
prison ships aud death, or Washington and our
country lApplause, and cries Of =" Vote r'