Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-22

AZ oo'Ou eiiC IeputdlIOil lOI NSidS-
lty OF the Democratic orators. But no:
even this small solace was denied to
them, for, when cleaning out the vault
the last two-cent piece was discovered
among the rubbish where it had been
carelessly dropped by the Democratic
counters. Every entry in the books cor
rect, every cent of the money in the
treasury. Doubtless some Democrats
believed that if their party succeeded,
rascals would be found and turned out,
and even Cleveland, if capable of be-
heving anything, may have believed this
oft-told tale But when he failed to find
any rascats to turn out he changed bis
mind and began turning the rascals in.
| have said that in the list of appoint
ments to Office by this modern reformer
| have not included any who were guilty
Of what are usually known as political
crimes; but [ will make a comparison to
show the
INCONSISTENCY OF EXECUTIVE ACTION.
Away over in New York state, near
the city of Rochester. in August, 1862,
lived an honest. hard working man
named John Herbst. He was German
whose ancestors had come from the old
fatherland to this America of ours. The
war of the rebellion was raging; the flag
of his adopted country had been fired
upon and, although he had loving wife
and an humble but pleasant home, he
concluded that his services were needed,
and on the Goth day of August, 1862, he
signed the enlistment roll and shortly
G., 10th New York Volunteers,
on nd {rcly 70
tuition of the United States against all
enemies and to subject himself to a SOL
dier'S duty for the term of three years
unless sooner discharged. He babe good
by to wife and home and marched away.
He fought bravely at Fredericksburg,
Charlottesville and Gettysburg, and on
this bloody battle field he was severely
wounded by bullet in the head. He
was treated in the hospital until Septem-
Der 9Th, a period OF two months when
having recovered he again joined his
regiment. He fought with Grant down
through the wilderness, closing in on
Richmond until August %, 1864, while
IN battle he was captured by the rebels
and taken to Salisbury, North Carolina.
Are there any of my hearers who We're
incarcerated in that hell hole in the fall
of 1864? The English language is too
poor to describe it. There were eight
thousand two hundred men crowded into
a little area. The ground was clay soil
and the rains and the necessary move
ments of the inmates made every inch of
its surface mud hole. Even the rebel
inspector of prisons condemned it and
recommended its abandonment. Then
came the tempter in the person of a Con-
federate officer, promising freedom and
release on condition of enlistment in the
Confederate service. In October, 1861,
after a severe spell of cold weather,
over two hundred of his comrades
to escape the terrible suffering did enlist,
but our German soldier boy spurned the
offer From this time on the former
scanty rations were diminished, rheuma-
tism racked bis frame, dropsy decreased
his little remaining store of vitality. In
December, 1864, the tempter came again,
offered him his freedom and assuring
him that he would only be required to do
guard duty around the prison if he would
enlist in the Confederate cause. Suffer
ing from his wound, from rheumatism,
from dropsy, with starvation staring him
in the face, almost insane, he yielded,
was set free and became a guard. Here
he continued doing guard duty until
General Stonemans cavalry captured
the place, on the 10th of April, 1865. TO
this general our soldier boy made a full,
frank statement, was placed under ar
rest, was sent back to his regiment, but
was released without trial, and was
finally honorably discharged October II,
1860. The seal Of death, however, had
been indellibly stamped upon him, and
although he fingered great sufferer for
a time he died of rheumatism and dropsy
20, 1868 The wife took care
of him after he returned from the army,
nursed him tenderly, closed his eyes in
death and laid his remains in the silent
grave. She struggled along for almost
twenty years, when at the instance of
some of the comrades Of her dead hus-
band she applied for a pension.
The records of the war department, how
ever, Were appealed to, as they are in all
pension cases; the record of service in
the Confederate army was disclosed, and
her application rejected. Her member
of congress, Mr.. Baker, of New York,
introduced a bill to grant to this widow,
who had given her all to the country, a
pension of S1f4 per year. 1t passed the
house. even a Democratic house, con-
trolled by those who fought III the rebel
army. passed the senate. and went to the
president. On July Il, 1888, he returned
.he bill to the house with his veto, in
which he took occasion to say:
"The greatest possible sympathy and
are due to those who bravely
fought, and being captured as brayely |
in rebel prisons
"But | will take no part in putting a |
lame upon our pension roll which repre- |
,entS Union soldier found fighting |
against the cause lie swora to uphold; nor !
should it be for moment admitted that /
'uch deSertiOn and treachery are excused |
when il avoids the rigOrs of honorable !
capture and confinement"
Coldly, without a charitable thought |
II an apparent spark of human sympa-
by, he in substance says the letter of |
he law has been violated. and this inno- |
'ent widow must suffer the penalty. She |
vas poor, she was without political intlu- |
nee; and what if she did give her hus- |
)and TO the country, he had committed |
political crime. for which threatened |
tarvatiOn, repentance, restoration to his |
an honorable discharge, dis /
ase and death. could not atone.
But let us run back over the record Of |
THIS UNFEELING PRESIDENT
nd see if he has treated all alike who |
ave committed the crime of desertion: |
ee if he has dealt out the same stern |
Justice to those who swore TO support |
,ur constitution and country and after
wards deserted the flag.
There was one F. c. Armstrong. who |
ought for the starry banner st Bull Run.
lie, too. had taken the muster-in oath,
he same as that taken by our poor Ger
nan soldier. Armstrong deserted after
he hattie of Bull Bun inineN the Com