Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-09-19
DALZELL'S FURY.
The Enraged Private Thirsts for Rich,
Red Blood.

The Enrsged Private Thirsts for Rich,
Red Blood.
WASHINGTON, September 18-Priyate
Dalzell has written the following letter
for publication, in regard to the dismissal
of Corporal Tanner;
Though too indignant and exaspersted
to write concisely, my humble opinion OF
the dismissal of Corporal Tanner, requested
by you to-day, is of little worth; but here
it is. II is the old story of i find no fault
in this man; cruelty him." il Tanner had
been found guilty of drunkenness, steal
ing, or other crimes, the soldiers would be
satisfied. If his crime is that he is not an
sristocrat with pedigree, martinez with
a title, or O millionaire with million-a
million men who wore, like him, the pri-
Yates blouse, will condemn and avenge
this decapitatioa. II his fault is that he
was too liberal toward the soldiers, it
will and should destroy the Re-
publican party, for it obtained
power alone by promises OF increas
ed and unmeasured liberality in pensions
My own opinion is, that any man, no mat
ter who, had better been dismissed, than
Corporal Tanner; and am confirmed in
this opin on by the universal voice of the
soldiers here, whose indignation is simply
indescribable. The proposition to raise
quarter million dollars for legless Corporal
Tanner is gaining ground daily amoug the
indignant soldiers They raised such
funds for Grant and Garfield. They can do
as much for Tanner, to show their appre-
citation of his liberslity as Commissioner; ;
their sympathy with him in his distress
and their contempt and hatred of his per-
secutOrs.
'In his degradation they see their own.
In his fall, they see theirs. They see all
privates are despised and scorned and
ostrscsed. They hurl back their indig-
nant defiance in the faces Of the plutocIaie
who degrade Tanner, and, in degrading
him, show their contempt for us all.
"a curse, blighting, whitening, damn
ing, lasting, blasting curse of the rank and
file, who won the victories Of the war, and
whose ballots achieved all the victories of
peace.
"We are betrayed iu the house of our
| friends, snd this fund shall be our signiti
cant reply, W De IcChOneu ny a'VHSihS
ballots at the polls.
81 never have been so angry before since
Lincoln was assassinsted, for their best
friend has been stabbed to death in the
house of his friends. Ii may all be ex-
plained and made satisfactory yet; bat
nothing so FAR seems TO justify this mon
strous crime against the rank and file.
We all know and admire and indorse
Corporal Tanner, and had expected great
things of his administration in carrying
out the pledges whereby the Republicans
gained power. No matter what Tanner
said in words, he left two more legs on
the field of battle than any man did who
forced his decspitation. The soldiers
don't know that mans name, and thou
sand fold better had it been that that man
had bsen forced out 1t sounds the death
knell of the Republican party, unless ii
can be explained. 1t destroys the man
who iDstigated it anyhow, standing
though he be behind the President urging
on this outrage l have also felt tba;
mans yerom. If the rank and file are not
fit TO hold Office they are not fit TO vote.
Corporal Tanner was the first private ever
yet appointed to any office; he will be the
last one; he might as well be a Niger
under any Administration, for all despise
him, and seek to humiliate him.
"PRIvATE DALZELL."