, 1890-08-28
THE POLITICIANS TO
BLAME.

nsAt Cubtbtth I)uCoH SusttT,
widow of one OF the most heroic
figures In history, finds 1t expedient
to earn her own bread by toiling at
the uncertain pursuit of literature,
Ia a shame upon American legisla-
tion. The facts that Mrs. Custer has
developed exceptional aptitude for
that honorable pursuit, and that
she enters into 1t with all the en-
thusiam that kept her at her hus-
bands side In his Western cam
paigns, In no wise lessen the re-
sponsibility and duty of the Ameri-
can people.
The wartime career Of Custer was
n meteoric succession of gallant
achievements. Entering the war
as lieutenant, fresh from the
schoolrooms at West Point, he arose
to a major generalship by sheer
merit and gallantry. He was dar-
ing, confident, successful. During
the closing six months of the war
he participated in the terrible cam
paign that ended at Appomattox.
Within that time his command,
though nearly always confronted
by superior numbers, captured from
the enemy in open battle Ill pieces
Of artillery, sixty-five battle flags
and upwards Of 10000 prisoners of
war. Within this period his COM
mand never lost gun, never lost
color, and was never defeated. And
Notwithstanding the memorable en-
gagements In which Custer bore a
part, including the battle of Shenan-
doah, his troops captured every
piece Of artillery which the enemy
dared to open upcn them"
IL the history of tho war can af-
ford more conspicuous measure of
daring and success the worldjhas vet
20 learn 1t.
American history affords no loft
Ter display of gallantry. no higher
type of heroism, than the melan-
choly death of this brave and manly
soldier. Thermopyle had its sur
vivors, but of the gallant band that
rallied around Custer at the memo
rable massacre of the Little Big
Horn, not one escaped the carnival
of death.
If services like these had been
given to Great Britain does any
body suppose the gratitude of that
nation would have halted at the
meager pension that congress has
doled out to the widow of this mag
nificent American? That is not the
way that England rewards the high.
est types of heroism and encourages
the best blood of the land to turn
from the promising field of civil life
and enter upon soldiers career.
BY the side of the achievements and
sacrifices of Custer the career of Gem
eral Wolseley becomes common
place. Yet that general has been
loaded down with titles, decorations
and princely pensions. If an Eng
lish soldier of Custer's rank and SER
vice should fall as Custer fell at the
hands Of a demoniacal horde of half
naked, painted savages, the govern
ment would shower riches upon his
widow and the nation would 60
half mad with excitement.
The responsibility for this mig.
gardly behavior can not be found In
the hearts Of the American people.
1t rests with the misconceived belief
of few participating politicians,
who think that they must always
be making a show of economy, or
rather of parsimony, in order that
their party shall be retained In power
and themselves in office. AS If the
American people, nation of So, ,O0O.-
600 freemen, had no higher con-
ception OF heroism and merit than
10 figure out the infinitesimal cost
of the difference between q proper
appreciation Of extraordinary hero
ism and a policy that places them
before the world in the light of a
nation of fraction-figuring, candle
end-preserving, one-cent hucksters