The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1897-12-17


lady's name wrong. Mrs. Grafton is
the superintendent Of the western
branch and her home is as above
stated, at Smith Center. Kansas
The MaEnItuds Of Our Civil War.
The Confederate Veteran" Of Nash |
Vile. Tenn, has published some very |
interesting statistics compiled from
the war records. They sustain, Of
course, the general belief that the
south was from start to finish greatly
outnumbered. In total enIistments
this disprOpOrtiOn was over four to one,
and even these figures do not convey
an idea Of the immense superiority Of
the north in strength Indeed, it is
hard to understand, now, how the
south, with it inadequate organization,
industrial and military, and its 1000,
600 white population to the nOrth's
100000 hoped to win
This, of course, is no disparsgement
TO the union soldiers. No part Of this
world has a monopoly Of courage And
If the hot-bIooded confederates show
ed more dash, there were battles like
Fredericksburg, where the federal sol
eiers marched to certain death with
beroism that cannot be surpassed.
The truth is, both armies fought,
marched. bled and suffered as no other
armies ever did or ever will.
The mortality was simply horrifying.
Instead OF the usual losses Of two or
three per cent, the federals lost nearly
five and the confederates nine. Judg
ed by mortality, by ground covered,
battles fought, or number OF combat
| ants, our civil war stands IN relation
to the great wars of Europe as those
wars to the petty conflicts Of South
America. The slate unplessantness,"
as it is sometimes lightly called, was
| the most stupendOus conflict in his
! tory.
Perhaps the most significant feature
Of the "Confederate's" statistics, how
ever, is the showing in regard to Pris-
ons. Where the mortality Of confed-
crates in northern prisons was II per
/ cent, the loss of federaIs in southern
prisons was only 9 per cent. These
figures, taken from Secretary StantOn's
report at the time, are Unimpeachable,
and demonstI ate cOnclusively the III
justice Of the charges made against
the cOnfederates in regard to prisons
AS a matter of fact, neither side has
reason to be proud of this part of its
work. While neither was guilty Of in
territorial brutality, the captured from
both armies Jared poorly. Yet, 1t
should not be forgotten that the north
ern prisoners estimated their own suff-
eriugs by comparison with their su-
perior army fare, while the southern
| soldiers, bare foot, ragged and half
starved, were really no better situated
when in the field than the federals in
southern prisons.
The bitterness Of the war has long
since passed away. We can now dis
cuss such matters without feeling.
And to US all comes home the pathOs
Of that terrible. struggle between men
of the same blood and nationality.
| Perhaps it was necessary to settle the
moOted constitutional question of Sc
cession. Possibly it ought to have
| come a half century earlier and been
less gigantic. Yet the war is already
history We have paid tremendous
price, in blood and bitterness, for a
united nation, but it was well worth
the cost. Henceforth we have only TO
remember that the United States IS
one nation, and that its integrity is
best conserved by recognizing the ex-
istence Of but one people, with the
! same patriotism, and with equal readi-
mes to sacrifice themselves for princi-
ple.-Kansas City Times.