The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-05-10
Don't Forget the Costly Lesson.

War is a powerful stimulant alike
Of the good and the bad faculties and
~propensities Of mankind. 1t presents
the strongest appeals to patriotism as
we'll as the most alluring temptations
to avarice. When the nation asks cit
liens to leave their homes and business
and become soldiers, love Of country
impels the genuine manhood Of the re-
public to respond to the call with such
promptness n zeal that only a small
proportion of those who can
be accepted. But, simultaneously with
this grand and inspiring uprising of
patriots, there is another movement,
as the history of all wars proves that
is prompted by greed and avarice.
We ave only to turf back the pages
of u history thirty-seven years in
order to study a lesson hat should be
kept in mind at this time by all who
have anything to do with the Quitting
of volunteers or the purchase Of sup
plies for the army. When the patriots
of 81 were rallying to h support of
the government, the cOrmorants of
that time were laying the foundations
of some of the great fortunes that their
heirs are now enjoying. State after
state sent it's quota into the field
clothed and otherwise equipped with
worse han worthless wares. Hats,
warranted to shed water, offered no
serious resistance to a gentle shower.
Shoes, made on contracts calling for
the best material, were found to have
but a veneering of leather on the soles
to hide crown paper. Shoddy too the
place of wool in all clothing, and cast
iron guns, made in Belgium and sup
piled by American contractors were a
fitting and altogether harmonious addi-
ton to the grand aggregate of infam-
n,Ic fro116 Tor oil thic tho cf0toc mold
what would have been good prices for
the best articles, n the national
treasury eventually paid the states.
The stealing was the work of con-
tractors, many of whom were eminent
ly respectable-"the mildest amer
ed men that ever cut a throat or scut-
tied a ship" In some instances Off
Gals of states were in collision with the
rascally contractors, and, Of course
shared the profits of their worse thar
stealing. 1t would be base. fattery to
call these men scOundrels. In an oc-
casiOn that appealed as no other ever
had, or; in all probability, ever will APP
| peal to the manhood of the people,
| these creatures saw only a chance for
plumber. If they had robbed the treas
ury or ~disbursing officers, taking the
cash directly, they would have been
simply thieves. Robbing the treasury
by fraud and sending soldiers in the
field with an equipment that caused
the dealt of thousands, they added
murder and treason to the crime of
robbery. Had it been practicable to
shoot to death a few of the authors Of
his infamy in 1861 justice and mercy
would have smiled on their taking off.
The ghouls who went yer the battle
fields at night plundering the dead
were men of ono in comparison with
these plunderers. Not even the bounty
jumpers matched them in infamy.
In this month of May, 1898, there are
many more volunteers being fitted out
Than there were in May, 1861. We do
not know that any rascals are now
repeating the diabolism of that time.
But human nature does not greatly
change in 81 years. Fortunately
we have in places of authority in ma
tional and state affairs men who re-
member the frauds that f1ourished in
our great war. Should they be repeat
ed during this war, the nation will not
nav profited so much as it ought to
have lone by the costly lesson of a
sad Observation-Disclosures Post.