Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-10-26

falls not alone on the mou themselves,
but on their families and communi-
ties, is frlghttul 70 contemplate.
ttt
A sus. tension OF hostlllties provi-
dentially interfered to save our glor-
iOus army from utter destruction.
and the government, forced by action
which was little less than insubor-
dination and after urgent requests
had been made by the general in
command, directed the return OF
what was left OF the fever stricken
half starved men to theirown country,
What now ensuedp How did we bring
home our victorious and laurel laden
hosts? Many OF them like beasts of
the field, Ia uncleaned cattle trans
ports. 1t Is needless TO repeat the
undenled horrors OF those journeys
the stifiing is'over- crowding. the lack
OF proper food, the undrinkable
water, the lack of ice, the in
sufficiency Of medicines, surgeons and
nurses, the horrible want Of conven-
fences for the sick and dying, the
negligence of many whose duty IL was
to care for the needy, the sale of food
at exOrbltant prices TO those who
could pay, and the neglect Of those
who could not. All these charges are
substantiated by responsible persons
who were present and who we're we'll
aware that by testifying to them
they would bring upon themselves
the anlmosity OF their superiors. We
believe that this apprehension of
Official displeasure has been the cause
OF the suppression OF many unpleasant
truths, which, finding no vent
through official channels. are now
finding expression through private
means.
The management OF the medical de-
partment has been as bad as that Of
the commlssary department, not
merely In the cases OF the home com
ing transports referred to, but In the
hospitals. The state of affairs is in.
deed terrible when soldier fears
going to his execution. During the
whole war there has been no greater
dread among the army than that Of
being sent te suffer untold horrors aud
crueltles at the hands OF unfeelluR
nurses and attendants In the hospi-
tails. The soldiers would rather die ia
their tents, with such care as associates
could give them, and their last de-
spairi1g cry tO'their "bunkle," when
they felt themselves falntlng from
sickness, was, Don't let them take
me to the hospital" We do not wish
this charge to be misunderstood as a
sweeping and lndiscrImlnate coBdem-
nation of the whole personnel of the
medical service. Surgeons and expe-
rlenced nurses are as self sacrificing
aud patriotic body OF men aud
women as we have In the country, as
Is proved by their countless noble and
heroic acts, but there was not half
enough OF them and they we're greatly
OYerworked. That there was not
enough Of them is the first aud very
serious charge against the medical
department.
ttt
The doctors, for some unknown
reason, seemed TO be afraid 10 control
the attendants OF nurses, and the lat
ter are charged 10 many cases with
brutality that was simply shocking
and scarcely credible, even to the ex-
tent OF drunkenness, physical violence
10 helpless patients, venality, and the
sale or use by themselves OF delIcacles
intended for the sick,In certain instan
ces the horror OF hospital life was so
great that patients almost at the door
OF death have been known to make
their escape with the assistance OF
outsiders, as II escaping from prison.
ttt
The lash OF public indignation will
surely iniiict its stripes. The out
RACES have been too ilagrant aud pub
lie sentiment is too highly aroused to
permit the matter TO be passed over
lightly. II the guilty are not brought
TO light, there is danger that the
OF the public scorn will
fall on the innocent. Justice TO the
brave, upright and true officials who
have labored lncessantly, unselfishly
and intelligently for the success,
which under your wise adminlstra-
tion, has crowned our arms; justice
TO the valiant soldiers Ia the ranks,
who have herolcally suffered Ia their
cOuntry's cause, and justice TO our
natlonal character which reYOlts at
every form OF cruelty and wickedness,
demands that these matters be
fearlessly proted 10 the bottom and
The guilty found out.
---s--.
Deafness Cannot Be Cured
by local applications as they caanOt
reach the diseased portion OF the ear.
There IL Cnlv one WAY tO curQ daaf-