Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1898-08-23
Where Is The Blame.

1t has long been the proud boast O
the American people that we did not re
quire large standing army. or when
ever the nation was at war. volunteers
responded in prompt manner. The
recent conflict WAS no exception to thil
rule, and from every section Of the
country came the defenders Of the old
banner of the republic. Tho men who
left homes Of plenty, the volunteers who
said farewell to the heavily loaded table
of the New England farm house; the
soldiers who departed from the mansion
of the banker where the tables were
laden with good things; the mechanic
who from his own well filled table
marched to the army camp, had right
to expect that the food would be both
wholesome and sufficient. The mothers
and the wives who babe their sons and
husbands 90 forth to fight in defence OF
the Republic had right to expect that
medical assistance would always be
ready when their loved ones were
obliged to answer Tho sick call and be
laid on the hospital cot. This govern
ment is not financial wreck. There
are abundant resources at the command
Of the proper officials.
There is, then no excuse for uti,g the
soldiers in the manner that we learn the
volunteers have been treated. The
most incompetent men have been in
charge Of the various departments hav-
ing to do with the care Of the sick and
the hungry defenders of the flag. After
those who should have been given the
best of medical treatment were neglec-
ted for hours simply because thcre were
not enough medical attendants or be-
cause some one in charge thought it
necessary to take ride with his friends
to near by city, returning to find his
charge dead. No better illustration of
incompetent management can be given
than is seen where more than 200 sick
Vermonters were sent from Chicamauga
to Fort Ethan Allen with only one
physician in charge. While the soldiers
on this train were enthusiastic in their
praise of DR.. Jackson whose kindness
has given him popularity that will
never be forgotten, yet Jackson himself
was liable to be taken sick with
this unreasonable burden on his shoul-
ders. What would have been tho
condition in that Case?
Oftentimes food has been lacking as
we'll as medical care. Such treatment
of the bravo men who were ready to
risk their lives to save the nations flag
and free the Cubans will not be very
good incentive for more recruits should
the Republic again require the services
of volunteer army.
Now there was never yet = wrong
without cause somewhere. Some off,
cial must DO to blame for the serious
condition among the soldiers who have
spent their war days at fever breeding
camps or in the trenches Of Santiago.
Shall we blame the Secretary of the
War department? He is now engaged
in literary effort to shift tho mighty
burden upon the shoulders Of others.
Shall We blame the President? Not
soldier will blame tho Commonder-in-
chief for he is in no way to blame. In
vestigation shows that in Washington
officials have furnished everything
necessary for the comfort OF the sol.
iiers, but that departments have either
from inability or other cause not been
Equal to the task assigned them. When
his war is over it is to be hoped that
most rigid investigation will be held
md that the American people will know
Who is to blame for the blunders and
he "murders" that have been commit
ed in the camps Of our army. May
ONE one be able to find out why ii was
hat our boys were instructed to keep
ilent when they got home as to the way
hey were used at Chickamauga.