The age-herald., 1898-09-06
THE HORRORS
OF PEACE
prom the Fiorlda IonrnaI.

From the Florida Journal.
 We have all heard Of the horrors of war, but some of us have something yet to learn of the horrors of peace, such as now exist at Camp Cuba Libre in this city. The first business of a newspaper is to tell the truth, and to expose corruption and ineffciency in high places or low; but the selection of Jaqksonville as place for the concentra- 7tioll of troops has done so much for the city, in a financial way that the local press has found it only too easy to gloss over disaareeable facts and to conceal the true stat2 of affairs in certain directions. BGA the Journal is open to no such in- fuern 5. Humanity is one thing, money anotIsr. and certain facts in connection with the treatment of the sick and dying at the camp are. in our judgment such as to justify the fullest exposure and sternest condemnation possible.
 A few days since lady of this city. who had gone to the camp on mission of mercy passed an open tent which shell tered three men. What she saw there riv- eted her attention and she entered. One of the soldiers was seated by low camp cot, idly staring at an illustrated paper. the second was absorbed in paper
 
 the cot, the death sweat already upon his brow, and thick swarm of flies settling upon his paliid face
 For moment the good Samaritan re- garded the military nurses" in silence. Then came the query:
 What are you two men doing here? Nursing this man," replied the5 expert with the novel.
 s<You sear, t,- ha <5e.1is.. ..1... .i..., him."
 The ''nurse" with the paper then took up the tale. "Eady, we cant do anything more for this one. Don't you see he's dy- ing?"
 Yes" was the indignant reply, q see tnat' ana see something else. see that ne Is dying like dog-uncared for and neg iected. Why, in the name of common de- cehcy' cant you let the poor boy die in peace ana brush those flies from his face?'
 The reply Is not matter of record, but the case cited is by no means an isolated one. As that soldier died lying practically alone and in g stifing tent. with only two brutal attendants selected at random from nis company, so others are every day dv Ing, lar from their homes and those who love them, neglected and forsaken in tba midst of plenty, and surrounded by waste prohigaey and corruption such as can he duplicated only by reference to the worst days of the civil war
 Fortunately it is not at all dif8cuIt +o fix the responsibility for state of affairs that Is both disgraceful and dange ous- disgraceful to the military authorities and dangerous to the morale of the troops. In every army the rank and file invariably take their cue from their superior officers and any man who cares to know inc true cause or the brutal indifference to human suHerlng, of the confusion, waste and monumental fncapacity that has in certain olrectlons characterized the management of Camp Cuba Libre from the dev its white tents first glittered in the sunshine or Sprmgheld, need only cast critical eve In the direction of a certain class of off, cers. N ~
 These men, most of whom owe their posi. tlons to political pull and family infiuence, may be found any night in the week lined up in solid array against the bars of Ray street, or disporting themselves in a man ner quite as offensive in resorts even more questionable in character The officer of this type may be described as an orna- mental nuisance, who sits up late rises later, and is generally so much under the influence of drink as to be dead to the call or duty. Some of the regimentaI surgeons are tarred with the same doubtful stick. and the sooner their names are published the sooner such worthless superfuities are drummed out of the service-the better for all concerned.
 Those who are interested in concealine from the public the true state of affairs Will. of course seek refuge in a flat denial or these charges. Others will say that the officers are not all a1fke and that in many commands the men are carefully cared for and given every attention possible under the circumstances. This is all true, and 1t is especially true of such clean commands as the Third Nebraska which, under Coll Oppl RrVan A. ciency and sobriety. But one death has taken place in this regiment, and when the dying soldier closed his eyes, his colonel was where he belonged-by the side of the youth who had committed himself to his keeping, and whose life was as truly sac rif1ced upon the altar of his country as if he had laid it down in the storm and stress of battle