Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-10-15
A nODERN pALADIN.


The whole country will be Impress-
ed BY the testimony Of Maj Gen.
/ Joseph Wheeler. Emanatng, as it
does. from an officer who bore lead
ing part in the war, who was III the
very forefront of the fighting line be-
/ fore Santiago, who was an eye witness
OF the beginning and the ending Of the
dramatic incideat, aud who, better
than any other man alive is qualified
to frame its epilogue, this testimony
comes to us with peculiar sanction
Of authority, and appeals to our con
/ tidence with overwhelming force.
Gen. Wheeler is as modest in his
private capacity as he is gallant and
impetuous in battle A mider man
never lived, a sweeter and more gra-
cious character it would be impossible
to find. Those who have read his
story, as given so faithfully aud
vividly in the Associated Press report,
are struck with its simplicity, its
kindness, its embracing sympathy.
He paws the noblest tribute to the
men of his command He repudiates
the slightest hint that they were
complaiutants aud maligners He does
not believe that his followers, who
behaved so brilliantly upon the
bloody slopes Of San Juan, could
possibly have degenerated into fault
finders and common scolds. He
speaks for them with emphasis. He
makes himself responsible for their
manhood and fidelity. He rebukes
in his own person, in his patient en-
durance of all hardship, in his stead
fast and unconscious heroism, the
false accusations, the peevish remon-
STATIONS, the foolish and the feeble
outcries that have been lavished on
the government by thougAtless or
designing men.
His statement of the case, as regards
both Santiago and Camp Wikoff, is so
remarkable-in its simple, straight,
forward candor, in its innocence OF
the rebuke it carries with it, in its
evident truthfulness. and yet in its
manifest effort to avoid the shadow Of
reproach against any one-that we
cannot examine it without an instant
recognition OF the mans generous
and chivalric character. OF all the
reckless and malignant scandals that
have been circulated touching Camp
| Wikoff, he leaves not one unscotched
and yet he does this III perfect tenn
perance, not seeming to realize that
he is dissipating tissue of rancorous
mendacity, and not limiting at the
smallest resentment OF offenses that a
man of his high soul must needs re-
gard with sorrow and contempt. He
spoke as one above the mean and
vicious things that had been flung at
him-as one who had not seen OF
smelled them; as one who, if he were
indeed aware of them, would rather
screen than brand them. To nc
woman did he ever allude except in
terms of kindly Difference. OF the
newspapers that had been busy with
his fame to smirch it, he only said
that he welcomed their efforts to dis
cover and to cure abuses. No word OF
bitterness and eensure left his lips
He dignified no lie by an explicit
challenge. He told his story as
straightly, as kindly. and as sweetly
as any Galahad might have done, and
yet when all was said the fabric of
vicious falsehood, of insolent preteu.
sion, of odious malice that had been
presented to him, lay at his feet an
utter and malodorous wreck.
The Paladins did not vanish with
the days Of chivalry. In all their
ranks, not excepting even the brilliant
group that formed the encourage Of
Charlemagne. there never breathed a
purer or more knightly soul than
dwells in General Joe Wheeler. -
Washington Post
THE WONDERS or SCIENCE.