The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-03-25
WHERE Is THE DIFFERENCE
Sherldan's Devastation OF the
Valley of Virginia and SPANS Treatment
of Cubans as far as Intent 10 Involved I:


Turkey, y. c., March %.
Editors Messenger:
The savagery Of Spain in its oppres-
sions Of the Cubans is justly condemn
ed by all humane people, and the suf-
eringS Of her victims excite our warm
est sympathies. But is there not dan
ger Of overstepping our line of duty.
and of approving measures Of relief
unwarranted by the laws OF nations,
and inaugurated by those whose past
record casts a cloud over their claim
TO superior humanity?
The Messenger of yesterday publish
ed a dispatch announcing Mr.. Mckin
ley's purpo to send, with or without
SPANS permission, food and medicine
and clothing to the wretched Cubans,
which is to cause the name of William
Mckinley to be held in sacred rever
ence by the Cuban generations" etc.
Now, during the war for the subjuga-
ton of the southern states, medicines
were cOntrabondS of war; and as to
food and clothing. the following au-
thentic statements in Vol. XLIII, Series
1, War Records, do not reflect much
credit on the humanity of several dis
tinguished gentlemen:
1. General Sheridan reported in
September, 1S64-p. 3O-that he had ali
grain and forage destroyed between
t1~drTlSOnDufS ana StauntOn.
2. On October 7th-ibid-he report
ed that all grain and forage had been
destroyed from the Blue Ridge to
North Mountain, including 1000
barns filled with wheat, hay and farm
ing implements; yer seventy mills fill
ed with flour and wheat" and there
were driven off %, 900 head of stock"
not including 5000 sheep, which had
been killed. The destruction included
"the Luray valley and Little Fort val
ley. as we'll as the main valley" and
a large number of horses were car
ried off, how many he did not know
Tomorrow he continues, 81 will con-
tinue the destruction of wheat, forage,
ETC., down to she Hill. When this
is completed, the valley, from Winches-
ter up to Stanton, ninety-twO miles,
will have but little in it for man or
beast"
3. On November 24th-p. 37-he re-
ported captured and destroyed" prop
erty as follows; Horses 3,772, mules 545,
-four mills Il, wollen mills 1, saw mills
s, barns 1000, furnaces Z, tanneries 4,
wheat 435, SO2 bushels, oats $1,000 bush
els, corn 77,176 bushels, iOur STA barrels,
hay 20, 1877 tons, fodder 500 tons, straw
$50 tons, beef cattle 10, 91S, sheep II, 900
swine Is, 200, calves $50, bacon and hams
II, 900 pounds, tobacco 10000 pounds
rallS S4I miles. pOtaCOeS Z,5UO DuSnefS
and cotton yarn 1866 pounds.
I'm addition to all this thirty dwelling
houses were burned, and Household
and kitchen furniture and money
bonds, plate, etc., pillaged."-See p. SGT
of Vol. II, Rise and FaI Of the Con
federate Government"
All this vandalism was done sin c%~ ,
pliance with instructions of the hauta,
ant general commanding."-Saa n es9
of the above mentionrd War Recor
volume.
1t Us u~neracefu1 to inject this dis
oroan note into the apparent har
r1ony now ~pervading the union. bu,
the temptation cans be resisted to ash
whether the people who did these
things-Major Mckinley was under
Sheridan (ibid, p. 1868 4-deserve al
the comiHendation they are receiving
for be~nevolence and humanity?
Put the boot on the other leg, anG
suppose Spain had offered, even in q
non-menancing way, to relieve the dis
tress of the people in the valley of Vir-
glnia, who were deprived of food and
medicine and clothing" what would
the destroyerS have done?
Yours very truly,
r. F. GRADY.