Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1898-08-27
Punish the Guilty.

against Ofnciai8 VINO nave had to d(
with the treatment of the soldiers of oul
army. From every part of the country
comes demands that the troops from diff
ferent states be returned home. Cover
nor Black, of the Empire State, lares
not give out for publication the repor,
of his Surgeon General who was sent to
investigate the condition OF affairs al
Chickamauga Park. lie discovered
more than four hundred cases of typhoid
fever in the ranks of the 9Th New York
which, for long time, was brigaded
with the LIST Vermont. Thus the peo-
pie of this city can see that their boys
and friends have been in the midst of a
hot bed of fever. Even Algcr, when Q
visited the camp at Montauk the other
day abolished the army red tape. so
shocked was he with the serious condi-
ton of affairs. But, like the man who
locked the barn door after the horse
had been stolen, Alger and his depart
ment are late. Such action does not re-
store to weeping mothers the only son
who has been the victim of starvation
or incompetent medical treatment. 1t
will not bring back from the grave the
husband who died for want of the CON-
forts needed by those who are i'll.
The loyal sister who watched her
brother march away with volunteers
will not welcome home the boy who has
died because of the failure of the war
department to provide for his care when
in the hospital.
But if Secretary Alger has at last
opened his eyes to the fact that the Of
ticers in his department have either been
piling up gold for themselves, while
starving the army heroes, or else have
failed to yet discover the wants of our
volunteers, and the regulars, he should
lose no time in making these guilty par
ties pay the penalty.
This war was started for the purpose
OF feeding the starving Cubans. Not
ship load of food has been landed since
the war opened, but judging from all
reports there has been some person
connectad with both the Medical and the
Comnissary departments Of onr own
army, who desired to try the cxtermina-
ton policy of the heartless Weyler,
who up to the opening of this war was
supposed to have sole ownership of that
method of murder. No one blames
President Mckinley for this serious con-
diton OF affairs. Men of every political
faith are loud in praise of our able
Commander in Chief. He was once a
soldier and knows what soldier must
undergo while wearing his nations uni
form in time of war. William McKin-
ley is too kind hearted to allow any
such treatment as have been given his
soldiers, to escape punishment. That
he will find the guilty parties none of
those who know his record doubt. But
it is to be hoped that he will act
with promptness in this matter, for
every day the wires click another long
list of dead and dying boys in blue.
The trouble between Miles, Alger. Cor
Din and SKATER is by no means so i'm
oortant that it must be investigated be-
ore the soldiers in the army camps and
III the transports are given attention.
The American people know what our
soldier boys gave up when they enlisted
n the army, and when the tales of suf-
ering and neglect are given to the pub
ic we see rising tide of Indignation. {
10 one will be allowed to escape the I
punishment which should he melted out =,
o the "criminal" who has been respon- d
IDLE for tho murder of such large +
lumber of boys in blue, and who has i
aused the hospitals to be crowded today i
nth the stricken victims of fever. Be- y
ore we erect any monuments let US
ring to speedy justice tho cred tape"
honey making swindlers, whoever they =.
lay be, who are to blame for the e
retched condition of our army. Mere {
pologies will not answer the demands q
the American people. Dollars and n
,nts can never settle the crime. The 8
ost severe punishment should DO I
wen the men who from every indica- q
on have reaped fortune by neglect r
g those under their control. Whether b.
g guilty are major-generals or pri- .,
''es they should not escape. This "
'vernment provided sufficient comfort CO
r the soldiers. Why did they not re- nj M
i've what was intended for them? Let re
@ guilty answer, or be punished, is the
mand of every citizen of our republic.