The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-03-22
A FORGOTTEN HERO.


esteem and affection of all who knew him
In civil or military life in greater degree
than did the late Maj. Melville c.. Will
kinson. In St. Paul he was beloved by
men of every rank and walk in life as a.
genial, high-minded and unpretentious
gentleman. His services in the field were
those Of a gallant and abe soldier, who
bore with him through life the scars of
wounds received on many a bloody field
He died at the head of his men in an
obscure encounter with a band OF In
dians at Leech lake, and thirty-seven
years Of the most arduous and heroic
service found him at his death compar-
lively unrecognized and unrewarded in
his profession.
1t is not to the national credit that this
brave man has been allowed to pass
away yielding up his life on the battle
field as so many of his brethren in arms
did before him, without the slightest pub
lie testimonial offered or thought of to
his courage and devotion. He was Who'll
lived az he died, without thought of self
and without distinct purpose in life, save
the sustainment OF his character as a
soldier Of the republic. Even now the
miserable allowance in the way Of pen
sion which the government reserves for
the survivors of such as he is not forth
coming, and his widow, without friends
of influence and overwhelmed by the
crushing blow which has fallen upon her,
is confronted by the chill Indifference of
the world and may end her days without
the protection which a grateful nation
should extend to her as a sacred duty
The memory of other men no Drawer
than this gallant soldier, and who render
ed their country no higher service and
made not 1.-THE of the sacrifices, or re-
vealed aught like the heroism which dis
tinguished him throughout his life, has
sufiiced to stir up the generosity OF the
American people. He Will perhaps re-
main aforementioned by the mass Of his
countrymen, and the home which he left
hands of his devoted wife. If it is to be
so. it should at least be known, and the
government, which has no more generous
treatment to extend to its unnumbered
heroes should have the fact made of rec
ord
Death came to this brave gentleman
as the result of the culpab,e neglect and
Indifference of Washington beaurocracy.
Had the war department acted with
either promptitude or intelligence, he
would be alive today, and the promotion
which he had won ten times over might
at last have reached him But he has
passed away, and it is gratifying at least
to record that even thus tardily is the
cruel injustice OF which he was the vic
tim both In life and death finding public
expression. On the initiative Of the Cali
fornia Argonaut, the American press is
engaged In recalling the painful facts
There is reason to hope that the dis
credit which the recital carries with it
to this people and their government may
yet find a remedy.
Here In st. Paul and throughout the
state can be found thousands of men to
raise their voices in protest. It should
be our affair to see to it that justice is
done to the memory Of Maj Wilkinson,
and that he should not be allowed to rest
in his grave and his family to go through
life the victims Of national ingratitude.
Our commercial bodies. our representa-
tives in congress, all the forces of our
social. business and political life should
at once be enlisted at least in saving the
widow of this brave man from the pitt
full consequences which government neg
lect and indifference threaten her with.