The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-21
MRS. DAVIS TO GEN. MILES.
DEMANDS THAT HE PUBLISH A
LETTER HE SAYS SHE WROTE.
She says She Has No Recoll cotton or writing
Him Her Thanks for Kind Treatment
Of Her HuSband-Seyerely Arraigns
HIS Honor as Gentleman.

SAVANNAH. Ga. Feb 20.--In a letter to
the savannah Press, Mr.. Jefferson Dlvs
calls upon Gen Nelson A Miles 20 produce
in full photogra phic copy Of a letter which
he saws he received from her thanking
him for his care Of jefferson Davis while
n prisoner, or 10 cease his references TO
il To Justify his treat ment Of the President
Of the Confederacy. She says in her
letter.
AS | understand. Gen. Miles claims
that he has such note in his possession.
/ have not tho least memory Of having
written such a note 10 him. It Ia con-
ceivablo that, while ignorant Of the facts
or In hopeful recognition Of some improve
ment In the treatment inflicted upon my
husband. may have made some acknowl-
edgment Of what | may have construed
as common humanity at time when
had known the facts as they existed
never could nor would have written save
in indignant protest.
Forty years have passed since Gen.
Miles perpetra;ed the cruelties for which
he il now undergoing some measure OF
punishment az the hands Of his own pub
lie, During that period he has not hest
tated to shift the responsibility for his act
upon others. The publication Of the in
strictions under which he claims 10 have
acted and the correspondence which led
UP to them have long since convinced
every candid mind that his treatment Of
Mr. Davis was gratuitous. neither justi-
fed nor required by the orders OF his SUI
peHors
IT has long since conciusively appeared
that he invited authority TO do what he
knew 10 be unnecessary and cruel and that
he perverted the Instructions which he
did receive into a license 10 iniict indignity
and needless suffering upon helpless prls-
oner overwhelmed by misfortunes and in
the agony Of physical pain.
No one at any time could by any posi-
bility have become more thoroughly con-
WINGED than Gen. Miles that pressing
necessity was upon him to establish by every
scrap of evidence that he had been mis-
understood or nisrepresented The public
mind has long ago passed the point where
G-n. Miles by mere assertion could re-
verse the Judgment passed upon him. His
distinguished accuser was known OF all
men to be Of spotless honor, one who could
not by any possibility stoop to misepre-
sent the most trivial net Of his most con-
temptble enemy.
The public attention cannot be de-
Elected from the terrible charges under
which Gen Miles rests by a controversy
over a letter concerning even the existence
Of which no stronger proof Is advanced
than the hare assertion Of Gen. Miles. But
in SO far as il may b. Of any importance,
my estimate Of Gen Miles's character is
such that am constrained to demand that,
If the letter exists a Photographic repro
duction, showing the date, the place of
writing. the contents and the signature,
be given to the public II it is Of the vital
importance which Gen. Miles seems TO
claim surely the situation from his own
standpoint suggests that the slight trouble
involved would be justified
Awakened TO the Nervousness Of his
conduct by a closer association with educated
gentlemen he doubtless feels the shame
which stabs and clings to him now that
the passions attendant upon war arc pass
ing away and he stands forth revealed
TO his countrymen in his true light.
we are cautioned in Holy Writ not TO
bring railing accusation against any
sinner however great his fault, and do
not desire any controversy with any one,
especially not with one whose perceptions
Of truth are so vague and misty. Respect