Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-15

true that by SO doing he would have peen
enabled to save the sufferings of his own
countrymen who were detained IN the
prison hulks
This shows clearly that the rights of
those whose memory we here recall with
gratitude were sacrificed to meet the ext
gencies in the country's critical hour or
her birth. But it was a balancing or
Washington's obligations.
HE felt it to be higher duty to main
tain that course which would weaken the
enemy and ultimately drive him to peace
than to relieve the sufferings of those OF
his unfortunate countrymen. however Ter
ribly detained upon prison huiks. we
must justify Washington in this conclu-
sion.
What should be emphasized. however
is that the refusal of Washington and the
American authorities to make the ex-
change proposed was not the slightest
Justification for the neglect and cruelty
with which the prisoners of war upon the
prison hulks were treated. That these
abuses arose probably from the fraud ana
cupidity of the guards and immediate at
tendants is probable.
But the officers in higher authority
cannot escape the responsibility that is
necessarily at their door for a failure to
order constant inspection and to protect
the human beings whose lives, as they
from day to day by the awful environ
ment in which they were compelled to
live.
Death Before Treason.
"The men who were confined were
Americans who had taken service on
privateersmen to destroy British COM
merce and to hamper the British opera
tions on the sea and VINO. after their con-
finement, were generally offered the op-
portunity of betraying their allegiance to
= I,o Of he pnf1StlnR
the British navy and engaging in the
suppression of the war against their own
people.
We know that they, with but very few
exceptions, preferred the death wnlch
was present to them every day In their
lives upon these prison ships to the DIS
honor of deserving the cause of their
country.
Efforts from time to time have been
made to put into permahent form an eX-
preston of the gratitude of this govern
ment and it's people to those who thus
offered up their lives rather than to be
unfaithful to their countrys cause. Bull
not until now by governmental aid has a
suitable testimonial been reared In mem
Dry of these heroes and martyrs.
To-day this noble memorial is dedicated
as reminder to living Americans of the
gratitude due to the unknown sufferers
in our countrys cause and as an 1nsp1ra.
ton to future unselfish and unheralded
sacrifice to maintain our institutions OF
liberty and civilization"
Secretary of War Wright rendered a
tribute to the dead prison martyrs In pre-
senting the monument on behalf of the
country to New York state.
Guns Fired at dwelling.
Before the acceptance by Gov. Hughes
the shaft was unveiled by Miss Norton.
A salute Of thirteen guns was. fire.
On behalf of the city the monument
was accepted by President of the Board
of Aldermen MCGOWAN. Daniel +. Coha-
| lan grand sachem of the Tammany Socie-
| ty delivered the closing address. Taps was
| sounded by union veterans who were
| prisoners during the civil war.
| Mr. Taft left for Washington tonight
| on the 6:14 o'clock express. While hurry
| ing to his train he was recognized by a
| crowd of foot ball fans who were return
| ing from the Yale-Princeton game. There
| was an outburst of cheering. Mr.. Taft
acknowledged the compliment by lifting his
| hat.
The President-elect was escorted to the
| train by Gov. Fort of New Jersey. Tim
| othy l.. Woodruff of New York and
| his brother. Henry Taft.