The National tribune., 1910-01-27

of the United States by the erection Of
monument to the memory of Capt
Henry Wirz. late Commander of An
dersonville Prison. This person, who
for time had supreme command of
the prison, its management and admin
istration. after AppomattoX was indict-
cd by Government authorities for in
iuring the health and destroying by
his order and authority the lives of
Union soldiers confined in prison, and
under his control, by subiecting them
To torture and great suffering; by con-
timing them in unhealthy and unwhole-
some quarters; BY exposing them to the
inclemency of the weather, the dews
and burning Summer by compelling
the use of impnre water and by fur
nishing insufficient and unwholesome
food; also for establishing the Dead
Line and ordering the guards to shoot
down any prisoner attempting to cross
II, and for keeping and using blood
hounds and with them hunting down
prisoners attempting to escape; also for
torturing prisoners by putting them in
stocks and by reason of cruelties in vio-
lation of the rules of civilized warfare
wilfully causing the death of many
prisoners under his control.
The tribunal that tried him, legally
constituted and organized, deliberately
tried him by hearing the testimony of
late Confederates and Union soldiers
and officers and official records. He
was convicted, the verdict approved by
Andrew Johnson, the then President
of the United States. The erection of
this monument cannot reverse in senti-
ment or fact the formal verdict of the
court and tribunal that thried the case.
1t can serve no good purpose in promot-
ing the good will, peace and content
ment of all sections of our country.
The proceedings of the dedication,
May II last may not be regarded as
having the Importance of the approval
of any considerable number of citizens
of the States lately composing the Con-
federacy, when it is recalled that it is
located in a comparatively obscure spot
after refusal by proper authorities its
erection in more prominent places. IT
is observed, also, in the proceedings of
dedication, that the lady who unvailed
the monument was the daughter of
Capt. WirZ. We may not give impor-
tance to the event by making contro-
versy with the daughter, but rather
think the project was the effort of the
daughter, in tender affection, to pay
a tribute to her father. In recollec-
ton of the proceedings, 1 recall the trial
in court of young man for a serious
offense. The testimony of his guilt was
convincing and clear. but his mother
an alibi. The only cross-examination
by the attorney for the prosecution was
to ask, Are you the defendants moth
er?" with the added remark THAT is
all" The improbable story narrated
by the mother came from the love
of mother for her child.
We may not, then. give undue i'm
portance to an occurrence that, 3p-
parentiy, comes from the influence of
hn "a 1I nf n hi fnf
her father. This monument will not
reverse the verdict of court that was
approved by the President of the United
States, nor change the truth of history.
But, comrades, the shadows of our
lives are lengthening. In this years
parade and inspection the orderly may
report US present. Next year he may
report many only accounted for" 1t
is not good for us never to meet each
other while we live. We do not meet
on these periodical occasions to per-
petuate the angry purposes of war, that
and dissension may follow
in the country; but
Lulled in the countless chambers of the
brain, Ist
Our thoughts rare linked by many a
hidden chain, ~
Awake but one, and 10! what myriads
Each stamps the image as the other
flies. ..sa.
We want our comrades, who, over
come by the enemy, felt the casualties
of imprisonment, to- be of our asso-
citation and it's good purposes.
We rejoice. then, that during the past
year comrades in different parts of the
are joining our association by
local organizations. Our COM
rades in Portland. Me, Harrisburg, Pa,
and here in this progressive. city of Salt
Lake have formally organized asso-
Citations. To these new cooperating To-
cal organizations this National Asso-
citation extends cordial welcome and
says to our comrades elsewhere go and