Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1912-04-10

tUCH ohdedS ESPtdtFe0s
The judge advocate general OF the
army adds a memorandum TO the Sec
rotary OF wars report. He says:
The band of Apache Indians who
were established on the Indian reser-
walton at Fort Sill In 1894 had been
engaged for many years prior to 1886
In acts OF hostility against the people
OF the United States. These acts
were terminated by their surrender
to the military authorities near Fort
Bowie. Ariz., in September, 1886.
With a view to their protection they
were sent to San Antonio. Texas.
where they remained for a time until
some permanent arrangement could
be made for their care and protec-
ton. They were finally located at
Fort Marion, Fla. where they re-
manned for a number OF years. AS
Fort Marion was found to be an I'M
suitable place they were subsequently
removed to Mount Vernon barracks.
Ala.
AS the climate at Fort Marion
and Mount Vernon barracks was
quite different from that to which
they had been accustomed in San
Antonio. Arizona and northern Mexico.
disease from which they had thereto
fore been immune crept in among
them and upon full consideration Of
the situation by the secretary of war
they were permanently established on
tho Fort Cut AfgIs&orv rooo-r-c4tou IN
1894.
'As these Indians had been engaged
In the commission of hostile acts for
a number of years they were regard
ed, at their surrender. as occupying
the status OF prisoners OF war and
were subsisted and maintained as
such. AS the hostilities in which they
had taken part have long ceased to
exist, their temporary status as pris-
oners of war terminated. and they
have since been regarded as a band
Of dependent Indians held in custody
Of the United States and under the
special protection and control of the
war department This status, as to
some of its essential incidents. con-
tinues to exist"
War over Inscription.
In the midst of all the debates
and chickering's on the tariff and
appropriate bills and all the tu-
multi and shouting of politics Wash
ington is finding time to have some ex-
element over a matter of interroga-
ton marks and exclamation points.
The burning issue is how the inscrip-
ton on the John Jaul Jones statue to
be erected in Potomac park shall be
punctuated.
The controversy is over the cele-
brated reply Of Jones to the inquiry OF
the Scraps If he was ready to sur
render
Question or Exclamation
In his own account of the battle
Jones states that his reply was some
thing to this effect: Il do not, but l
intend to make you surrender" Lieu
tenant Dale. who also wrote an ac-
count of the battle, ascribed to Jones
the more spirited reply: Surrender!
have just begun to fight"
1t is over this world-famous phrase
that the second battle RACES. The con-
testants do not hesitate to substitute
the words Of Dale for those OF Jones,
for the phrase is more striking. but. In
the opinion OF the critics, the writer
of the inscription proposes to weaken
the retort by means OF second rate
punctuation. ignoring the peculiar
punch and force of the exclamation
point as compared with the quotation
mark, he proposes that Jones reply.
Yankee-like. begin with a question.
and then he would fire a second
rhetorical barrel by exploding an ex-
clamation point at the end Of the SEN
tence
Thus, waving aside the historical
accuracy OF the Jones quotation. II
would stand thus:
Surrender? l have only begun to
fight!"
Instead of thus:
Surrender l have only begun to
fight"
Majority for QUESTION Mark.
The exclamation point dg1tatOrH
have put up their case 10 the authori-
ties in charge and have been gravely
informed that they do not win. The
question marks appears to have a ma
jority OF the delegates. and there is
no evidence to show that their con-
vention was not regularly called under
the approved rules OF the national
committee. The case can hardly be
taken up to congress. for what con
gress does not know about punctua-
ton must be supplied by the proof
readers of the government printing Of
fee. Neither can the navy department
take a hand. for 1t has John Paul
Jones memorial Of its own. and one
trouble at a time is enough.
Speaking of the Jones memorial at
Annapolis. by the way, the inscription
to be attached to that has been select
ed by a master of the art. It avoids
any competition in language by confin-
ing itself to q single virile phrase
which In a line gives Jones the pio-
neer place among American naval
heroes and at the same time exalts
him to the highest ranks. It is this;
He was the FIRST to give 10 our navy
the traditions Of heroism and vic
tory"