The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1914-12-24
Germans More Humane Than FedersIs.

From the Richmond News LEADER
While the widespread feeling of sympa-
thy with the poor Belgians has taken SUBJ
stantial shape in SO many of the States in
the large contributions Of money, clothing
and provisions, reported in the papers, it
is just as we'll to remember that the Ger
mans have shown, at least, enough hu-
manity to signify their willingness that the
articles in question should reach the suf-
ferers for whom they are intended.
There is little incident which occurred
fifty years ago that should make us of the
South, at least, appreciate this concession
on the part of the Germans, as little meri-
torious as it may at first seem in the face
of the barbarous devastations of Belgian
territory and tremendous levies imposed
upon the Belgian cities by the German
conquerors. In the war for Southern inde-
pendence, Southern soldiers captured in
the field underwent many sufferings in the
ill-kept Northern prison pens, and under
this condition of things many kind-hearted
ladies in England of high rank or social
position got up bazaar for the relief of
the Confederate soldiers confined in the
prisons of the United States. The sales Of
the articles and gifts to this enterprise
made it's profits amount to S85, 900, which
sum Lord Wharncliffe, in behalf of the
| lady patronesses of the charity, requested
permission of Mr.. Lincoln's government to
send and distribute to the prisoners by the
hands of their agent.
! This request, couched in language as
concliatory as possible, Mr.. Charles Fran
els Adams, the United States minister in
London, consented to transmit to Wash
ington. But the application was peremp-
torily declined as offensive and insulting
Mr.. Seward, the Secretary of State, either
1 writing with the consent of Mr.. Lincoln
or in contempt of him, as he never seemed
to have much opinion of Lincoln's charac-
ter or abilities, directed truculent letter
to Mr.. Adams, which, in charging Lore
Wharncliffe and the ladies of the bazaal
with insulting the United States, contained
a severe reflection upon the Uuited States
minister who permitted 'the insult tt
come through his hands. The Secretary
asserted roundly that "while the United
States have ample means for the supper
of prisoners, as we'll as for every othe
exigency of war, the insurgents who have
blindly rushed into that condition are sui
fering no privations that appeal for relic
or charity either at home or Abroad
i This letter is dated Dec. 5, 1854, ant
note the words: "The United States hav,
ample means for the support of prisoners.
They constitute terrible indictment o
the United States Government, and leav'
no excuse for the awful mortality that pre-
vailed among the Southern prisoners il
the Northern prisons.
AS in the case of the Germans, so in tn,
case of the English, with whom, I mus
confess, have strong sympathy, our crit
icisms should be held somewhat in abey
ance. Some people, believe, have shown
a disposition to condemn England for it
new and stringent rules in regard to wha
may be deemed hostile goods carried b,
!, neutral ships, but it is we'll to remembe
that President Lincoln made chloroforn
and other medicines necessary for the sicl
and wounded contraband of war-a regu
lation certainly contrary to every sugges
ton of humanity.
LYON G.. TYLER.
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