Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-11-02
GERMAN CULTURE AND
AMERICAN NATURE


AMERICAN NATURE
Newspapers of America and Eu-
rope are still deploring the sad fate
of Miss Cavell, the English nurse,
who was recently executed by the
Germans. A universal protest has
spread over the civilized world at TINS
act of the Kaiser. 1t is coupled with
the destruction of the Lusitania and
is being portrayed in all its nor
5rors. The Norfolk Virginia Pilot yes
terday contained the following:
Whatever cruelties may have, been
committed in the name OF the Uniteo
States during the war against the
Confederacy, and they were not lew,
there is no blot on the record SO oe-
ev wing CT adherence as the Kill !.
~ of women for such violations OF
~ military code as suiliced the Ger-
rs,a authorities as reason Tor The
.cution of Miss Cavell. This Eng
.sh girl was not even accused o.
espionage with intent to further the
interests of Germany's enemies by
information of any movements. her
offense was in giving aid and COM
fort to prisoners of wal and IN as
sisting Belgians to escape from the
German lines into neutral Or friendly
territory. Her case was not like that
of Belle Boyd, the Female scout, who
furnished the Confederate generals
with advance knowledge of the
movements of Federal troops which
more than once proved decisive of a
campaign. She entered the Union
camps under assumed names and by
various strategems and DISCUSSES
wormed herself into the confidence OF
Union commanders with the deliber-
ate purpose of betraying it. When
e-:r''v caught no punishment was
ycept mild Imprisonment.
or he ;her hand Miss Van Lew
lives Ia richmond during the war
and w;,s instant in acts of great
tre5Sae. ling secret communlca-
sion IA sal authorities at Wash
.ygtSa ,,d eeeularly supplying them
sgaiya paEE &c Confederate condi-
tions and projections. Such was the
value attached to her service as d
spy by the Federal officials that after
the Union cause had triumphed she
was appointed postmistress of Rich-
mond by President Grant, Yet al
though her reasonable activities were
known to the Confederate govern
ment she suffered no other penalty
than being kept under surveillance
in her own home.
Apologists for the brutal killing
of Miss Cavell aver that the hanging
of Mrs. Surratt under sentence by a
military court furnishes parallel
which should debar Americans from
harsh judgment, Of the German pro
cedure. But the cases are essentially
different, the question Of Mrs. Sur
rats guilt was a matter open &c
doubt; bud if she was guilty the
crime for which she was arralgnea
was a completely in a foul and cow
ardly assassination and her life was
fairly forfeit to outraged law, Divine
and human. She was tried at Time
when popular passion was stirred al
most to madness by the murder OF
President Lincoln, and yet the court
which convicted her accompanied tnat
verdict with a recommendation for
mercy. there were urgent pleas from
the press and people Of all sections
that her sentence bin committed, and
the predominant public sentiment was
that GA woman who had not actual
" committed murder, whose part IN
the crime was not shown beyond .
reasonable doubt, should not have
been sent to the galiows."
1t is, indeed, highly probable that
conseis OF mercy would have prevail
cd had not two malignant members
of the Cabinet, Stanton and Holt.
taken measures to seclude President
Johnson from approach during the
night preceding the execution, SC
that petitions backed by the strongest
influences in Washington were nor
seen bv him until too late. Miss Ca
veil was accused of nothing calling
for the deep damnation of her taking
off. She was brought before drum
head cour. which treated her ven-a!
ofenses as though they had been
heinous crimes; and, We have yet 70
hear Of a single German Official, clvi
or military. o. Ga;inan newspaper o.
citizen, raising voice to avert the
tragedy or to rerrohate it after II
had passed beyond prevention.