Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-02-18
WHAT A LIE
(From Covington News.)

long ago let it's hatred of the South
run it's course. For a number of
years it had Disguised decent people
with its unjust criticism of the
South and the many lies about us
which filled that sheet.
But for several years of late it had
seemed to become sane or informed
on this matter, and there was occas-
ionally to be read in its columns some
evidence that it not only was unlearn-
ing some of its lack of knowledge OF
the South's history but was also maxi
ing an honest effort to understand the
South
But, like a whole feet of submar-
ines arising out of hitherto perfect
ly peaceful sea came an article in its
issue of the 18th instant to destroy all
the influences of these few years of
good behavior
1t is an editorial under the title OF
"The Morals of Slavery"
This editorial considers Germanys
enslavement of the Belgium working
men. Won Kissing, the German officer,
is held UP for the just execration OF
mankind for his tearing a quarter OF
million Belgium workingmen from
their homes and driving them into
Glow in Cnrmany
He writes a splendid editorial on
that subject, but he shows failing so
many of us possess; he lacks quit
ting sense.s' He did not quit when
he had finished with his subject, but
kept going, as follows:
THE only prototype that the
history of our own country af-
fords for General Won Kissing
is Captain Henry Wirz, command
ing officer of Andersonville officer
of Andersonville prison. He
pleaded military and economic
necessity" as an excuse for his
acts, and in a general way de-
Tended his cruelties with the same
arguments that have been advanc-
ed by the German Government in
in defending the invasion of
Belgium. the shooting of hostages,
and the merciless exploitation OF
the labor and resources of the
country. He acted under orders,
he did only what conditions COM
PEELED him to do. His defense was
supremely logical to minds that
had grown tolerant of the harsh
ness of war. But even at a time
| when leniency was exercised in
the treatment of spies, blockade
! runners. privateersmen. and free
hooters, the Union Government
derw the line at Virus offenses
I The severe logician was tried in
1865 by a military commission
and promptly hanged. 1t is to
his credit that he did not attempt
to justify his cruelty to the pris-
oners by leading his intention of
improving their morals"
If we live only as long as we learn,
the writer of he above has been dead
nearly as long as has Lincoln.
Long ago it was proved by indisput-
able evidence, some Of it furnished by
men who were themselves prisoners
at Andersonville, that the hanging of
" irz was judicial murder.
The Collier writer ought to know
this.
Now let's see about the similarity
between the Belgian deportation and
the deeds of Wirz:
In the first place, those Belgians de
ported we're not Belgian soldiers but
civilian workingmen: the men in
Wirz's charge were Federal soldiers,
who had been captured, prisoners Of
war and not civilians.
And this difference makes all the
difference in the world In civilized
warfare civilians are entitled not to
! be molested, but soldiers are subject
to capture and Imprisonment.
The Collier writer would know this
if he had been living since Lincoln's
day
Really that CollieE comment is.
written merely for the ignorant read
Ell. for the very unfairness of it con-
dennis its writer in the minds of the
| informed
He specifies the act of cruelty on