The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1885-11-22
THE LouNeER ON THE AVENUE.

pInwal to check, II called on threatened outbreak
which would endanger American property there,
indicates that the President intends taking an I'M
expected responsibility, and facility comedies that
this country ia liable to certain extent for damages
II the d6ncultles OF last spring are renewed. In
fact, II IL matter Of current rumor that large bill
for the damage done last snrng Ia 10 he presented
tn tho coming Congress for liquidation. All We arc
10 lie held liable for these things" said Congress-
man from New York, tive must be prepared to
take an unusual step and put ourselves in the posi-
lion to prevent any recurrence OF these events. I
have long felt that something might occur In which
this country would DO compelled TO take measures
for maintaining public order In some OF the Central
American States, where American interests are par
amount what these measures will be circum-
stances must determine. We cannot he sending our
fleet and marines down there to suppress an epe,ae
that may break ont again before the smoke OF our
steamers Ia out OF sight from Aspinwall. We must
do something decisive. The instant our forces leave
the mob ia active again. It will come 10 n pcrna-
nent pro,ccorate, think. That would he the In
cipiency Of n very Important change IN American |
policy toward these countries know, but what else
can he done? Colombia is unable to manage these |
difficulties, and our duty is PLAIN. do not say this
because am In favor Of extending our territory, |
hut because It appears to he the logical sequence Of
events. This question is one OF the two or three |
that may make the action Of the Congress which |
meets in less than a month marked departure |
from the policy we have pursued for half century
There are certain duties which the United States as
nation can neither ignore nor disregard. The
Keeping open OF great routes OF trade across por-
lions OF the Amerlcant continent IL one OF them
We cannot continue the policy we have so long fol-
lowed OF doing nothing for the protection Of our
commerce. This Is Of the reasons II has 80 de-
clined, and II we really mean to do anything for Its
revival We must begin with Its protection. TO allow
mob OF ignorant negroes aud Indians, nstigated by
local adventuters to destroy what our own mer-
chants have created with such trouble and at so
much expense is something every member OF Con-
gress without regard to party will vote prompyto
prevent The Anglo.SaSou race is the clvzer Of
the world. The people who live In Central and
South America have had that country nearly four
centuries, and what have they made OF it9 The
Ango-SaXon has had the country we live In some
thing two centuries aud half, AMI what Is III
Remember, am not pretending to represent the
sentiments of anybody but myself when cay that
the time IL not far away when we will be COM
PEELED to take Cuba and the Central American States
under our protection. We should have had Cuba
long ago, hut the time did not seem quite ripe
AS we shall probably hear good deal OF Maj. Gen.
II. N. D. Prcndergas,, who commands the column
now advancing into Burmah, the readers of this
journal may like to know something about him.
should think him about nfty.two years OF age. Tic
belongs to that old school of officers who went ont
to India in the days of glory that marked the time
when " Old John Company" dhe East India Com
pany) ruled in the Orient lie was educated at the
military academy OF that most wonderful corpora
| ton, the greatest commercial company the world
| has ever known. He had only been gazetted to his
commando battalion OF engineers year or two
r,tIu n,lorct linz
| Roses own eye he behaved SO calamity that he was
promoted to be member Of that Generals staiI-a
bad place for oNcer who not always ready to
| follow his chief into the hottest OF tho fray. At
Jhans where the British were pressed backward by
| the enemy until reintorcemens arrived wounded
sergeant badly hurt fell of his horse, and the swart
Sepoys swarmed over him like wolves to finish their
work. They counted their victory too soon. Lieut.
Prendergast's command was nearly 100 yards away
| from the wounded man, and had been ordered to
fall back but hold their ground aud wait for High
land battalion to come up before continuing the AL
vance, for the force at his front too heavy to
be driven without aid. At the head OF his column
| he heard the shout, not unlike the scream OF
wounded tiger, with which the frenzied Panles
1eaped upon theirprcy. TWAS twenty one. hut the
man who had been the heaviest hitter OF his class at
school and was tho best athlete and gymnast in India
did not hesitate moment. As the honest sergeant's
/ English face sank down among the black ones he
I saw his lieutenant start, and he knew no more until
! they were both dragged ont from under q heap of
| dead, whose heads bore sign-manual you would
l scarcely care to see
"Thls is the sort OF thing they give us II risk our
lives with.'' said Prcndergast looking at his hent
and twisted sword blood-staineh to the hilt, with
which he had cut down six of the enemy before his
company came to his assistance. the pandes were
80 intent upon their work that they did not gee the
avenger until, with mighty DaCSlander he Glove TO
the throat who Just raising his razor edged
| tal,cdr to give the bleeding sergeant his death
| stroke. With thirteen coldstee wounds he was
sight to see and to-day rrendergass left hears
the neifaceable effects of that morning twenty nine
years ago under the walls of .Ihausi, For days he
| was insens;be. at know anything of soldiers
heart, this will do him more good than the Doctors
pills cam said Gen. Rose TO another general as he
| placed In this wounded mans hand little bit of
bronze, shaped into Maltese cross, edged with
| silver, about an inch and quarter long and two.
| thirds wlde on the clasp OF which were only The
| words, " For valor." 1t was the Victoria Cross.
| No incident OF the month has created more inter-
| eat than the invitation which the Earl of DuTcru,
Governor General OF India, sent to Government,
inviting three officers of the United States Army 10
be present at the winters manGuvres of the third,
| fourth, and NTH divisions, massed into an army
corps. II Is understood, however, that something
more is intended than this and that the real object
is to allow American officers to be present at the
| capture Of the Burman capital by the troops under
| Gen. Prendergast. The American officers will be
tho guests OF the Governor General, and no pains
will be spared In showing them everything worth
seeing In the military establishment of the indian
Empire.
Tho interest In this matter Is caused by the un-
usual character OF the invitation. What Ia behind
| all this Is q question that no one seems able to
answer. Such an invitation was never rendered be-
fore, ana the assumption that there IL more than
desire to be civil to the great Anglo Saxon nation
beyond the seas IL not without some foundation.
II these officers are 10 go through the Khyber
Pass into Afghansian and see for themselves what
England IL doing TO maintain the integrity OF her
Indian possessions there may be a far-reaching
diplomatic intention In 1t all that will be apparent
The friendship of this country for Russia has long
been source Of uneasiness to England, and 1t Is
thought by the clearestheaded officers In our Army
| that the report which the visitors will make may
have something TO do with modifying American
| sentiment In relation TO Russia, which now favors
that power. That some such idea induced this I'M
usual courtesy Ia the opinion OF all whose views
would be of value. The future will explain 1t; but
until we learn more about IT, II must be the incres
| conjecture.
Col. Lazee, Capt. Mills, and The other officer who
may be detailed to accompany them to India, are
In exceptionally good luck. They will have such an
| opportunity as has never been afforded Americans
OF seeing how those veteran Mahrattas and Sikh
horsemen and tough little Goorka infantrymen
will fight. The column charged with the reduction