Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-02-22


annual reunion and is held in this city under
the provisions Of the constitution Of the ma
tional association.
When the war with Mexico terminated in 184S
the army disbanded, except the regular
establishment, consisting Of eight regiments Of
infantry, four Of artillery and two Of dragons,
the volunteers resuming their civil pursuits in
the great body Of population. About one hun
dred and ten thousand men were employed in
the war. rank and file, during the period of
hostilities, extending from April 26, 1876, to
July 4, 1S4s, when peace was proclaimed.
The discovery of gold in California in the
year lS4S opened up a new field Of adventure,
and vast numbers of the discharged volunteers
sought fortune in that distant land where many
of them still reside. In 1866, after the close of
the civil war, Mr. Alexander NJ. Kenaday Or
ganized a society in San Francisco to assist his
comrades of the Mexican war who required
friendly aid in sickness and death, and his ap-
peal was responded to with enthusiasm by
several hundred members, who elected Gen.
ii. W. Halleck as their president. For about
two years the drain on the associations treas
ury for eelemosynary assistance was quite heavy
and the officers delegated their secretary, Mr..
kenaday, to visit Washington city and appeal
to Congress for a branch soldiers home for
the Pacific coast. In January, 1862 the Senate
of the United States directed the Secretary Of
War to report a plan for the proposed home,
which was accordingly done. but the commis-
sioners of the national home were at that time
inimicai to the project and thwarted definite
action.
THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION.
Mr.. Kenaday determined, however, to not re-
turn to California without the branch home or
Its equivalent, and in 1873 he succeeded in en-
listing the sympathy and influence of Gen. j.
W. Denver, Gen. Albert Pike and other promi-
nent veterans of the war with Mexico residing
here IN organizing a national association for
the purpose of soliciting relief from Congress
IN the form Of pension to the survivors,
had been already allowed for the survivors of
the war OF 1872 with Great Britain.
Ihe plan was carried out by organizing the
Association Of veterans Of 1916 in Washing
ton city, with Gen. j. W. Denver president
and Mr. kenaday as corresponding secretary,
and invitations were extended to all veterans
residing in the states and territories to send
delegates to Washington on the 18th of Janu-
airy, 1874, to organize the national body, petit
ton Congress for pension and make arrange
nents for a national reunion at the Philadel-
phia centennial celebration in 1876.
The meeting in 1874 was a great success
bringing together many distinguished soldiers
of the late war who had participated on both
sides during the civil conflict and affording
them an opportunity to renew the fraternal re-
latiOns which had existed between them in the
old time when they fought together under the
same flag.
The persistent efforts of the officers Of the
Congress to grant pension to the survivors of
the Mexican war were finally successful. The
act approved January 20, 1887, has admitted
some $1,000 survivors and about I, 900 widows
who receive, after attaining the age of sixty
two years, IS month during the remainder
OF their lives.
WHAT Is YET TO BE ACCOMPLISHED.
The association has some objects to accom-
plish in this gathering besides the social pleas
ures incident to such occasions. Some of the
things to be considered are outlined in the fol-
lowing words from an address recently issued
by A NJ. kenaday, the general secretary Of
the national association:
The story OF the war of 1S46-48 is full Of
thrilling and romantic incidents worthy Of
cOmmemoration.a and the cause of the conflict has
been most grossly maligned- Every participant,
whatsoever his rank in the service, should feel
pride In transmitting to posterity a chronicle
OF. the events, derived from the record, which
inaugurated the golden era of American his
tory. The acquisition Of nearly a million
square miles Of territory, yielding incalculable
wealth and placing our country at once among
the foremost nations of the earth, through
feats OF arms that have no parallel In civilized
warfare, are events in the career of any man
who shared IN that campaign which make him
feel that his life's service has not been q fail
ure- His children will also feel that they have
inherited title TO be ranked with the best
blood Of the nation for all time to come
Besides the publication of the history Of the
war there are other projects for keeping alive
the events Of that period worthy Of considera-
tion. memorial hall at the capital. with
statuary and paintings to commemorate the
heroes and incidents of the campaign. would
be lasting tribute to departed worth and an
ornament TO our city.
Congress in 1851 generously donated the
money raised by Gen. Scott for the benefit
OF the army Of Mexico to the erection of
soldiers home in this District, but sadly ne
elected to provide u domicile for the men in
whose special behalf that money was raised.
A proper representation of all the facts to Con-
gress might induce that honorable body to ap-
proprlate the sum (about Sl75,0 900, with interest
since March g. 1851 toward the erection of a
memorial hall in honor Of the men to whom
that money belonged without divesting the
home, which Is a n Jble institution, of any needs
10 perpetuate it IL is certainly a sad refec-
ton on the wisdom and justice of our national
Congress TO deprive nearly 1900 survivors of
the army OF Mexico OF their legitimate
rights, by laws and regulations that close the
doors Of the Soldiers Home to less than 100
survivors.
The unfair dissemination in the pensions
paid to widows of AeXIcan veteraus-Ss dollars
month aiter they become sixty-two years of
age-whlle the widows of 1872 soldiers receive
SI2 month. irrespective OF AGES a subject
that should be rung in the ears Of Congress
until it Is remedied; but must forego further
illusions to grievances in this connection"
THE OFFICERS.
The present officers Of the National associa-
tion Gen. Jas. w. Denver of Wilmington.
Ohio; first vice president, Gen. NJ ID. Manson.
Charlottesville, Ind; secretary, Alex. NJ. Kena-
day. Washington, L. c., and marshal, S. l.. Nc
FadIn of Logansport, Ind Besides there ia a
long list Of vice presidents representing the
states and territories and the army and navy.
The vice presidents for the District are Gen.
Albert Pike and Judge Edward Lander; the
army Is represented in the list by Gen Geo.
". Getty and Jas. Cakes; the navy by Rear Adj
mirals Jouett and Case; the marine corps by
MATS Slack and Nicholson. and the revenue
marine service by Capt John MCGOWAN and
Lieut.. Vim. +. Rogers.
Among the officers and members OF the asso-
Citation are many, distinguished not only as
soldiers but as leaders in the activities of civil
life.
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