Evening star., 1898-11-01
Address by the Rev. DR.. Stafford Of
St. Patrick's Church.
RECKLESS CRITICISMS CONDEMNED
Public Weary of Charges Against
Officers of the Army.
THE SOLDIERS BENEFIT


ing to the Grand Opera House by the con-
cert and entertainment given by the De-
partment of Potomac W. r. c., for the
benefit of soldiers and their families. The
tertainment consisted of music and an ad-
dress by that eloquent divine, the Rev. Dr.
Stafford. who spoke of the war with Spain,
making strong plea for practical recog-
milton of the results of the conflict and an
ending OF the sensational criticisms of the
way in which it was conducted. Father
Stafford's sentiments aroused the enthu-
siasm of the audience. and were greeted
with rounds of applause.
War" he said, is horrible thing. 1t
Is never a picnic. 1t means desolate homes
and lonely fresides, watching and waiting
for the return of loved ones who will never
come. 1t means that little children will be
made orphans. that happy wives will be
made sorrowing widows. 1t means that the
Joys of many mothers heart will be turn
ed to grief. 1t means the loss of loved ones
upon the field of battle and many more
who may return to live a year, five years,
ten years, maybe twenty, until. one by
one. they join the great majority. the vic
Tins of crue! war. All this, too, when war
is victorious.
The Responsibility.
Consider. then, how great a thing it is
to declare for war. 1t was but recently
the duty of our President, after weighing
all these consequences, after employing
every honorable means to avert a struggle,
to decide that war must come. 1t is a Sc
rious thing to throw a nation into war.
No one can foretell its outcome or its con-
sequences, and no one can measure the
amount of suffering and the deaths which it
will entail The President properly consid-
cred these questions we'll and acted with
deliberaton
Yet all that time we had a certain class
OF sensational newspapers, and portion
OF our citizens supporting them. clamoring
Tor war War, whether right or wrong;
war. whether il could be averted or not:
war at any cost: war. whether not.
War came-a war of unprecedented achieve
ment: a war which brought inestimabIe
glory and prestige to our republic. Within
loo days We had swept the. enemy from
before US: We had sunken their ships de-
1eated their army, and won a glorious vic
tory over the foe. We had taught the ma
tons of the world to respect US and
achieved naval victories unparalleled in the
history OF the world. Never before had
such success been wrought within short
space of time
Yet now what a situation is presented
10 US. Those who We're before declaring
IoHdIy Tor war have forgotten the victory
ol btWeN at Manila; they have overlooked
the achievement of Schley at Santiago:
are unmindful of the charge at Ell Caney
and at San JuaI hill, and are complaining
OF The conduct of the war until the public
lie fought in which men were not killed.
W ere camps ever established containing
thousands OF men where disease did not
penetrate Do men go 10 war expecting
holiday? No; they go TO suffer and die
Tor their country.
Remember the Results
If there was unnecessary suffering We
ali must regret it, but if any one was neg
Igent or at fault. let those whose business
y is 10 ascertain those things and punish
such offenses find them out and deal with
those wrongs But let not the people forget
the glorious achievements of this 100 days'
war.
1 hdnk God there were men brave enough
10 go and endure those sufferings and hard
hniPs- hP me TIME TO consider what would
nave heen the consequences of war was
before 1t was declared When it was over
the American people Should rejoice in their
achievement: Better than complain. they
should use their efforts to alleviate the suf-
ierlng and care for those who are needy
May God bring peace to the heart of
every mother who has given her boy to
America May He console every wife who
gave her husband to fight for the flag
May He bring peace and light to every
home darkened by the war Nav He con-
sole every man who suffered from it, and
may We all be made TO love our country the
more, to apprecite its benign institutions
and learn the lessons Of greater devotion
and duty. May We all be made practical,
anu ~ lFdlIAr lIdl Whatever the war cost,
the country is worthy of it. In all things
before We complain and criticise and attack
let us consider the prestige of the republic
before the eyes OF the world"
Musical Features.
The musical program was as follows:
Overture. from ''Tancred." Rossini orches-
ira; Americas National Anthem Treanor-
Tregina. chorus and orchestra; address,
Rev. DR. Stafford; quartet. from "Rigolet-
tc " Verdi, Mrs. Blanche Mattingly Rogers
Mrs. Paulina Mama. 8Ir. VIM. D. McFar-
land, Mr.. Mariana Mama; solo. alto, Your
Voice" l. Denza, Miss Lena Shepherd. and
Mr. Brook Amss. violin Obligato; Hail
Columbia Webbe, Mr. VIM. d. McFar-
land, chorus and orchestra; Infiammatus.
fIcm ''Stabat Mater" Rossin. Mrs. Blanche
Mattinsiy Rogers. chorus and orchestral
cCmiC duet, from Barber of Seville" Ros-
sini, Miss Mamie DOnnelly and Mr.. Mariana
Mama: Star Spangled Banner" Mrs. Pau
lima Mama, chorus and orchestra.
The orchestra was composed of members
of the Marine Band Mr.. Mariana Mama
acting director Miss Alice Harvey be-
ing the accompanist. MIR. John Tweedale
was down on the program for recitation,
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