Evening star., 1898-09-05
The Regiments Return.

he reception 20 the returning District
volunteers is developing along lines besi
calculated TO meet the desires and needs
of the men in the ranks of the regiment
However eager the home-folks may be to
make Fridays occasion a brilliant success
as a great demonstration of welcome :. is
doubtless clear to the entire community
that it would be Unwise and unfair to sac
rifice in the slightest degree the happiness
Of the soldiers themselves 10 this desire for
a display The special committee which
visited Montauk yesterday ascertaineG be
yond the slightest doubt that the men are
practically unanimous in their desire 20
return at cnce to their homes. Pleased
though they are at the promised honors
and the projected displays, they prefer
what appeals to them as the more sub
stantial benefits of an immediate home
coming. the comforts of civilization, which
now tempt them after four months of the
hardships of campaigning.
These men yearning for the homo
circle and for nome conveniences. for beds,
for table delicacies, for the accessories of
modern life. They feel the more eager for
these comforts because of their debilitated
condition. resulting from the fevers which
have attacked them. To turn deaf ear
to their peadings now would be inhUnane
and 1t is well that the present plans are for
the return of the regiment at practically the
earliest possible moment compatible with
the requirements Of the military regula-
uons to which the regiment is still Ieces-
sarilJ subject. Were the regiment in good
physical condition, were the men provided
with all the essentials for maintaining
their health and strength. were they not
sleeping on the ground. for instance. were
they not longing for home with an inten-
stty such as prevents their rapid recupcra-
ton from disease and fatigue. it might be
advisable to postpone the formal reception
until such time as the troops could with
stand the trials Of an exciting occasion
until the citizens were prepared in every
detail for the rousng welcome of the home
coming heroes. But these conditions do
not exist. and the Inevitable result is that
the regiment ought to be brought back at
once. with that reception on our part
which is most suitable to their condition
The hour of the return is so planned as
to permit the men to travel the greater
part of the distance from camp to this city
in sleepers and in the cool hours of the
night so that they will reach Washington
measureably refreshed and able to endure
the strain surely incidental to even the
most simple ceremonies in this city. The
colonel commanding has decided wisely in
this regard. The short march past the
escorting bodies of men and then past
the President in review will involve a
minimum of fatigue, and by the time the
days heat has become sufficient to af-
feet them those who are stIll suffering
from the Cuban fevers will have reached
their homes and will be enjoying the
blessed comforts of personal ministrations
by those loving ones who have followed
Th.-ir
Or lacking homes they will fall to the ten
der Tnercies of those who through The Star
or at its suggestion will make this an oc-
casion Of relief as we'll as of welcome
There is yet time to prepare for a demon
stration Friday morning sufficiently en-
thusiastic and complete to indicate TO the
returning soldier lads the heartfelt joy of
the capital in their arrival. Some of the
incidental features of the program original
Iy outlined may necessarily be abandoned
but their absence will not detract frorn che
success Of the occasion or from its char
acter as the outburst of a city's rejoicings
over the homecoming of its representative
young patriots. The medals will not be
ready, but their presentation later may be
made an occasion for additional demonstra-
uons in honor of the regiment. Meanwhile
the citizens committees will be diligently
preparing to attend to the wants of those
OF the men whose return may be attended
Dy suffering for the necessities Of life
whose families may be in need. whose sac
Tifices for their country are not measured
BY the hardships which they have endured
on the field or in the camps. The city will
not fail in any portion of its duty to these
brave boys OF Washington merely because
inevitable circumstances have prevented
the complete accomplishment of all the en-
thusiastic and worthy designs for welcom-
ing the troops on the occasion of their
Homecoming.