Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-24
ARD0R
Senator Mason Wildly Oheered at
G. A. R. Campfire.
SUFFERING CUBA HIS SUBJECT
Addresses by Representative Gros-
venor Of Ohio and Others.
KIT CARSON POST JUBILEE

There have been many enthusiastic
thr ongs in Grand Army Hall in the years
since it has been devoted to its present
purposes, and on each occasion the cheers
of the crowds were inspired by graphic re-
citals of the exciting episodes of war, when
brave patriots made their countrys history
more glorious and emphasized anew the
perpetuity Of the republic and its flag. The
gathering which assembled there last night
however, surpassed in this regard any that
has preceded it. The occasion was the
celebration of the thirty-first anniversary
of Kit Carson Post by a campfire. There
vas prayer by Chaplain Henry M. Condor
OF the House of Representatives, poem by
Col. John A. Joyce and music by the G. A.
r. Musical Union, and, after an address by
Department Commander Hendricks and a
cornet solo by Frof. E. s. Tracey, Senator
William E. Mason Of Illinois was intro
duced.
In a few minutes the speaker had the old
soldiers cheering with all the vim that
characterized them thirty-five years ago.
After referring in a humorous way to the
presence Of Gen. Grosvenor Of Ohio and
himself at the same meeting, Senator Ma
son proceeded to make an impasSiOned ad-
dress.
IT wasn't old enough to fight with you,
he said. but, thank God, am old enough
to fight for you. I have never had any
aprons when the men went forth to fight
for their protection, and who now go
around talking about the great pension roll.
I'VE hear a good deal of talk about the
dangers and horrors of war. We are rich
from war. The empty sleeves and broken
bodies were the cost of making us a grand
er nation.
The Maine Disaster.
"Some one, I believe it was Sherman,
said that war was hell. There are some
things worse than hell. The murder OF
women and children and the starvation OF
200 coo souls upon this continent Is worse
than hell. Dante. who startled many peo-
pie with his drawings of the place of the
damned. never in his widest trnaginattons
pictured an acre Of Cuba as 1t Is today.
Down in Havana harbor 26O lives were
taken-not in open war, not upon an hon
cradle field but caught like rats in a trap
and strangled without moment in which
to say prayer before they stood before
their Maker. With the sentiment Of twenty
years ago we would have talked Of tndem-
nifty, but now the American people would
scorn it as they would snake. Spanish
money can never pay for the Maine.
You understand we are q patient peo-
pie The dignifed body of which ! am a
member is slow in its deliberations. 1t
would take two months in that chamber to
say Pass the salt And when We come to
sit on any great question we have to close
the doors to the people who pay US our
salaries. We are patient, and have been.
but the time is coming when we must act
Every sentence of Senator Mason's re-
marks was panctuated with wild cheers,
and when he had finished there were shouts
for him to continue, and he was only re-
leased by earnestly pleading pressing en-
gagement, and left the hall.
Comrade L. Wylie played America" on
the cornet, and the entire gathering arose
and sang the ringing chorus.
Nj Grosycnor,s AI6pa.s
Representative Grosvenor Of Ohio was
then introduced. His pacific remarks were
evidently not relished by the audience. and
difference with his views. After stating
that the government was meeting other
contingencies besides the appropriation for
pensions, to give full sway to which the
river and harbor bill had been abandoned.
Mr.. GrOsvenOr said the idea OF another war
was cheered. He wanted to know II the
6ismembered men of the late war wanted
to confront the young men OF this country
with the modern deadly appliances of war
and to create a new army of widows and
orphans or to make some effort in this
grand age of Christianity to prevent war
that would work to the detriment of our
commerce and prosperity.
Let us consider the question" said Cen
eral Grosvenor. I'VE have a patriotic
President, man who fought and marched
In the late strife; a man who knows what
war Is, and loves his country as much as
the spontaneous orators, who were too
young to fight, who now get up and spout
for war. He stands as the President Of the
great republic of the United States, charged
with grave responsibilities. He has received
heritage of responsibilities such as has
fallen to no other Presidents except Wash
ington and Lincoln. Is he to be driven
headlong into war, or are we to consider all
these Questfons?'
Referring to the destruction of the Maine,
he wanted to know what 1t had to do with
the government interfering in behalf of
Cuban independence, and If a great country
like this should go to war for revenge or
ultimately upon a war proposition that will
appeal to all Christian nations: In conclu-
sion Gen. Grosvenor said the United States
was great enough to wait. The President
would never see this government dishon-
ored.
said. we will go to war upon a prociama-
ton that all mankind will recognize as
just. We will proclaim to all the world
that on an island in the Gulf OF Mexico q
population is being subjected to an unholy.
unJustifiable and cruel war. That Spain il
starving her own population, and human
ity cries out that We must intervene. We
must interfere, for our Monroe doctrine
would not allow any other nation to do So
and other nations will recognize it as our
right"
Fast Commander Hopkins.
"A SOhtAd Ato oOiO W GAAeb Sdlldudu
was rendered and reading given by Miss
Carrie M. Douglas, after which Past De-
partment Commander Hopkins was intro
duced. The tenor of his address was in
harmony with that Of Senator Mason, and
was almost as enthusiastically received,
Referring to Gen. Grosvenor's speech.
which he declared was an appeal from the
organ of the administration to wait, he
declared that the country had already walt
ed too long to act in behalf of the suffer.
Ing, starving people in Cuba, and perhaps
II this delay had not occurred. he said, the
battle ship Maine would not now be at the
bottom Of Havana harbor.
With the singing Of 1.-The Star Spansled
Banner" led by Miss Burton, while Ameri-
can flags were waved above the heads OF
the audience, the celebration came to q
close.
A Pleasant Incident.
A very pleasant incident occurred just
before the camp fire began at the meeting
Of the post. which recalled the very inter-
esttng history OF the organization.
In the early days Of reconstruction a few
Union soldiers, still on duty In Washing
ton, held meeting In the Old Capitol
prison and organized Grand Army Post,
which has since become noted as Kit Car
son Post. No. 2. Department Of the Poto-
mac Kit Carson himself was a member
of the a a froo nf hio daofh 1u