Evening star., 1898-03-24
Senator Mason Wildly Cheered at
G. A. R. Campfire.
SUFFERING CUBA HIS SUBJECT 7
Addresses by Representative Gros-
venor of Ohio and Others.
KIT CARSON POST JUBILEE

OF the crowds were inspired Dy graphic re-
ci,als of the exciting episodes of war, when
brave patriots made their country's 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-frst anniversary
of Kit Carson Post by a campfire. There
vas prayer by Chaplain Henry NJ 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
cornet solo by Prof. E. S. Tracey, Senator
William E. Mason of Illinois was intro
duced.
In &. 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.
II wasn't old enough to fight with you,"
he said, but, thank Cod, 1 am old enough
to fight for you. 1 have never had any
sympathy with the men who were boys In
for their protection, and who now go
around talking about the great pension roll.
I'VE hear good deal of talk about the
dangers and horrors Of war We are rlch
dI
bodies were the cost of making grand
nation.
The Maine Disaster.
"Some one, 1 believe 1t was Sherman,
said that war was hell. There are some
things than hell The murder OF
women and children and the starvation OF
200, 600 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 irnaginattons
pictured an acre of Cuba as 1t Is TO-DAY.
Down in Havana harbor 2G0 lives were
taken-not in open war, not upon an hon-
cradle field but caught like rats in a trap
and strangled without a moment in which
to say a 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 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 Masons re-
marks was punctuated 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.
MIR. GrosvcnOr's Address.
Representative Grosvenor of Ohio was
then introduced. His pacific remarks were
evidently not relished by the audience, and
there were frequent open expressions of
difference with his views. After stating
that the government was meeting other
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
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 Gen.
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
a 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 Questions?'
Referring to the destruction of the Maine
he wanted to know wha. 1t had to do with
the government interfering in behalf Of
Cuban independence, and if great country
like this should go to war for revenge or
ultimately upon 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.
IF the United States goes to war" he
said. we will go to war upon a proclama-
ton that all mankind will recognize as
just We will proclaim to all the world
that on an island in the Gulf Of Mexico a
population is being subjected to an unholy,
unJustifiable and cruel war. That Spain is
steIving her own population, and human
ity cries out that We must intervene. We
would not allow any other nation to do so,
and other nations will recognize it as our
right"
Fast Commander Hopkins.
A contralto solo by Miss Ironia Callahan
was rendered and q reading given by Miss
Carrie NJ. 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 wait
ed too long to act in behalf of the suffer-
Ing. starving people in Cuba, and perhaps
If 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 THE Star Spangled
Banner" led by Miss Burton, while Ameri-
can flags were waved above the heads of
the audience, the celebration came to a
close.
A Pleasant Incident.
very pleasant incident occurred Just
before the camp fire began at the meeting
of the post. which recalled the very inter-
esting history OF the organization.
In the early days Of reconstruction a few
Union soldiers, still on duty in Washing
ton, held "a meeting In the Old Capitol
prison and organized a Grand Army Post,
which has since become noted as Kit Car
son Post, No. 2, Department Of the Poto-
mac Kit Carson himself was q member
OF the post at the timo Of his death, in
May, lS6S. and the name of John G. Fre-
mont, the pathfinder" who died in 1880,
Is also borne upon the post roster.
Among all the veterans OF the eos who
were present at the anniversary celebra-
tion last night there was but one survivor