The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-09-09
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1898.
Welcome Home.

Full Of honor and with a record for
good and loyal service. the District
Regiment comes home to be received
with all the enthusiastic welcome that
friends and feIIow-townsmen can ex-
tend. No death roll of heroes killed in
battle. no lists of men wounded in &C
ton come with it. but it brings to
Washington the consciousness and the
credit Of duty honestly done. and in
deed something more
Although the District boys, through
no fault of their own, were kept back
too long to share with Gen. Wheeler
and his gallant men in the actual fight
ing at Ell Caney and the hill of San
Juan, they reached the front in time to
suffer in the hot trenches before San
tiago. in momentary expectation of a
Spanish sortie; and the nerve and en-
durance they displayed left no doubt
in the mind of the gallant commander
on the firing line, that, should another
fight ensue, they would emulate the
dash and discipline of the regulars and
the Rough Riders. who had the ad-
vantage of them in being earlier placed
in the field of honor.
II should not be forgotten that it
was the timely arrival of the re-en-
forcements, Of which our boys formed
an important part. that enabled Gems
Miles and Wheeler to compel the sur
render of the enemys garrison, and.
hence, that they are richly entitled ia
share in the laurels of the victory.
They return to US full of the pluck and
esprit de corps that will help to make
the District troops of the future an
efficient as well as an honored veteran
body.
The regiment has deserved well Of
the community. So well that its home
coming presents not only an opportu-
nifty to the public to testify apprecia-
ton in bunting. cheers, and music. but
Clearly suggests a duty which the COM
MUMMY OhGS ~ Lit AAiNA WIN ~ GchI
ageously responded to the first call to
arms, and eagerly pressed to the front
10 represent the people of the National
Capital in the volunteer army.
Many of the boys will lack civil en-
ployment IN receiving their discharge.
Some of them have families who are
reported as suffering for the neces-
saries of life, while their bread winners
are in the ranks. To the fullest extent
that work, and temporary relief until
work can be secured, may be neces-
sary, and our citizens should and will
zee TO it that no effort is spared to meet
the requirements of the situation 1t
is well that souvenir medals of honor
should be bestowed upon the returning
soldiers. It will be still better to help
them to employment and to relieve the
tmmediate necessities of their wives
and children, in cases where organized
charity can be made available
We are glad to know that this task is
in the hands of able relief committees
and that the executive committee or
ganized for the purposes of the recep-
ton. has had the good sense and fore
thought to devote most of the money
raised for the occasion to the worthy
object of helping those members of the
regiment who have dependent families
until they can help themselves. After
all. that is the kind of reception which
viii be most appreciated, and will most
reflect credit upon the public spirit and
generosity of the people of Washing
ton.