Arizona republican., 1899-10-01
Long Line of Warriors That
 Congress Has HOnOred.
THE NATIONS EXTRA PAY
Distinguished Officers Who Have Also Been Presented With Swords. George Washington Received a Gold Medal Designed By an Eminenf Artist In France Ordered by Benjamin Franklin.

Washington, Sept 9O-After the
 grand bow of welcome which
 New York is making to Ad-
 miral Dewey and the men of
 the cruiser Olymp:a, the first and
 chief thought of the great sailor
 is the pleasant duty of receiving from
 the hands of the president of the
 United States, next Tuesday, standing
 on the east portico of the capitol here
 at Washington, the beautiful gold
 mounted sword which congress has voted, with the thanks of the nation,
 in consideration of his heroic entry and capture Of the harbor of Manila last year. The sword itself now awaits it's distinguished owner in a glass case at the navy department
 Over 123 years ago, three months be- fore the Liberty Bell in the old Phila- delphia state house changed out it's
 message of liberty to the world, the
 first act in a long series of which the Dewey sword presentation will be the latest, was performed The Con
 tinental congress in session on the 18th of March, 1776. ordered that a gold
 medal should be struck and presented ''To his excellency, George Washing ton, for his wise and spirited con duct in the siege and acquisition of Boston," Benjamin Franklin, then in Paris, was instructed to employ the best artists in France for the purp3ss, and the medal was a perfect specimen of the metallic art.
 The present occasion makes a re- view of the record of similar actions by congress both instructive and in- teresting The thanks of congress- whether with or without accompanying medals or swords or monuments, have ever been regarded as a mark of the highest honor for exceptional bravery or wisdom. And, as a matter of fact, this hcnor has been bestowed with comparative infrequency, while by general appropriation the executive department has been authorized to award innumeTable medals and brevet ranking. It does net follow, however, that every notable act of heroism in American history has been recognized by a special "vots Of thanks In fact, careful students of history will easily detect important oversights when ex- amining the list here presented Of those who have been so honored. On the other hand, it may be that in a few instances the honor did not come wholly unsolicited.
 In 1900, when the navy had scarcely been organized, congress voted a gold medal to Captain Thomas Truxtcn, on account of the bravery of himself and crew in the enga cement between the 3S-gun frigate Constellation and the French warship La Vengeance of 54 guns. Congress also noted with ap- proval the conduct in the same en- gagement of James Jarvis, a young midshipman, who -'gloriously pre- ferred certain death to an abandon ment of his post
 In 1902 a sword was voted to Lieu tenant Sterrett and one months pay to the officers and crew of the schooner Enterprise for the capture cf a Tripo- Titan corsair.
 In 1904 a sword was presented to Captain Stephen Decatur and two months pay to the officers and crew ct his snip for destroying a Tripolitan frigate in the harbor Of Tripoii.
 A gold medal was awarded to Gem modcre Edward Preble, and one months pay and the thanks of the country were voted to the officers and men of his squadron for their gallant conduct in the several attacks cn the Tripolitan land and naval forces.
 For gallant services in the war of 1872 with Great Britain, gold medals were voted to Captains Hull Decatur, Jones, Bainbridgs, Macdonough, Hen ley, Blakely. Riddle, Perry, Elliott, Lawrence, Washington and Stewart.
 Silver medals for services during ehe same war were presented to each com nissioned officer of the United States ships Wasp, Constitution and Enter prise. A sword was voted Lieutenant Elliott and swords and medals were granted to the representatives of va ious officers who were slain in battle.
 Congress voted nearly or quite a mill ion dollars as prize money, to be dis ributed between the officers and men vhC participated in the capture and de- ;truction of British ships and of yes