The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-05
4 Convention of the Brave.


At Philadelphia on Thursday there
will assemble convention which recalls
the glories Of our military history from
the time of the Civil War 10 the war with
! Spain. II is the twelfth annual conven-
| tion Of the Medal Of Honor Legion.
In this republic, of course. there are
and there can be no such decorations as
| in monarchical State reward distin-
| guished gallantry in war. When Eng
land comes out of any considerable
armed contest, as the Boer war, for ex-
| ample, successful Generals are lifted up
elevation is poss TO them than through
military promotion. During the Civil
War however, in 1862, Congress author
| lied the President To cause 1000 Medals
of Honor to be prepared with suitable
emblematic devices to be presented
in the name of Congress to such non
commissioned officers and privates as
shall most distinguish themselves by
their gallantry in action and their soldier
like qualities. during the present insur-
rection." The next year it enacted that
the President cause to be struck from
the dies recently prepared at the United
States Mint additional Medals of Honor,
to be presented to such officers, nom
commissioned officers and prvates as
have most or who may hereafter most dis
tinguish themselves in action" General
Orders from the War Depart ment, June
80. 1897, explained that the title to a
Medal of Honor must be incontcst able
proof of service performed in action
Of such a conspicuous character, SER
vice that involved extreme jeopardy OF
life or the performance of extraordinarily
hazardous duty" a. to distinguish
clearly the man for gallantry and in
trepidity above his comrades
Up to the present time. as we learn
from the Philadelphia Inquirer. from
which paper we obtain generally the
facts concerning the convention of this
legion, $50 Medals Of Honor have been
issued to the army and 594 to the navy.
For the Civil War the number was about
I 300 and the remainder was for the
Indian wars and the Spanish war.
II cannot be denied that the value Of
this great distinction has been lessened
in both military and civil estimation
by the inclusion in the splendid roll of a
few soldiers whose title to the honor is
open 70 reasonable question; but that
the great mass Of the Medals Of Honor
have been worthily bestowed is willingly
recognized by those who served with
the recipients. The task of selecting
those whose gallantry and intrepidity"
clearly distinguished them above their
comrades may be said 10 have been almost
impossible, except in comparatively few
instances; but that the service rem
dered by nearly all the officers on this
illustrious roll deserved special distinc-
ton is unquestionabe. The only reason
able question is as to the extraordinary
character of the service; whether many
more, perhaps were not as much on
titled to the medals. But this criticism
may be made Of every such roll OF honor
of the British wearcrs of the Victoria
Cross, for example Where gallantrv
is the rule il is hard to say in whom it
was greatest, and the selection Of any
for extraordinary honor on account Of
il is likely TO seem invidious, unless the
service performed was SO markedly con-
spicuous and exceptional that by the
common consent of all his comrades it
gave to an individual soldier peculiar
distinction as the bravest among the
brave
The Medal Of Honor Legion whose
convention is to be held at Philadelphia
on Thursday and Friday is a compare
lively recent organization, dating back
to 1890 merely, and only about one-third
Of the Medal Of Honor men seem to be
included in it's membership; but it will be
ararely distinguished company, worthy Of
the proud remembrance of their coun-
trymen throughout all future time.