Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-10

e,nce the beginning Of history deeds OF
,alor have never ceased to excite the a.
,,iratiou of mankind. Bravery Is more
bcnoreI and rtVcrerced by men and women
THAN anv other attribute of human me.
l. wins the respect of enemies: il INTENSE
fes friendshins into love; 1t condones fani'5
Of character: It transforms indifference IN
10 admiration. and through 1t men hitherto
unknown have Ieapt at a siagle bound 't''
worldwide fame. So great and lmpoT'a''
has been its place in human affairs, and 50
comprehensive lis influence. that effort mas
been made in all ages to mark it with SUIT
able distinction. hence the custom o.
awarding medals for military vaior.
The ancient Greeks signifed bravery
with laurel wreath worn upon the brow;
the brave Roman soldier was crowned with
a chaplet of oak, and still other marks OF
honor have been devised by nations for
their war heroes The giving of medals
began with the fourteenth century. Among
the most famous of these marks of distin-
gushed courage are the cross OF the Legion
of Honor, instituted by Napoleon Bona
parte; the iron cross of Germany, the VIC
toria cross of England, and, above ana
beyond all others in >lhe esteem of every
loyal American the medal of honor of the
United States. No reward for military
merit is dearer to the soldiers heart th2n
the decoration bestowed upon him by his
government for brave deeds in the line OF
duty. and in this country, where but TINS
one decoration is given to its heroes, proud
indeed may he be who is judged worthy l.
wear this symbol of d nations honor.
These medals, though priced almost above
all things by the men who have won them,
are intrinsicany vaiueless. The badge con-
veys no privilege or rank, excepting that
II places it's posse ssor in the forefront or
the nations brave. but it perhaps consti-
tutes the highest personal honor To which
an Anne rican citizen can attain. The pur-
pose of the medals and the difficulty with
which they are obtained may be known by
glance at the following regulations re-
specting the award of medals of honor pro-
mulgated in 1897 by the War Department,
under the direction OF the President:
In the Name of Congress
Medals of honor authorized by the act
of Congress. approved March 3, 1869. arr
awarded TO officers and enlisted men. N
the name OF Congress. for particular deeds
OF most distinguished gallantry in action.
In order that the congressional medal of
honor may be deserved. service must have
been performed in action of such conspic-
uous character as to clearly distinguish the
man for gallantry and intrepidity above his
cOmrades-service that involved extreme
jeopardy of life he performance of OK
traordinarhy hazardous duty. Recommends
lions for the decoration VIII be judged by
this standard OF extraordinary merit. ana
incontestible proof of performance of the
service Will be eAacted.
Soldiers of tae Union have ever display
ed bravery IN battle, else victories could
not have been gained; but courage and
self-sacrlEce the characteristics OF
every true soldier, such badge of distiuc-
tion as the congressional medal is not 20
be expected as the reward of conduct that
does not clearly distinguish the soldier
above other men whose bravery and gal
lantry have been proved in battle"
The men who have received this deco-a-
ton are but a handfu!-leSs than 20pD-and
they stand In class by themselves the
braVest of the brave"
The movement for providing decorations
for the soldiers of the Union was frs. of.
ficially advocated by General f. D. Towns.
end early In 1861. General T.wnsend was
adjutant general of the army during the
war, and ne urged upon General Scott and
upon the cha irman of the Senate commit
tee on military affairs, the Secretary OF
War and others the adoption in the United
States army of medals or decorations Il nj
lar to those awarded in foreign ann es fo1
distinguished services and sailan:ry en- the
battlefield The plan was opposed at that
time on the ground that ii was opposed to
the spirit OF our institutions to award
decorations.
Congress first took action toward securing
decorations in December, 1861, when II
authorized the preparation of 300 medals to
be bestowed upon such petty officers sea
men, landsmen and mariners as shall mos,