Evening star., 1902-02-20
Descendants of Revolutionary
Patriots in Session.
THE ANNUAL ADDRESS
MRS. STERNBERG PAYS TRIBUTE
TO MCKINLEY.
Monument to His Memory-Place
Where He Received Death Wound
to BE Marked.

% DO mATkSOs
The annual congress Of the Children of
the American Revolution convened this
morning in Columbian University hall.
large audience being in attendance at the
opening session. Meetings will be held to-
morrow morning at the Columbian Univer-
sity hall, and Saturday morning at Colum-
bia Theater.
At this mornings session a company OF
minute men Of the District. in uniform,
brought beautiful silk flag and left it In
care of the congress to be used as dec
grafton during its meetings. The cornetist
Of the company 20 played the star Spangled
ing with great enthusiasm.
Annual Address.
Mrs. George M. Sternberg. president of
the organization, read her annual address,
which follows:
'It is most encouraging to see before me
so many OF those who were present at our
there Is an increasing interest in the
growth and work Of our society. We meet
to promote the best interests OF our or
ganfzation and to arouse sentiments of pa
triotism in the hearts of our members. May
we do our work so we'll that when their
country calls they will prove themselves
worthy descendants Of distinguished sires
You will learn from the reports Of the
national officers of the progress of the So
ctety during the past year, and you will
be gratified to know that this has been
quite satisfactory. and that with continued
endeavor on the part Of all the prospects
for the future are very encouraging. AS
a society we are still in our infancy. but
already we number more than 500 mem
bers. and there Is no good reason why our
numbers should not be increased tenfold
within a few years. The number of chill
dren descended from revolutionary ances-
tors may be counted by the hundred thou
sand and possibly by the million.
A Broad Field.
TT Is apparent, therefore, that we have
a broad field in which to prosecute our pa
triotic labors. and every member OF the
organization should constitute himself or
herself recruiting officer to add to our
numbers those whose birthright it is to
join US.
Patriotism In the United States is not
limited to those whose ancestors aided In
the achievement Of our independence, Dut
the right to join the Society Of the Children
of the American Revolution Is necessarily
restricted within these limits. However,
our efforts to inspire the descendants OF
revolutionary ancestors with pride IN the
achievements of their forefathers and
patriotic love of country cannot fail to
have far-reacfng beneficial results not lfm-
tied to our own membership. Many young
patriots, as well as those who are entitled
to be enrolled among our members, have
fathers or brothers who have shed their
blood for their country In more recent
wars. And the events OF the past four
years have shown that when the country
fs in need of defenders there is no lack OF
patriotic young men who are ready to fol-
low the flag wherever the national destiny
may cause 1t to wave.
American Soldier Never Fails.
Whether in Cuba, in Porto Rico, the
Philippines or In China, the American SOL
der has not failed to give evidence Of his
courage and ability to face not only the
bullets and bolos Of a treacherous foe, but
also the hardships and dangers connected
with a campaign in a distant and tropical
country. In the month OF June last your
president, in company with General Stern
berg, went to the Philippine Islands, where
our flag now floats over many newly adopt
ed children. We cannot expect that the ma
tives of these islands will at once learn to
love the flag and the form OF government
which 1t represents; But they surely nave W
learn that tt represents freedom and JUS
tice and good government. In time they,
too. will learn to feel thrill OF patriot
ism when they see the stars and stripes
unfurled, and realize that for them, too, 1t
represents freedom from oppression and
ample protection from all foreign foes
In the Philippines.
IT had hoped to report at this meeting
the formation Of Society OF the Children
Of the American Revolution In the Philip
pine Islands. There are children enough
with proper credentials now living in these
islands, with their parents belonging to
the United States army to form society.
There is much work for them to do In this
faraway country, and I shall continue to
urge hem to take up this important pio-
neer work. I am sure you will await with
interest the result Of this patriotic seed
sown in foreign soil.
Ua rAtnrnfnp home in the
month Of September. and while on the
beautiful inland sea Of Japan, we received
the sad news Of the assassination OF our
dearly loved President. Mr.. Mckinley.
Never shall 1 forget the feelings that op-
pressed us on that Sabbath day: and yet
we were buoyed up with the hope that
upon our arrival in San Francisco we
would receive the welcome news that our
President had recovered from the wounds
inflicted by this cruel assassin. For twenty
long days our good ship sailed steadily
across the broad Pacific. bearing us toward
home and country, and during all this time
we cherished the hope that good news
awaited us. But, alas! upon our arrival the
pilot who boarded our ship Informed us
that our dear President was dead and that
for more than two weeks the nation had
been in mourning.
None More Worthy.
Children Of the American Revolution you
have many examples Of patriotic devotion
and eminent services to our country among
those who have been prominent In our ma
tons history. But In this regard there Is
no one more worthy OF your admiration and
emulation than our late President. William
Mckinley. His name will always be asso-
cfated with that OF Washington and Lin
coin, as one Of the greatest Presidents Of
the republic, selected by Providence to guide
the fortunes Of the country during most
important period Of its history. In his
youth he followed the flag on the field Of
battle. As President he met his death with
the cafmness Of a Christian philosopher.
No President was ever nearer to the hearts
Of the people, and this was but Just, for he
loved them and was always glad to shake
the hands Of those who came to greet him
as he journeyed from place to place. That
any one should have been so base as to
take this outstretched hand and look into
those kindly eyes with murder In his heart
seems incredible.
Knowing the President as I did am
sure that no look OF anger met the as
sassin at the moment when he accomplish
ed his deadly purpose. but that an express
sion combining surprise and reproach,
which should have stricken him with in-
finite remorse, rested upon the kindly face
OF that great man.
For Erection Of Monument.