The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-02

Possible War with the Japanese.
Were tenting tonight on the old camp ground.
Many ii cur best dead
Three years have passed IN wearing round
Since the last good by was said.
CHORUS
Many are the hearts that are weary tonight.
Wishing that the would cease;
Many the hearts fighting for the right
To she dawn Of peace.
Teuting tonight tenting tonight,
TentiGg the old camp ground.
Even as those legions in blue sang
about their campfres fOrty-three years
ago, 400 members of the Commandery of
the District Of Columbia OF the Loyal
Legion lifted their voices in this historic
old war song last night while gathered
at their annual banquet at Rauscher's.
Strong, vibrant and inspiring rang the
chorus. the white-haired veterans sing
ing Justify. while their memories dwelt
in the past; the younger men present
members of the order by inheritance.
singing with a catch in their threats and
eyes suspiciously bedimmed
No more impressive spectacle could be
imagined Here were over 200 leaders
of the hosts that battled under Old Glory
for the Union. These were men who had
gone through four years Of the hercest
conflict the modern world has known.
Many of them bore marks Of their service.
honorable sears immortalizing the bear
ers. There is no man with soul so dead
that he could look upon such an assem-
blage, without being stirred to the depths
Of his heart
Here were men who knew war in all its
phases Men to whom the rattle Of mus
kerry and thunder of artillery have been
as familiar sounds as the clang Of a street
car gong is to-day. These were men 20
whom the land battle at Santiago de Cuba
ii 1895 would have been as an unimpOr-
tant skirmish when thrown in among
those terrific engagements that cost
nearly million lives during that span
from 1861 TO 1865.
Meeting Celebrates Founding.
Last nights gathering Of the local COM
mandery of the order was particularly
memorable. the occasion being the com
mamoratiOn Of the tWenty-hfth. OF silver.
anniversary of the founding Of the com
m1ndery. In consequence, there was a
larger attendance than usual, and the
number of distinguished guests of honor
made the affair stiH more noteworthy
Baron Rosen, the Russian Ambassador
was a special guest. There were a number
of women, wives and daughters OF the
companions, in the balcony Of the banquet
hail, and during the singing Of the cid
war hymns several Of them could be seen
weeping
The banquet hall was a mass of Amer
lean flags. On the wall back Of the
guests and speakers table were hung
pictures Of George Washington and Abra-
ham Lincoln, both draped in the colOTs-
Flags were fest0oned about the walls on
all sides and hung from the ceiling.
One Of the most impressive features OF
the evening ceremonies took place i'm
nediately after the coffee and cigars had
been served A bugler sounded ''colors."
and two of the standard-bearers of the
commandery marched between the tables
bearing a magnificent American flag and
purple and gold standard Of the order
The banqueteTs arose and sang THE Star
Spangled Banner As the flags We're
{ borne up and down the hall the veterans
applauded and cheered the cOlors and
sang the national anthem with eyes glis-
tening with tears.
Flags Are Presented.
Maj. William p. Huxford, recorder Of
the commandery, who practically has the
entire arrangements Of the annual ban
quet in his charge, presented the flags to
Commander Rear Admiral Thomas 0.
Selfridge with a short, but eloquent. ad-
dress. The commander replied with a
brief speech. during which he called for
three cheers for the President, which
We're given with great heartiness. The
companions then sang Columbia, the
Gem Of the Ocean"
After a toast to the deceased COM
panions, their names are engraved on
honors bright crest" came the singing
of "Tenting Tonight" Then Admiral
Sefridge introduced Senator Thomas. II.
Carter, of Montana, the first speaker
Senator Carter responded TO the toast.
our CountTy's mission
In the course of his remarks, the SEN
ator referred indirectly to the Japanese
California friction, and aroused his hear
ers to enthusiasm when he suggested the
possibility of war with the island empire
of the East
The Senator came to the Japanese QueS-
ton through q discussion of the march
of civilization westward. He told Of the
triumphs of Christian civilization through
the past centuries, and coming down 10
the present tine said:
We are confronting on the eastern
shores of Asia a problem similar to that
which confronted our fOrefathers in the
old countries We seek not conflict, arms
death. desolation. and destruction. but
we are prepared to defend our civiliza-
ton. We of America are to put TO
final trial the Christian civilization, as
against the Oriental civilization"
Following Senator Carriers address. the
company sang America" iuspiTingly
and then Admiral Selfridge introduced
Congressman David J. Foster Mr.. Eos
ter paid an eloquent tribute to the Loyal
Legion, accrediting the members of the
order with having participated in the
greatest victory of the ages. The Con-
gresham spoke of the presence Of the
Russian Ambassador in complimentary
terms, and dwelt upon the cordial rela-
tons that he said have always existed
between America and Russia
Baron Rosen later responded with q
short address eulOgistic Of the achieve
ments Of the Legion, and referred To The
incident of the Russian war ships being
sent 10 New York during the civil war.
supposedly to assist the cause of the
Union should any other foreign power
come TO the aid Of the Confederacy.
Capt. Samuel s Burdett spoke to the
toast. "Our Commandery, whose silver
anniversary we commemorate" He spoke
eloquenUy, and was interrupted by the
applause Of the assemblage many times
during his address. He mentioned the
names Of many Of the prominent members
OF the order whose names are on the
"ROOSeveIt Bears Abroad"
See the sunday issue of The Wash
ingtOn Herald.