Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-11

unselfish devotion. He hurled himself at
the head of his devoted band against
superior forces and for a time carried on
a gigantic struggle against overwhelming
Odds maintaining his positions by almost
superhuman efforts. His military genius
increased from day to day. His move
ments were those CT fox and a lion, his
attacks were quick lightning, his
retreats as silent as the night. He became
a thorn i'm the side of the invading
armies: they hated and feared him, and
his very name struck terror to the hearts
of his foes. His efforts, however, did
not receive the necessary support from
his own people. The capital continued in
a mad whirl of gayety and dissipation
and the weak king, instead Of Joining
forces with the gallant defender, pro-
claimed him an enemy. The subtle poison
administered to the nation by foreign
secret agents had done it's deadly work
and destroyed the senses and clouded the
the affairs of state. Undaunted, Polaski
fought on. changing his bases and har-
RAISING the invaders at places and times
when least expected. But his band OF
while the number of the invaders increas-
ed, until finally the unequal struggle had
to be abandoned.
with a broken heart and tears
streaming down his weather-beaten
cheeks, he took leave from the remnants
of his devoted followers and left the
land of his birth, his activities, his am
billions. He saw his beloved Poland fall
into the hands of the despoiler and bar
barian and he was powerless to save her.
Turned to America.
HE turned his face toward the setting
sun. for there across the deep ocean
came the sound of a mighty struggle. He
heard the battle cry of freedom. A ma
4 nd OH I.
rous people were resenting oppression
and injustice. He read the Declaration
of Independence by the American Con-
greSs. He saw a new field opened for
him, indicating with his sword the same
principles the same rights of mankind,
the same Interchangeable laws of justice as
tnOse for which he had welded it with
so much courage and singleness of pur-
pose in his own country.
There, the was the field forhiS knight
1y calling, cause worthy of his steel.
He bade farewell to his country and the
old world and came to offer his talents
and military experience to the cause of
the American revolutiOnists. The name of
Count CaSimir Pulaski was not unknown
to the great leader of the new nation. a
letter from DR.. Franklin had advised Gen.
Washington of the ability of Pulaski as d
soldier and leader of cavalry. After a
brief period of inactivity occasion offered
itself for Pulaski to give exhibition of
his prOWess to the great Washington i'll
an engagement at Brandywine The great
leader at once recognized the ability of
the young caValryman and recommended
to Congress his appointment to the COM
mand of the cavalry, with the rank OF
brigadier general. Thus he became the
first commander of American cavalry.
He took part in numerous engagements
and later when he resigned his command
and organized an independent force known
as "Pulaski's Legion" with the authority
of Congress and the consent of Gen.
Washington, his old tactics of harrassing
the enemy by incesSant and sudden at
tackS brought many an advantage to the
American forces. The gallantry and brav-
cry of his legion was never questioned
and his own personal bravery and almost
reckless courage on the field of battle
brought him the commentator of Gen.
Washington and the admiration of his
followers. He was true to his vow unto
the last. His talents. his sword and his
life were consecrated to the cause of lib
rights he gave up his young life at the
siege of Savannah, thus sealing with his
blood the chapter OF a life devoted to the
cause of human liberty.
Death Wound in Battle.
'He died as befitted knight of old
his death wound was received upon the
field of glory, when leading his men and
urging them to brave assault upon the
enemy. He died a few days later on
board of the United States brig Wasp.
His body was committed to watery
grave At the bottom of the sea rests
the young knight. 1t is worthy grave:
as boundless as the nobility of his heart,
a heart which beat for his nation and
for humanity: as boundleSs as his
knightIy ambition, as unfathomed and
mysterious as the future for which he
cOntended.
Congress noted that monument
,nrxy nr
Pulaski, thus pledging the nation to per-
form pious duty of gratitude, and this
day, one hundred and thirty years later.
has this pledge been redeemed. He
stands before us as he did before his
followers when his courage and devotion
inspired them to acts of bravery and
self-sacrifice.
May his heroic mold become an InSpi-
ration to the men of ...is day. May the
memory OF his devotion and the achieve
ments of our great men on the field of
honor remind us that the days of true
knighthood have not passed; that this
great republic, its institutions, its mission
must he preserved with as much devotion
as was possessed by its founders. The
spirit of justice. honor and honesty must
prevail. The men of today must also be
of heroic mold. Though the scene Of con-
fiict has been removed from the battle
field to the halls of state and the precincts
of art. science, literature and commerce.
the same valiant and unselfish devotion to
duty must prevail. Civic virtue must take
the place of military virtue. Honesty of
bravery of the faithful knight. The con-