The Washington herald., 1910-02-16


battle ship as the principal speaker, Maine
Day was observed in Arlington Cemetery
yesterday afternoon. Before large as
sembly OF representative men and women,
Rear Admiral Charles D. Sigsbee. VINO
commanded the Maine on the night of its
| destruction paid a glowing tribute TO
the martyrs of this nation who lost their
lives in the disaster.
Capt j. Walter Mitchell. commander
in-chief Of the Army and Navy Union,
made viTiolic address. in which he
characterized Congress and the people OF
this nation as towards, and that their
passiveness in the Maine affair was an
Everlasting disgrace TO the United states.
He said, in part:
scores United States Government.
1T is nothing more nor less than crimi-
nal negligence on the part OF the United
States government to leave the wreck of
the Maine in Havana Harbor 10 be washed
by the sewage of passing vessels, and OF
the city Of Havana. II would be no In
centive for the men on the Maine who
lie uncOhined in the twisted wreck of the
battle ship In the foul harbOr of Havana
Bay to again bear arms for this govern
ment If they could see the way they were
treated by the government to-day.
The men who fought and won the war
with Spain believe they were actuated
by nobler principles than that Of mere
gain. They find, however. that patriotism
is but one part OF cOmmercialism.
/ y
being shelved because the day when they
faced the enemy in defense Of the Tag OF
the Union IS matter Of the past The
fact that the United States allows the
wreck OF the Maine TO remain in the bot
tom of Havana Harbor Is not only a
disgrace to American manhood. but is an
insult 10 the very nation itself. and be-
/ speaks the cowardice OF the Republican
party. of which I myself am a member"
! Admiral Sigsbee said, in part:
The exciting and tragic ending Of the
Maine and her men marked the passing
Of the dominion OF one power and the
broad extension Of the dominion of an
other power. II marked. In our own his
/ tory, a great spontaneous rallying TO the
flag by all sections, creeds. and parties
It swept away misunderstanding and
distrust in favor Of patriotic and frater-
Gal fellowship in a common cause
War Was Righteous.
1t was the virtual beginning OF a war
that we believe was righteous In these
reflections we reach the full significance
Of these commemorative exercises that
spread and grow from year 10 year In
sorrowing for these dead. we remember
their piteous passing from sleep 10 sud
den death, and we honor their memory
/ according to the measure OF the great
events that the sacrifice Of their lives
made inevitable, When the sentiment Of
/ a people for their dead is fixed, II cannot
Be set aside.
"The burden Of the Maine rests on me
heavily-al the more heavily with ad-
/ vancing years and i'm ways known only
10 myself To Father Chidwick and 70
myself came saddening evidences Of wide
spread misery consequent on her awful
destruction We are not likely to forget
Rest assured that the honors here paid
10 the dead viii carry comfort to the
sorrowing hearts of their many bereaved
both kindly and patriotic. Il points the
way to future generations, and patriot
ism can take no nObler form"
Revelation to Him.
Commander-in-Chief Van SAINT. of the
G. A. R., spoke, and among his remarks
said that the policy Of this nation to-
| ward the wreck Of the Maine has been
a revelation to him regarding what he
had once believed was American patriot
ism.
Two troops of the Fifteenth Cavalry.
| with a large number of marines and
sailors from the Washington Barracks.
lent military air 10 the occasion and
took part in solemn ceremonies over the
graves of the 165 dead who lie in the
Maine section The Maine Monument
Association. Army and Navy Union.
Spanish War Veterans. Grand Army of
the Republic. and the Union Veteran
Legion were represented at the exer-
cises
President Taft sent a large wreath as
his tribute TO the dead heroes.
Others who spoke were Representative
J. Warren Keifer, Of Ohio, former com
mander-in-chief of the Spanish War
Veterans; J. Edwin Browne, national
commander of the Army and Navy
Union, and Rev. Eugene Hannah, rector
Of St Martins Catholic Church
The exercises were conducted by Capt.
Mitchell Through the courtesy Of Mrs
Christine Walton Dunlap president OF
| the Maine Memorial Association. ar
rangements for the exercises were turned
over to the William F. Barry Garrison,
Army and Navy Union The opening
exercises were conducted by Thomas \
Green, commander of the garrison.
Construction Company Sued.