Evening star., 1925-02-21
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL y. COLLINS.

More or less wonder has been mani
Tested outside of Army circles at the
perspicacity exercised by the officials
in discovering after only 80 years,
more or less, that the act of sec
ond lieutenant who is now a United
States Senator deserved more than
passing notice in the archives. Mill
tary and naval bureaus are not noted
for sudden decisions, hence this in
stance of precipitancy must have had
a somewhat dizzying effect upon that
much passed buck" when a diStin-
guished service cross was awarded
last week to Senator Rice w. Means
of Colorado 'for his extraordinary
heroism against the Spanish forces at
Manila, Philippine Islands. on August
8 and 10, 1898"
There have been other instances
very similar, within the last few
months, until the startling activity Of
the Army has shown that Gen. Rip
Van Wrinkle did not wake in vain,
since he has become an alarm clock
to the modernists. The classic in
Quiry, "Who won the war;" is about
to be answered with fullest possible
Endorsements" and with official ref
erenCes enough to choke even mill
tary channels What is the true
background of such remarkable
events?
At the time of the Spanish and
Philippine wars the United States
authorized no recognition of extraor-
binary bravery except the medal or
honor awarded by Congress and a
certificate of merit, the latter being
confined to enlisted men.
The standard of qualifications for
the medal Of honor has always been
very high and there was no other
means of recognizing extraordinary
yalor or service.
There has been a prejudice in the
mind of democratic America against
personal distinctions even for its heroes.
This prejudice was not felt by Gen.
Washington, however, for in lfeZ ne rs
sued an order that whenever a SIN
gularly meritorious action is performed
the author of it shall be permitted to
wear on his facings, over his left breast,
the figure of a heart in purple cloth or
silk. edged with narrow lace or binding.
Not only instances of unusual gallantry,
but also extraordinary fidelity and es-
eential service in any way shall meet
with a. due reward"-each case to be
first authorized by the commander-in-
chief. This is said to be the first IN
stance in history wherein the enlisted
men, as well as the officers. might be
recognized, the order from Gen. WASH
ington adding:
1.-THE road to glory in q patriot army
and a free country is thus opened to all
This order is also to have retrospect to
the earliest stages of the war and to
be considered as a permanent one.
In the researches of American geneal-
ogists it is a great thing to prove that
the subject was entitled to wear the
purple heart"
The order had become obsolete by the
time of the War of 1912, but several
gold medals were given by special acts
of Congress in reward of both naval
and military distinguished service. In
1S47 Congress authorized the President
to give a certificate to enlisted men who
distinguished themselves. Neither the
special gold medals nor the certificates
could be displayed in public, hence they
were not decoration"
In 1851 Congress established the
medal of honor for enlisted men OF the
Navy, and on July IL, 1852, extended 1t
also to the Army, but still those medals
of honor were not to be worn upon the
uniform. In 1904 a law was passed
authorizing the striking Of 5000 gold
medals. and the Secretary Of War was
directed to use as many of them as
needed to replace the old medals 1t
was required that the possessors of
original gold medals surrender them in
exchange for the 1904 medal, but in 1907
joint resolution of Congress provided
that the surrender of the original medals
be waived, and all that had been sur
rendered be returned to their original
secipieptA but that both old Apd usW