Evening star., 1933-09-24

should Lot take OffenSe at uncle
Sans interest in their behalf. In
stead all they have ever will have
is due to determination to bring
peace justice, happiness and pros
rerity to their island. which had been source
of trouble to the United States for many years
when it was under the tyranncal rule oil SPAN,
and until the navy OF that country was annl-
hilated in the Summer of 1898, and the army
whipped to frazzle" Theodore Roosevelt
might have said
THAT we paid dearly. both in life and money,
in bringing liberty to our island neighbor, all
will agree and that took the only course
consistent at the time. one will dispute; but
there is question today if. after all, our sacrl-
fees f.r Cuba is fully appreciated by its people,
Who by this time, should realize our DUTY at
all times to protect. not only our own interests
here but those of other foreign nations as we'll
Today the memories of the Spanish American
War seem to be fading away in the distance
while the things for which the soldiers fought
N the War between the States are almost 1or-
= tten-only the World War being vividly re-
called.
There are relatively few men living today who
participated in the great Civil War between the
ctates and comparatively few who even recall
nat event but with the SpaniSh-American War
cf IS years ago, there are many still living IN
-ashlngton VINO saw our bcyS go out ana
tnessed as we'll their return few months
aer-but not the same boys, nor could they
sver be the same again, for disease contracted
n the far-of island, was manifest in the faces
II many as they fairly dragged themselves up
the Avenue some even for the last time.
The writer was but one Of many thousands
who witnessed this grand review at the close
o. the war; and the sickly. ghastly look upon
the faces of the soldiers who went away from
here healthy and vigorous, will never be for
rotten Indeed, it looked like regiment OF
stalking ghosts as they marched up the Avenue
With supreme determination to be reviewed
by President Mckinley, at whose summons they
had gone into fever-infested country that the
1iaine might not be forgotten and that Span
.sh rule might entirely and forever cease IN the
lew World
\ hA1TERS developed rather quickly in 1898.
W. During the latter part of January, Pres
iient Mckinley dispatched the United States
battleship Maine to Cuba to protect our inter-
e3ts during one Of the periodical uprisngs there
CT the natives against Spanish rule. The vessel
arrived in Havana Harbor on January 25, and
blown up February Is, with loss of 266
lives Snap judgment was not taken against
Spain. although it was felt that 1t was reSpon-
sible for this horrible act However. as no sat
isfactory explanation forthcoming, and as
no adequate redress was proposed by Spain, the
Congress of the United States by joint resolu-
ton passed on April 19, demanded that country
get out of Cuba and declared that if it refused
to do so 1t would be forcibly elected
Spain made no move to vacate as suggested.
and so on April %, Cuba was blockaded by
American warships,' and three days later the
President called out 125 900 volunteers, while
formal declaration of war against Spain was
proclaimed the same day
Apparently, the District National Guard was
waiting for the Presidents call, and imme-
diately responded with 100 strong, marching
from the armory, over the old Center Mar
ket where Is now being erected the Archives
Building, with hearts beating to the tune Of
Yankee Doodle" Dixie" and The Girl I
Left Behind Me-"
The boys got great send-of from the large
crowd that had assembled at the Pennsylvania
Avenue entrance to the armory and the main
body was soon on its way to the Soldiers Home
grounds where it was planned to pitch its
temporary camp, while a smaller detachment
was marching up the Conduit road to guard
the Washington Aqueduct
Now history repeats itself, for just 81 years
before this-on April Is, 1861-the District
Militia turned out upon the call Of President
Lincoln to guard the city and these same
waterworks. Indeed, always on the alert in q
National crisis, the District can be depended
upon to do even more than its full share, and
yet to an oldtimer who has watched events
for years. it does seem We are often unjustly
handed raw deal by the National Govern
inent to which we have always been 100 per
cent loyal.
1t was not for the District boys to enter the
service so quickly. A mistake had been made,
and soon they were marching down the hill
again Secretary Alger said the Executive De-
partments were embarrassed by the absence Of