Evening star., 1934-05-16

Hearty approval is given by the
press to President Roosevelt's sug-
gestion that the mace Of the Parlia-
ment of Ontario. captured in the
War of 1912, be returned to the
Canadian government as a memorial
to our war dead. 1t Is noted with
interest that the Carnegie Endow-
ment for International Peace Is just
now undertaking a study Of the
foundations of the long peace between
the United States and Canada.
In explanation of the Presidents
suggestion, the Miami Herald tells
the story Of the mace: About l2l
years ago. an American force under
Zebulong Pike landed in Canada and
engaged in a battle with q British
Army in which the latter got the
worst of it. However, in the melee
Gen. Pike lost his life and his sol.
diers. being enraged at his death.
committed depreciation in the town
Of York, now Toronto. and among
the loot which they brought away
was the mace Of the Parliament OF
Ontario. Now, in the British par
liamentary system the mace is quite
an important piece of furniture and
always rests before the speakers
chair during the sessions OF Parlia-
rnent. 1t is a symbol of authority.
As the years go by the mace be-
comes something of a sacred relic.
The mace taken from Canada was
placed in the library of the Naval
Academy at Annapolis and there 1t
has accumulated dust for the past
l2l years, Of no use to this country
and of little interest to the casual
visitor. Now the President has sug-
gested to Congress that it would be
a gesture of good will to return that
old mace to the Ontario Parliament.
especially as the City Of Toronto is
providing a site for memorial to
be raised in that city to the memory
of Gen. Pike and the men who fell
in the engagement in which he lost
his life by the United States Daugh-
tiers of 1872"
Restoration Of the trophy" says
the Cleveland News, would be a gal
liant gesture, not because Of any i'm
portance attached to it after 12l
years Of peace, but because Of the
neighborly spirit the gift would signi-
fy. Grover Cleveland returned to
the South Confederate flags captured
in the Civil War. The nation can
well emulate that example, which
wiped out bygone feuds and pledged
eternal friendship"
The Buffalo Evening News points
out that Toronto this year Is cele-
brating the centenary of its existence
as a city" and adds: so it is fitting
that the symbol Of the early Parlia-
ment be returned at this time. AS
President Roosevelt says, Every
passing year cements the peace and
friendship between the peoples OF
Canada and the United States To
restore the mace would be a happy
gesture Of friendship"
1.-THE North American continent
has been setting an example to the
rest of the world" declares the Reno
CNev) Evening Gazette, with the COM
ment on the historical facts involved:
"The events of the War Of 1872 have
never won the attention of the Amer
ican people that has been given to
other conflicts. The invasion of Ohio
by the British and Of Canadian ter
ritory by the Americans, even the
really notable naval engagements on
the lakes, are passed over lightly in
histories that give most Of their at
tention to the war Of the States, but
the Str1ir0le WAS very ir1portant In
the character of the West
At the time, It drew attention to that
vast region and hastensd the tide Of