The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-08-25

1T is a personal pleasure to me, as 1t
is an appreciated honor, TO participate III
this patriotic and enthusiastic demonstra-
ton AS a journalist ! am proud to JOIN
my tribute with yours to the accomplished
and faithful journalist who at his coun-
try's call threw aside the pen for the
sword and calamity marched at the head
of his command to the tented field he Is
a true soldier. as he is true CITIZEN
brave earnest and dutiful, and l want TO
add a simple leaf TO the noble garland OF
your own Col. Harries-
'''The relations of the Government and
the District of Columbia are of the most
intimate character and as an humble
representative l am glad to bring the
greetings of the Government in this heart
felt Offering to your returning soldiers
When they marched forth on their high
mission the President of the United States
took fresh courage in his great task as
he looked in their young and manly faces.
and / am sure that no enc is more joyous
and thankful than he of their assured re-
turn to home and kindred, crowned with
the laurels of faithful service and blessed
with the admiration and love of all the
people.
They richly deserve all the honors you
can heap upon them. They are the en-
tons unquenchable spirit of patriotism.
At their countrys can they eagsr.y went
forth 10 uphold the honor of the flag we
all venerate and love. and TO advance the
sacred cause of humanity and freedom.
which constrained Us 10 unsheath the
sword They went with the loftiest in
spirations TO brave the severest trials
and hardships on a strange soil and in
perilous cline. in the noblest spirit of
self-sacrifce and in obedience to the
highest summons Of patriotic duty.
mo tribute which you may pay them
can outmeasure their deserts. They re-
turn with the highest badge which the
citizens of the republic can wear, that
of Offering all for the defense of the
country. They return with a luster which
can never fade. II will be an undyinS
honor TO any man who can say. 4 was at
Santiago. / was in the heroic charge on
the heights of San Juan i stood in the
ranks that stormed the guns at Ell Caney.
slep; in the trenches which surrounded
the doomed city and compelled the sur
render
Santiago. like Manila, viii ever remain
with Saratoga and Monmouth and York
town on the lustrous roll of national VIC
tories. and the flags which came from
their bloody conflicts will ever be kept
among the treasured enblems of the ma
tons glory.
Last Saturday ii was my good fortune
to witness the nations reception in the
harbor of its metropolis to the returning
and victorious fleet 1t made ones blood
leap faster in ones veins To see those bat
Elements of the nations power which,
, though imam mate, yet seemed like breath
ing and seniient giant gladiators coming
triumphant from the arena Of battle. And
still more it made one feel like reYe-ent-
ly uncoyering in the presence of the gal
LIANT officers and the heroic men behind
the guns, who mastered and directed
those bulwarks of the nations strength
and gave them their matchiess victory.
Not less deserving of our homage are
the men of the march and the trench.
who faced disease, hardship and death
with no thought but that of faithfully
| serving their country.
I'VE can welcome our heroes with all
! the more pride and ardor because they
| return from just war and gave them
| selves to righteous cause. the Ameri-
! can people can review the beginning and
/ the course Of this struggle without self
/ reproach.
This war has obliterated all sectional
I ism. The Lees and the Wheelers and the
Buffers Of the South share the camp and
I draw the sword shoulder 10 shoulder with
the Skaters. the Wilson's and the Roose-
! velts of the North. and the laurels of
! victory galIantly won and worthily worn
1 in the eyes of the whole country, wreathe
1 the brows of Dewey, of Vermont, and
I Hobson of Alabama.
''As we hail the victorious fleet of Sanfi-
ago. we remember with pride and cherish
with enthusiasm, the blended glories of
| Sampson, of New Jersey and Schley. of
! Maryland. We are witnessing the spien-
/ did spectacle, We are all a vital and inte-
/ gral part of the magnificent patriotic
! rivalry. which is cementing the union of
| hearts and of hands in a new and firner
and more permanent grasp.
THE war has been costly, and stili
1 involves expenditures. But costly as II
has been, it is worth more than all its
! costs in this new and ennobling awaken
/ ing of high national spirit 1t has
| brought the youth of the plow and the
| youth of the avenue side by side in equal
| illustra ton of manhood and of patriotism
! 1t has lifted us out of our petty domestic
| factions and differences to a higher plane
/ of worthy national aspiration. 1t has
done much to dissipate fictitious issues
and to destroy false and pernicious tend
/ encies II has given US a wider horizon
and a truer perspective of the onward
/ march of nations. 1t has made the Amer
/ lean name respected and honored
1 throughout the world as It has never beer
| before.
"AIl war is deplorable, but war has none
| the less often been the pathway of the
| worlds progress. Via crucis, via lucis,
! the way of blood is the way of light
! Through strife and blood new vistas have
! been opened and new opportunities have
been revealed. Six months ago we Were
pursuing the even course of peaceful
development. Today, the momentou:
| drama of war has brought us to &
new situation and a new epoch.
"Our republic is advancing to new
and commanding position among nations
We have been swept forward by the
mighty and irres.s blDie tide of transcen-
dent and unforeseen events, and whether
we would or not, we can never drop bach
to where we stood before. New duties
and new responsibilities have come Il
us not so much by any calcuiation of oul
own as 10 the overruhng hand of an all
wise Providence. and We must manfully
and coIIrageously face them.
II am not here to discuss any quest on.
of public policy. They are for their owl
time and place. But there are grea
| oyer-ma stering truths which are fer al
times and all places. He would not b.
| a true American who does not Recognize
that our country is. and is TO be. one o
the great. peaceful and civhzing in
fiuences of the world. Our American
| heritage of lofty principles and mora
law forbids mere territorial lust. Gu
policy is not aggressive and does not ain
| at military aggrandiZement- We began
the war with humane purposes; we hav
| brought a cessation of Aostilities witt