The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-18
a better record for discipline and effective

a better record for discipline and effective
ness
They knew that army life was not a
frolic They expected many dscomforts
and privarons They knew that efficiency
depended upon health as wen as dsci-
pline and that both were the rewards of
untiring vigilance and labor. They rec1s-
nized the task involved in Increasing an
army ten-fold and doing it in the limited
time allowed by the eXigencies of modern
wars Their only regret is that they were
not selected for that foreign service where
many were called but few were chosen.
l haven't spoken OF Rays immunes nor
of the Third Georgia, because they are
still in service. They Were enlisted while
l was out of the state and hence, I
haven't the same personal knowledge of
them-eXcept of one company from Sa-
vannah. But we know that they are Geor-
gians, and being Georgians, We have an
abiding faith as 10 the record they will
make
Let me recur TO the Increase of the army
It was, indeed a task for giants The
feat of Atlas carrying the world upon his
shoulders dwarfs before the work of the
war department during the past year. for
Atlas sustained a world already created,
our war department had 10 create a world
and then carry it.
When the present administration was or
gained, If a seer could have foretold the
labors and responsibilities to be faced, the
outlook would have appalled, even the
bravest of those who were called TO COM
mand.
The evolution of events has emphasized
the words of Shakespeare,
There is a Divinity that shapes our ends
Rough hew them as we may"
We are devouty thankful that the tools
amDlOVpl were well tpfnnaTp1 and a1iusta1
10 each task as it appeared. OF them all
no task Except that of the PresidenO was
greater than that of the war department,
and to no task has been given more zeal
more lavish expenditure of time and labor
more busy days and sleepless nights than
by the man, who in his youth risked life
and fortune for his country-by the man
whose comrades of the Grand Army of
the Republic, made him their chief and
representative-by the man whose state
made him its Governor and then its SEN
ator-by the man of big brain
and kind heart, whom your President put
at the head of his most difficult and re-
sponsible department, by him, whom 1 now
have the honor of Introducing to you, the
Secretary of War for the United States of
America, Russell A. Alger
Secretary Ayers speech In response to
the toast, THE Army was as follows:
At the close of the most event
full year of a third of a century in our
nations history, 1898 was ushered in amid
muttsrings of the conflict that was to
come Christian people everywhere prayed
that war might be averted and lips I'M
accustomed to prayer were opened in sup
plication to the Master that peace might
continue unbroken in our country.
This however, was not to be-war was
inevitable, and although up to April the
President had bOnp1 and lahora1
ingly for a peaceful settlement of Cuban
affairs by Spain, his efforts were in vain.
The short-sighted policy Of that country.
which should have corrected the abuses
of government In her own islands, seemed
instead to have been blind to the mis-
deeds that all the world except she her
self, could so plainly see the sufferings of
the Cubans could no longer be tolerated
by our people, and at last, by the author
ity of Congress, a call to arms rang out
from the executive mansion, and almost
before the electric wires had cooled after
sending the summons, a million men were
eagerly looking towards the capital, hop
ing they might be named.
The national guard from all the states
were first called, and nobly did they re-
spond. Musterings were FASTENED every
where until quarter of a million men
! were in camp, which, added to our gallant
10 HteA OAlAJ opSAL -JgvVO SllOiiS-ilduS
up an army of Americas best blood. ag-
gregating about 275 600 men. Later orders
provided transports and so 1000 of these men
were sent to fields beyond the sea to tropl-
cal climes, during the hottest and most
unhealthy season. Ordered soon after
landing into action many of them died
where they fought others were wounded
and still more paid for their loyalty to
their flag with their lives in hospital and
aboard 10
and for the release from bondage of a
race who had never known what free
dom is.
There are many darkened homes among
our people to-day, and to them our minds
and hearts turn in deepest sympathy. They
know what sacrifice is and well have they
met 1t.