Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1898-09-13
Prsstdelt aEoKtmIeya at camp WtIson.

President NJ ok nley spent several hours
at Camp wickof, Long Island. Saturday
week. He passed through the hospitals
and cheered the sick, thence he went to
the Infantry Plain where 1000 men were
in line to receive him. He was introdu-
ced by Gen. Joe Wheeler. General
Wheeler said: "The President of our great
country has come here TO greet the sol
diers that marched so CALAMITY up San
Juan Hill on July L. He comes here to
express the nations thanks to these brave
men. 1 wish to Tell you that when the
President sent me here, two weeks ago, to
command this camp, be %eujoined nue., in
the most emphatic language. that 1 should,
without regard to expense, exercise any
aud every authority necessary to make
comfortable this body of brave men, who,
by their courage. have raised this repub-
lie to the highest position among the
great nations of the earth. I have the
honor and pleasure of introducing to you
the President of the United States"
President Mckinley said: General
Wheeler, Soldiers of Camp wikoff. Sol
oilers of the Fifth Army Corps: 1 trust
you will put ON your hats-I am glad to
meet you. 1 am honored to stand before
you to-day. 1 bring you the gratitude of
the nation to whose history you have adj
ded, by your yalor, a new and glorious
page. You have come home after two
months of severe campaigning, which has
embraced assault, siege aud battle-so
brilliant in achievement, SO far-reaching
IN results as to command the unstinted
praise of all your countrymen.
"You had the brupt of the battle on
land. You bore yourself with supreme
courage, and your personal bravery, never
before excelled anywhere, has won the
admiration of your fellow citizens and the
genuine respect of all mankind, while
your endurance under peculiar trial and
suffering has given added meaning to
your beroism. Your exertiona made easy
the conquest of Porto Rico Under the re-
s%istless army commanded by Major-Ge
eral Miles, and behind you, to proceed at
a moments summons, were more than
200, 900 of your umrades ready tosupport
you disappointed that the opportunity
which you had did not come to them, YET
filled with pride at your well, earned fame
aud rejoicing upon your signal victories.
@You were on the line of battle ;-they,
no less than you, were in the line of duty.
All have served their country in-its need,
all will serve it so long as they may be
required and all viii forever have the
thanks and regard of a grateful people.
eve cannot bid you welcome here to-
day without our hearts going out to the
heroes of Manila. on sea and land, whose
services and sacrifices, whose courage and
constancy in that far-distant field of oper-
atoms haye never been surpassed by any
soldiers or sailors the world over. To the
army and the navy, to the marines, to the
regulars, to the volunteers aud to that
Providence which has watched over them
all, the nation to-day is full of thanks
giving and praise. The brave officers and
men who fell in battle and those who
have died from exposure and sickness
will live in immortal story and their
memories will be perpetuated in the
hearts and histories of a generous people,
and those who are dependent upon them
will not be neglected by the government
for which they SO freely sacrificed their
lives"
The soldiers cheered many times. The
part of the field where the Eighth Ohio
stood, the regiment. which is sometimes
called the Presidents own" was par
ticularly noisy.
Mr.. Mckinley went through all the
wards of the detention hospital in the
same careful way in which he had gone
through those of the general hospftal.-
When he came TO the last ward Major R.
t. Ebert said: "This is a dangerous
ward" and, turning to Secretary of War
Alger, inquired Do you think the Pres.
ident had better go in there ?"
Mr.. Mckinley, without waiting to hear
what General Alger's reply would be,
started into the ward. General Alger and
the others of the party remained outside.
Soon the President rejoined them.
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