Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-29

in the nations annals. Their action was
not a sudden impulse under excitement,
but deliberate determination to sustain,
at the cost of life, If need be, the honor of
their government and the authority of its
flag"
The President here named each volunteer
regiment that remained at Manila. He con-
tinued:
ITO these must be added about 1000 en-
listed men of the regular army who were
entitled to their discharges under the peace
proclamation of April II, 1899, the greater
portion of whom participated in the en-
gagements of the Sth Corps and are still
performing arduous services in the field.
Nor must the navy be forgotten. Sixty
five devoted sailors participated in the en-
gagement of May l in Manila bay whose
terms of service had previously expired.
continuing duty quite a year after that
action.
For these men of the army and navy
we have only honor and gratitude
.InsuIts of Insurgent Leaders,"
1.-The world will never know the restraint
of our soldiers-their self-control under
the most exasperating conditions For
weeks subjected to the insults and duplic-
ity of the insurgent leaders, they preserved
the status quo, remembering that they
were under an order from their govern
ment sacredly to observe the terms of the
protocol in letter ard spirit and avoid all
conflict except in defense pending the ne
gotiations of the treaty of peace. They
were not the aggressors. They did not
begin hostilities against the insurgents
pending the ratification of the treaty of
peace in the Senate, great was their
justification, because their orders from
Washington forbade it.
Il take all the responsibility for that di-
rection. Otis only executed the orders of
his government. and the soldiers, under
great provocation TO strike back, obeyed.
Until the treaty was ratified we had no
beVDnd Manila m
Dor We then had no other title to de-
fend, no authority beyond that to main
tain. Spain was still in possession of the
remainder of the archipelago. Spain had
sued for peace. The truce and treaty were
not concluded.
"Assailcd Our Sovereignty"
1.-The first blow was struck by the in
surgents. Our kindness was reciprocated
with cruelty, our mercy with Mauser
The flag of truce was invoked only to be
dishonored. Our soldiers were shot down
when ministerinS to the wounded Fill
pinos. Our humanity was interpreted as
weakness. our forbearance as cowardice.
They assailed our sovereignty. and there
will be no useless parley-no pause until
the instruction is suppressed and Ameri-
can authority acknowledged and estab-
lished
The misguided followers in rebellion
have only our charity and pity. AS to the
the lives of thousands of their people, at
the cost OF some of our best blood, for the
qualification of their own ambitious de-
signs i Will leave to others the ungracious
task of justification and eulogy.
Every one of the noble men, regulars or
volunteers. soldiers or seamen, who thus
signally served their country in its ex-
tremity deserves the special recognition of
Congress, and It will be to me an unfeigned
pleasure to recommend for each of them a
special medal of honor.
"More Men II Required"
while we give you hail and greeting
from overlooking hearts. we do not forget
the brave men who remain and those who
have gone forward to take your places. and
those other brave men who have SO
promptly volunteered, crowding each other
to go to the front. to carry forward to sue
cessful completion the work you SO nobly
begun
Our prayers go with them, and more
men and munitions II required, for the
speedy suppression Of the rebellion. the es-
tablishment of peace and tranquility and a
government under the undisputed sover-
eighty of the United States, a government
which will do justice to all and at once en-
courage the best efforts and aspirations of
these distant people and the highest de-
velopment Of their rich and fertile lands.
THE government to which you gave your