The San Francisco call., 1899-07-04
SANTIAGO DAY AT
THE OMAHA FAIR

OMAHA. July 3.-"Santiago Day
was celebrated to-day at the Greater
America Exposition. The guests of
honor for the occasion were Postmaster
General Smith and Major General
Joseph Wheeler. Both We're given a
most enthusiastic reception by the large
crowd in attendance, the former mem
bers of the Second and Third Nebraska
regiments present being particularly
enthusiastic in greeting General Wheel
er. President Miller of the exposition
introduced Postmaster General Smith,
who said in part:
This intense activity at home, this uni
versal employment OF labor this great
and increasing prosperity go on undlS-
rurbed although we are engaged IN
serious conflict 5000 miles away. The con-
test in the Philippines has not affected our
unparalleled industrial revival or our
InatchlesS prosperity. In truth, the ire
Inendous events of the past year have aid
cd in awakening our domestic activities,
for they have lifted the curtain and re-
Vealed new outlets for trade ana COM
merCe. and even this trouble in the Philip
pines would not have come II the action
Of the Government had been unhampered
and unembarras ssed Its success where It
had free hands was unlimited and un-
denied. It's victory in the war with spain
stands unequaled. You will search the
annals Of history In vain Tor parallel
to its swiftness of execution and its com
pleteness of triumph. 1t was as skillful
In making peace as in waging war. The
treaty of Paris was negotiated with eX-
traordinary ability promptness and judg-
ment.
Up to that point there was no flaw in
the sweep of success. Had the treaty
been promptly and unanimously ratified
as it ought to have been, there would
have been no conflict. The treaty was
sent TO the Sen6tze early in December.
Then, and for nearly two months after
that time peace and order prevailed
There was no outbreak till February. The
sovereignty of the United states, estab-
lished and recognized by the treaty, was
accepted. But the manifestation of op-
position in the Senate melted and en-
boldened opposition in the Philippines,
and the contest of nearly two months at
Washington created a new ana unneceS-
sary contest around Manila.
When that contest came, the Govern
ment had but one course and one duty.
It was under obligation 10 suppress the
instruction Of the Iagals In Luzon, Just
as much as it would be to suppress the
revolt of an Indian tribe in Idaho or wy
oming. We owe it to the world, which
recognizes our supremacy and expects US
TO secure peace and maintain law and or
der: We owe it to our own sovereignty,
and We owe 1t TO the interests and well
being of the Filipinos themselves We
have no war with the Filipinos.. 1t is the
testimony of our commission, and of all
other authorities. that fully 30 per cent
of the FfipnOS accept and welcome the
American flag. which carries liberty and
the promise Of enlightenment and pro
the single tribe Of Tagals, which, because
of encouragement from some of our own
people, and because of misunderstand-
ing Of the real American purpose, mas
broken out in insurrection. That conflict
has unhappily continued beyond the hope,
and. perhaps, beyond the expectation of
the country. 1t is no fault Of the Govern
nent. II IS no fault Of the soldiers.
Every battle has been victoray. The
American arms have never once been de-
feated or repulsed. No soldiers ever
fought more dauntlessly under greater
hardships than the heroes who have
borne our flag through the Jungles 2f I1u-
Zon, and the names of Otis and MacAr-
thur and Lawton and Funston, with their
gallant comrades. will ever be inscribed
in the brightest records Of American
ValOr. There has been no lack of viSor-
GUS leadership and no lack of faithful and
arduous service in the ranks. The only
trouble has been our numbers have not
been great enough to overwhelm the in
surgents and crush the rebellion.
Where IS the fault, if there be? What
is the public feeling within the past
weeks? The American people have not
changed our spirit or purpose; they man
fully accepted the responsibilities and the
duties which came with the war of last
year; and they accept them now They
have no thought of shrinking from the
obligations which have fallen upon them.
Instead of abandoning this work they are
the more determined to proceed with it,
and their feeling is not one of hesita-
ton and doubt, but rather one of impa-
tfence to accomplish immediate and con-
elusive results. Hence comes the Sug
SeSuOn tnaj the President shall call out
the full maximum of volunteers with the
hope of crushing the revolt in a short
and decisive campaign. This is a natural
impulse and it deserves to be treated In a
frank and candid manner.
What, then, was the situation? I am
not here to criticize. Each branch Of the
Government is responsible for its own ac-
ton. But 1t is only fair and just to state
facts and to show precisely what the
President had to meet. Not only did the
opposition, by delay in the ratification of
the treaty, encourage the insurrection
but the emasculated army bill crippled
the power of suppressing 1t. The Presi-
dent was compelled at the same time to
construction of the army. Under the stat
ute when the treaty of peace with Spain
was ratified not only was every volunteer
entitled to be discharged but every reg
ular above 27 800 required to be mus
tered out. The President then was con-
frcnted in the midst of the insurrection
with the problem of relieving a large part
of the force in the Philippines and of
being compelled to substitute new leyies
He stood face to face with the difficulty
in the presence of a force already too
small Of Withdrawing more than 10 900
trained and disciplined men from the
its height and of filing their places with
new forces.
Had the volunteers exercised their
rights of immediate discharge our army
would have been seriously crippled and
disastrous results might have followed
But. to their undying honor be 1t said
they made answer which reflects immortal
glory upon the American citizen and the