The record-union., 1899-08-29

warmth of welcome and a greeting
from joyous hearts which tell better
than words the estimate of your coun-
trymen and their high appreciation of
the services you have rendered the
country.
s'Yo ou made secure and permanent the
victory of Dewey. You added new
glory to American arms. You and
your brave comrades engaged on other
fields of conflict have enlarged the map
of the United States and extended the
jurisdiction of American liberty.
But while we share in the joy that
is ours. there remain with us softened
and hallowed memories of those who
went forth with you, not found in your
ranks to-day. Your noble Colonel, de-
voted to his men, beloved by his COM
mand and respected by his superior
officers, gave his life to his country
with many others of his comrades. The
nation sorrows with the bereaved The
heroes died for their country, and there
is no nobler death.
Our troops represented the truth
and conscience, the pure patriotism of
Rico or the Philippines, or at home
duty, and all sought the post of great
est peril. They never faltered.
1.-THE Eighth Army Corps in the Phil
ippines have made proud and excep-
tional record Privileged to be mus
tered out in April, when the ratifica-
tions of the treaty of peace were ex-
changed, they did not claim the priv
ilege-they declined it. They volun-
tear4i +Ian a
clared their purpose to stay until their
places could be filled by new levies, and
longer if the Government needed their
services, and they understood it was
not to be in camp or garrison, free from
danger, but on the battle line, where
exposure and death confronted them,
and where both have exacted their
victims. They did not stack arms;
| they did not run away They were
not serving the insurgents in the Phil
ippines or their sympathizers at home.
They had no part or patience with the
men, few in number, happily, who
would have rejoiced to have seen them
lay down their arms in the presence of
an enemy whom they had just eman-
cipated from Spanish rule, and who
should have been our firmest friends.
1IIcy du 0AdIIpiG VI QoNOIIOn
and sacrifice which will brighten the
glorious record of American valor.
They have secured not alone the
gratitude of the American Government
and the people, but for themselves and
their descendants an imperishable dis
tinction. They may not fully appre-
ciate, and the country may not, the
heroism of their conduct and it's i'm
portant support to the Government. I
think I do, and so I am here to ex-
press it.
THE mighty army Of volunteers
and regulars. numbering over 100000,
which last year responded to the call
of the Government with alacrity with
out precedent or parallel, by the terms
of their enlistment We're to be mustered
out, with all Of the regulars above b.
| 600 men, when peace with Spain was
effected. Peace brought us the Phil
ippines by treaty cession from Spain.
| The Senate of the United States rati-
| fed the treaty. Every step taken was
in obedience to the requirements of the
Constitution. 1t became our territory
and is ours, as much as the Louisiana
purchase or Texas or Alaska. A body
of insurgents in no sense representing
the sentiment of the people Of the ISL
ands, disputed our lawful authority,
and even before the ratification of the
treaty by the American Senate were
attacking the very forces who fought
for and secured their freedom.
This was the situation in April, 1899,
the date of the exchange of the rati-
fications-with only 27,000 regulars
subject to the unquestioned direction
of the executive and they for the most
part on duty in Cuba and Porto Rico,
or invalided at home after their severe
campaign in the tropics. Even had
they been available it would have re-
quired months to transport them to the
Philippines. Practically a new army
had to be created. These loyal vol
| unteers in the Philippines said: We
will stay until the Government can or
ganize an army at home and transport
them to the seat of hostilities. They
did stay, cheerfully, uncomplainingly
patriotically. They suffered and sac
rificed they fought and fell; they drove
back and punished the rebels who re-
sisted Federal authority. and who with
force attacked the sovereignty of the
United States in it's newly acquired ter
ritory. Without them then and there
less on land, our flag would have had
its first stain and the American name
it's first ignominy. The brilliant vic
tories in the army and navy in the bay
and the city of Manila would have been
won in vain, our obligations to civiIiz-
alton would have remained temporari-
ly unperformed. chaos would have
reigned and whatever Government
there was would have been by the will
of one man, and not by the consent of
the governed.
"Who refused to sound the retreat?
Who stood in the breach when others
weakened? Who resisted the sugges-
ton of the unpatriotic that they should
come home? Let me call the roll of
the regiments and battalions that de-
serve to be perpetuated in the nations
annals. Their action was not a sud
den impulse under excitement, but a
deliberate determination to sustain at
the cost of life. if need be. the honor of
their Government and the authority of
its flags: First California, California
Artillery, First Colorado. First Idaho,
Fifty-first Iowa. Twentieth Kansas,
Thirteenth Minnesota. First Montana,
First Nebraska, First North Dakota
Nevada Cavalry, Second Oregon, Tenth
Pennsylvania. First South Dakota
First Tennessee. Utah Artillery, First
Washington, First Wyoming, Wyoming
Battery To these must be added about
1000 enlisted men of the regular army
who We're entitled to their discharge
under the peace proclamation of April
II, 1899; the greater portion of whom