The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-08-03

absolutely without justification. In
spite of the obsolete customs and sys-
TENS of your department you contrib
uted more than any one to bring the
war with Spain to a quick end. You
did so, although hindered by the inter-
ference of others unfit to handle bust
ness or military affairs.
THE people of Michigan will remem-
Der the indignity to which the state has
been subjected. In time they will come
to know who is responsible for it, 1
think they already see that politics
makes towards of some men, in both
high and low positions. They will in
time despise the official no matter how
exalted his position, who gave himself,
truck1ed to the newspapers, or who
considered money or influence in any
form. They will turn away from any
official representative of Michigan at
Washington who has stood by without
protest and permitted a citizen of the
state to be as grossly abused and mis-
represented as you have been. They
viii not forget the cowardly conduct
of some of the newspapers and public
men of the state who have by their
silence practically joined in the attacks
upon you. The sense of justice and fair
play of our people will not support such
methods. They will be apparent when
the people of our state express them
selves at the polls.
Il know that some people think it
unwise upon an occasion like this to
give voice to such sentiments as I have
been expressing. 1 say to them that
truth is never out of place. I also
say that there is no better way of show
ing our appreciation of your worth as
a citizen of Michigan than by exposing
the methods of those who have been
part of the conspiracy to discredit you
and insult the state and its people.
Il have come to believe that the in
stitution most dangerous to our form
of government is the newspaper. Its
boosted Hberality is rather license.
It has no scruple and no conscience.
There are, of course, exceptions, but
speak of the press as a. whole. Be
cause you, General Alger, would not
bow to them and conduct the war de-
partment in the interests of the COM
bine, the army contractors and the
commercial interests which control the
newspapers, you became a marked
man. I know I voice the sentiment of
the people of Michigan when I say to
you that we have every faith that his
tory will rebuke the newspapers and
politicians of highest and lowest sta
ton who have used such vile methods
to accomplish their little purposes
General A1ger responding said:
L can command no language to ex-
press my gratitude to you for this royal
welcome to my home. I am glad from
the bottom of my heart to be released
from the official care and to again en-
ter the old home and live among the
people of Michigan.
"Since I went away two and half
years ago, as you know, the country
has been through a terrific struggle.
taxed to the utmost of every mans
strength, who occupied any position in
it. I gave my best thought and honest
effort and did everything 1 could to
carry out my part of that great work
What has been is a matter of record
and am perfectly willing to rest the
case with my cOuntrymen, and now my
fellow citizens, L come home without a
grievance. During that struggle and
while that great work was upon me
I can truthfully say that 1 had from
the president all the support that he
could give. We went through the strug-
gle and came out victorious. We trans
ported across the sea. more than 10000
men without accident. We fought bat
ties in the Philippines, in Cuba and in
Porto Rico, and we never lost a battle,
color, prisoner or a gun. Where
ever the American flag was planted by
the American soldier there it stands
and there it shall stand for ever. But
as I said, I have no speech to make
I am glad to be among you again, a
private citizen and that I can travel
these streets and meet you in social and
business intercourse, and 1 propose to
stay here the balance Of my life Good
night"
The closing scene was a reception in
the city hall corridors. Mrs. Alger and
a score of other ladies, with several of
the generals relatives, viewed the
scene from a canopied decorated plat
form built into the main stairWays and
thousands pushed past and grasped
General Ayers hand.