The age-herald., 1899-08-03
P|NGREE FIRES HQ. zSHOT Boasts NewSpapersls 2 lercifuIIy for Causing Ages , ownfall, THEY'RE MENACE ACCOMPANIMENT Press Has Made of It's Boasted Liberty a License to Garry On an Unscru-
 pulous Campaign Against
 the Embalmed Man.
THEY'RE MENACE ACCOMPANIMENT

l Detroit, Mich. August 2.-General Russell l A. Alger received a magnificent welcome | from the people of his own city and stato l today. From clock, when the welcoming committee of 100 met his private car upon 1 its arrival at Toledo, until o'clock, when the general ceased grasping outstretched hands, he had an ovation. Smiles and tears repeatedly struggled for the mastery over the secretary's bronzed countenance as he gazed into the eager faces of the multitudes who loudly and convincingly insisted that "Alger's all right" and no dissonant voice was heard.
 Headed by about 300 bicyclists over 1000 marchers, including militia, veterans of the civil and Spanish wars and scores of marchers in secret society uniforms es- corted General Alger from the station to the reviewing stand.
 Mayor Mayberry welcomed the ex-secre- tary in speech warm In praise and neigh borly greeting. Governor Pingree in speech in behalf of the state, made some pointed references to incidents in Alger's homecoming and fired some characteristic shots at the newspapers.
 The governor said that Algers best ser- vice for his country was in his efficient management of the war department. He | said:
 An Insult to the State 1 .The facts which led you to submit your resignation to the president are well known. The trea Iment which have received has justly aroused the re- sentiment of faT-minded Americans. The people of Michigan look upon the manner in which your resignation was forced an insult to the state. They are here today to rebuke the cupidity Of politicians high and low. They are here to show their contempt for the cowardIy attacks of yenal press. "A mean-spirited and unscrupulouS press has carried on campaign of de- Hberate miSre representation and lies con- corning your business management of the war department.
 '"rhe people of Michigan know that these attacks are absolutely without justihca- tion. In spite of the obsolete customs and system of your department, you contrib uted more than any one to bring the war
 with Spain to a quick end. You did so although hdndered by the Interference of
 others unfit to handle the business of mlli-
 tary affairs.
 Cowardly Conduct of Newspapers
 '@rhe people will in time despise the of- fcal no matter how exalted his posltiorf who, to save himself. truekled to the news papers who considsred money or in- fluence in any form They will not forget
 the cowardly conduct of some of the news papers and public men of the state who have by their silence practically joined in
 the attack upon you
 
 q have come to believe that the in- stitution most dangerous to our form of government Is the newspapers. Its boasted liberty Is rather a license. It . has no scruple and no conscience There are, Of course, exceptions, but l speak of the press as a whole. Because you, General Alger, would not bow to them and conduct the war department in the interests of the combines, the army con- tractors and the commercial interests which control the newspapers, you be- came a marked man.
 General Alger responded feelngly, thank ing his friends for their welcome and ex- pressing pleasure at being released from official cape. Referring to his duties at Washington during the war he said:
 "I gave my best thought ana honest eI- fort and did everything I could to carry out my part of that great work What has been done is matter of record, and am perfectly willing to rest the case with my countrymen.
 President Gave Him Support
 And now, my fellow citizens, 4cpls home with grievance. During that struSs gle and while that great work was upon me, I can truthfully say that I had from the president all the support that he could give We went through battle struggle and came out victorious. We transported across the seas more than 1000 men one way and the other without accident We fought battles in the Philippines, in Cuba and in Porto Rico and we never lost a battle, a color a prisoner or a gun. Wherever the American flag was planted by the American soldier there it stands, and there it shall stand forever. But as said, I have no speech to make. am glad to be among you again, a private citizen. and that I can travel these streets and meet you in social and business inter- course, and propose to stay here the bal- ance of my life. Good night"
 The closing scene was in the city hap