The Portland daily press., 1899-08-29

jaced to have seen them lay down their arms
Just tmancipated from Spanish rule and
should have been our hrmest friends. They
furnished an example Of devotion and sacri-
OF American valor.
They have secured not alone the gratitude
Of the government and the people, but for
themselves and their descendants en- imper-
ishAble distinction. They may not fully
appreciate and the country may not, the
heroism Of their conduct and its important
support to the government. l think do,
and 50 am here TO express il.
The mighty army Of volunteers and reg
ulars numbering over two hundred and Atty
thousand which last year responded to the
call OF the government with an alacity with
out precedent or parallel, by the terms Of
their enlistment were to be mustered out,
with all Of the regulars above twenty
seven thousand, when peace with Spain was
effected. Peace brought US the Philippines,
by treaty cession, from Spsin. The senate Of
the United States ratified the treaty. Evary
step taken was in obedience to the re-
quirements of the constitution. II became
our territory and is ours as much as LOUISE
ana, or Texas, or Alaska. A body of in
surgents in no sense representing thessenti-
ment Of the people of the islands disputed
our lawful authority and even before
the ratification of the treaty by
the American Senate by attacking
the forces who fought for and secured their
freedom. This was the situation in April,
1899, the date of the exchange of ratihca-
TUNE, with only $1,000 regulars subject to
the unquestioned direction of the executive
and they. for the most part on duty in Cuba
or Porto Rico or invaded at home, after the
severe campaign in the tropics.
Even had they been available 1t would
have required months TO transport them to
the Philippines. Practically new army
had TO be crested.
these loyal volunteers in the Philippines
said ave will stay until the government
can organize an army at home and trans
port IL to the seat of hostilities.
They did stay, cheerfully. uncomplain-
ngly, periodically. They suffered and sacri-
feed. they fought and fell, they drove back
and punished the rebels who resisted federal
authority, and who with force attacked the
sovereignty OF the United States in its new
ly acquired territory. Without them we
would have been practically helpless on
land our flag would have had its first stain
and the American name its first ignomy
The brilliant victories OF the army and navy
in the bay and city of Manila would have
been won in vain, our obligations to ciyiiza-
ton would have remained temporarily I'M
performed, 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 suggestion of the unpa-
triotic that they should come homer
Let me call the roll Of the regiments and
battalions that deserve to be perpetuated in
the nations annals. Their action was not
a sudden 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 flag.
First California, California artillery; First
Colorado, First Idaho, Fifty First Iowa,
Twentieth Kansas, Thirteenth Minnesota,
First Montana, First Nebrasks, First North
Dakots, 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 four thous-
and enlisted men OF the regular army who
were entitled to their discharge under the
peace proclamation of April IL, 1884, the great
portion of which, who participated in the
engagements of the Eighth coTps, are still
performing arduous service in the field.
Nor must the navy be forgotten. Sixty
five devoted sailors participated in the en-
gagement of May LIST at Manila Bay, whose
term of service had previously expired, con-
tinuing on duty quite year after that
action.
For these men of the army and navy we
have only honor and gratitude. The world
will never know the restraint of our soldiers,
their self control under the most exasperat-
ing conditions for weeks, as subjected to the
insults and duplicity of the insurgent leaders,
they preserved the status quo remembering
that they were under an order from their
government to sacredly observe the terms of
the protocol in letter and spirit and avoid
all conflict except in defense, pending the
negotiations 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 as was their justi-
hcation, because their order from Washing
ton forbade it.
take all the responsibility for that d.
reclion.
Otis only executed the orders of his gov
eminent and the soldiers, under great pro-
vocation to strike back, obeyed.-
Until the treaty was ratified, we had no
authority beyond Manila city, bay and
harbor.
We then had no other title to defend no
authority beyond that to maintain.
Spain was still in possession of the re-
mainder of the archipelago.
Spain had sued for peace.
The truce and treaty were not con-
cluded.
The first blow was struck by the insur-
gents.
Our kindness was reciprocnted with cru
city, our mercy with maussr.
The flag of truce was invoked only to
be dishonored.
Our soldiers were shot down when min
istering to the wounded Filipinos.
Our humanity was interpreted as weak
ness, our forbearance as cowardice.
v- They assailed our sovereignty and there
will be no useless parley-no pause until
the insurrection is suppressed and Ameri-