Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-08-31

tire day Monday was spent under the
most trying circumstances and the
president was almost worn out Mrs.
Mckinley rested during the entire day,
remaining at the Pitcairn residence,
and stated in the evening that she was
feeling very we'll. After breakfast
Monday morning the president received
a few calls and then driving to the
hotel Schenley was met by the recep-
ton committee. At 1870 o'clock he
went to Allegheny to meet the 10th
Pennsylvania regiment of volunteers.
Finding that the train was even later
than was expected, the party was taken
to the residence of B. F. Jones, chair
man of the republican national COM
mittee in 1884, where an hour was
spent. When the president finally
headed the procession that escorted the
10th regoment to Schenley park it was
3 o'clock. The president received an
ovation practically continuous from the
thousands of persons along the route.
After the troops were reviewed the
president made a long address which
was enthusiastically received.
President Mckinley said in part: II
am glad to participate with the fami-
lies, friends and fellow citizens Of the
10th Pennsylvania volunteers in this
glad reunion. You have earned the
plaudits not alone of the people of
Pennsylvania but of the whole nation.
Your return has been the signal for
great demonstration of poular regard
from your landing in the Golden Gate
on the Pacific to your home coming,
and here you find a warmth of well
come and a greeting from joyous
hearts, which tell better than words
the estimate of your countrymen and
their high appreciation Of the services
you have rendered the country. You
have 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 yours, there remain with us sOftened
and halloWed memories of those who
went forth with you, not found in your
ranks today. 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.
These heroes died for their country,
and there is no nobler death.
!. THE world will never know the re-
straint of our soldiers-their self-con-
troll under the most exasperating CON
ditions. For weeks subjected to the in
suits and duplicity of the insurgent
leaders, they preserved the status quo,
remembering that they were under an
order from their government to sacred
~ observe the terms of the protocol in
letter and spirit and avoid all conflict
except in defense pending the negOtia-
tons 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
justification, because their orders from
Washington forbade it. | take all the
responsibility for that direction. Otis
only executed the orders Of his govern
ment, and the soldiers, under great
proyocation to strike back, obeyed.
Until the treaty was ratified we had
no authority beyond Manila city, bay
and harbof We then had no other
title to defend, no authority beyond
that to maintain. Spain was still in
possession of the remainder of the
archipelago. Spain had sued for peace
The truce and treaty were not conclud-
ed. The first blow was struck by the
insurgents Our kindness was recipro-
Gated with cruelty, our mercy with a
Mauser. The flag of truce was in
yo1ed only to be dishonored, Our
soldiers were shot down when minis
tering to the wounded Philippines
Our humanity was interpreted as
weakness, our forbearance as cOwar-
dice, They assailed our sovereignty
and there will be no useless parly-no
pause until the insurrection is sup
pressed and American authority ac-
knowledged and established. The mis-
guided followers in rebellion have only
our charity and pity. AS to the cruel
leaders who have needlessly sacrificed
the lives of thousands of their people,
at the cost of some of our best blood
for the qualification of their own am
bilious designs, l will leave to others
the ungraeious task Of justification and
eul0gy. Every one of the noble men
regulars or volunteers, soldiers or sea-
men. who thus signally served their
country in its extremity deserves the
special recognition of congress, and it
will be to me an unfeigned pleasure to
recommend for each Of them a special
medal of honor.
while we give you hail and greeting
from overlooking hearts, we do not for
get the brave men who remain and
those who have gone forward to take
your places, and those other brave men
who have SO promptly volunteered,
crowding each other to go to the front.
to carry forward to successful compile
ton the work you so nobly began. Our
prayers go with them, and more men
and munitions If required. for the
speedy suppression of the rebellion, the
establishment of peace and tranquility
and a government under the undisputed
sovereignty of the United StateS-a
government which will do justice to all
and at once encourage the best efforts
and aspirations of these distant people
and the highest development of their
rich and fertile lands"
THE government to which you gave