The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1899-08-31
THE GALLANT TENTH
Reviewed by the President
at Pittsburg.
TREMENDOUS ENTHUSIASM SHOWN
Mr.. Mckinley Makes II speech In
which He Lnuds the Returning
Volunteers - Pittsburg's
Greatest Day.

Volunteers - Pittsburg's
Greatest Day.
PlTrSBURG, Aug. 29.-The president
reviewed the Tenth PENNSYLVANIA volun
teers, just returned from the Philippines
yesterday. The occasion was one of tu
multuous enthusiasm. The only thing
lacking to make the day one of supreme
happiness was the absence of the brave
and well beloved Colonel Hawkins. who
I'd the boys in all of their battles and
hared in all of their sufferings, but who
was denied the privilege of marching at
their head when they returned home to
receive the plaudits of a grateful people
Although the people from the surround
ing counties began literally pouring"
into the city soon after the dawn of the
day, the police had made such prepara-
tions that this influx did not create any
throng so ms to interfere with the line of
march. From the point OF starting in
AIleghany over 1000 officers enrolled for
the occasion from the different municipal
departments of the two cities were locat-
ed along the line at certain intervals,
and in this manner the immense con-
course of onlookers was kept well under
control
began at New Brighton. Pa, when a
committee of prominent Pennsylvanians
welcomed them as soon as they had
crossed the borders of the state.
After brief exercises and a hearty
breakfast rendered by the citizens of
New Brighton the regiment was rushed
into Allegheny. The train came in three
sections, and Immediately after the sol
diers had discmbarkcd the line of march
TO Schenley park. where the exercises
were to be held, was taken up.
Governor William a. Stone was intro
duced as chairman of the committee and
delivered an address of welcome in be-
half of the state.
At the conclusion of Governor Stones
address President Mckinley was intro
duced and, after the applause had ceased,
spoke in part as follows:
"Goveruor Stone and My Fellow Citi-
zens-I am glad to participate with the
families, friends and fellow citizens of
the Tenth Pennsylvania volunteers in
this glad reunion.
"You have earned the paudits not
alone of the people of Pennsylvania, but
of the whole nation. Your return has
been the signal for great demOnstra-
ton of popular regard from your landing
in the Golden Gate on the Pacific to your
home coming, and here you find a
warmth of welcome and a greeting from
joyous hearts which tell better than
words the estimate of your countrymen
and their appreciation of the services
you have rendered the country. You
made secure and permanent the victory
G Dewey. You added new glory to
American arms. You and your brave
rnp,ro1as al ON nthar folds nr
hict 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. devoted to
his men. beloved by his command and re-
spected 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 mighty army Of volunteers and
regulars. numbering over 250, 900, which
last year responded to the call of the
government with an alacrity without
precedent or parallel, by the terms Of
their enlistment were to be mustered out,
with all of the regulars above 21,000,
when peace with Spain was effected.
Peace brought us the Philippines by
treat" ccssion from Spain. The senate
of the United States ratified the treaty.
Every step taken was in obedience to the
requirements Of the constitution. 1t be-
came 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 islands disputed our lawful au-
thority and even before the ratification
of the treaty by the American senate
were attacking the forces who fought for
and secured their freedom.
This was the situation in April. 1899.
the date of the exchange of notifications,
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 required months to trans
port them to the Philippines. Practically
a new army had to be created These
loyal volunteers in the Philippines said,
We will stay until the government can
organize an army at home and transport
it to the seat of hostilities' They did
stay, cheerfully, uncomplainingly, patri-
otically. They suffered and sacrificed,
they fought and fell, they drove back
and punished the rebels who resisted
federal authority and who with force at
tackled the sovereignty of the United
States in its newly acquired territory.
"The government to which you gave
your loyalty welcomes you to your
homes. With no blot or stain upon your
record the story of your unselfsh services
TO country and to civilization will be to
the men who take your places at the
front and on the firing line and to future
generations an example of patriotism
and an inspiration to duty"