The Irish standard., 1899-02-11
AS SEEN BY REV. FRANCIS DOHERTY
OF SAN FRANCISCO.
HIS vEhY INTERESTING "REMINISCENCES
WAS WITH THE VOLUNTEERS AT THE
PHILIPPINE CAPITAL.
FINE DESCRIPTION OF ORIENTAL SCENES
NO PENT-ur UTICA CONTRACTS THE
POWERS OF UNCLE SAM.

POWERS OF UNCLE SAM.
Rev. Francis Doherty recently lee
tured in San Francisco On with the
Army in Manila" The following con-
densed report of his interesting address
is clipped from The Monitor, of that
city:
There was a time when one could
say with truth that San Francisco was
the ultima thule to the traveller, when
the limits of Uncle Sans dominion
could, on a clear day, be seen from the
Cliff House, but this is true no longer.
The war has changed all that. The
boundary is now extended across to the
other side of the Pacific. which has now
become national reservoir for irrigat-
ing our various possessions, and we
seem to own everything in sight. From
the Farallones to the Philippines We
have extended our authority-we have
bound with a chain of islands the whole
earth together for fear that 1t might
fall to pieces without us. Islands. is
lands everywhere. In fact said Il
griZZled veteran, as our western course
was lighted by the active volcano of the
Iadrone group, We've got islands now
to burn The change is remarkable.
and to express it the word expansion
has been invented, the explanation of
which is this, that Uncle Sam having
taken off his coat in order to whip Spain
found upon attempting to put the same
garment on again that the old affair
wouldn't fit. Flushed with the pride OF
success, developed by the exercise and
experience, his views have broadencd
with his influence until he feels that
no pent-up Utica contracts his powers.
But lest you should fancy that
have any opinion on the matter, I will
turn to describe the sentiments Of the
boys abroad. Those of you who Wit
messed the departure of the transports
will remember the reckless individuals
who. mounting to the top of the masts,
time the last look at San Francisco and
the first view Of Manila. There is moth
ing like travel to widen the range CT
ones mental horizon. Many of the
young men upon the expedition to the
Philippines received Il training from
travel which has been as Il revelation
to them-an education which may mean
the development Of latent powers which
would never find occasion ut home, for
housekeeping wit is said to be of the
humble kind. Yet. after all, the attrac
ton of travel, the novelty of new sights
and sounds, there is implanted that love
for their own land above anything met
with on the journey-;n affectionatc re-
gard for all inconsidcred trifles suggest
ing home. Like Goldsmiths traveller.
they could say:
Whereer l roam, whatever lands | sec.
My heart untraveled fondly turns to
thee.
And believe me-they will come back MS
all must return-better Americans for
their absence.
i remember one night at the Malatn
barracks, where ! went to preach on
Friday evenings, that. after saving the
air from the top of an iron cook stove
In the open, adjourned to the quarters
IA tropical dclugc of rain having di;-
solved the congregation. There. as the
boys gathered, their conversation ran
to the home behind, whether tho har
vest had been gathered or the fall plow-
ing begun. They were ready enough
now to introduce the millennium, and TO
turn their swords into plow shares and
their spears into sicklcs. and go home
ana use them. But, alas for some of
these poor boys there is reaper whose
hamc is Death, and his scythc is sharp
and keen, and in the domain of lscas,
in the hospitals would hear the word
home uttered with the greatest uncton.
] remember in particular one poor rcl
low at Cavfte, as ! sat on the edge OF his
cot to finish a letter which he had no.
gun, saying to me, Reverend. I'm a.
ways glad to have preacher come
around. When ! see you it makes me
feel as If was to home A soldier in
tho First California, while in camp, cx
pressed himself more forcibly, saving
as he waded about in the midst of q
tropical downpour, that he would rather
be lamp-post in San Francisco than
governor general of the Philippines
"Thc earlier Impressions were more
sanguine, II not more sanguinary. The
war was to be a triumphal excursion In
which the novelty was to be attended
with the cheering spirit of patriotic
pride. Honolulu, the fair land of tho
lotus eater, where season melts into
season Of soft sunshine and fragrant
flowers gave color to this idea But to
the thoughtful the experience of the
war has developed a serious earnestncss
with the idea Of obligation--the sengn
Of responsibility as men-as soldiers,