The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-08-28

whole nation.
| signal for great demonstration of pop
ular regard from your landing in the Col
gen 9lty on the Pael9 G 10 y9qT nome 9 com
| come and a greeting from Joyous hearts,
which tell better than words the estimate
of your countrymen and their high APP
probation of the services you have rem
permanent the victory Of Dewey You
added new glory to American arms. You
and your brave comrades engaged on 9TH
er fields of conflict, have enlarged the map
of the United States and extended the
But while we share in the joy that is
yours, there remain with US softened and
today Yoi1r s7Ie coIoneI. Ievotsai 10 his
life to his country with many others of
his comrades. The nation sorrows with
| the bereaved. The heroes died for their
Our troops represented the courage and
conscience, the purpose and patriotism OF
their country. Whether in Cuba. Porto
Rico or the Philippines, or a t home await
ing orders they did their full duty and all
never faitereG ie oT The Eighth army eor6s s n
the Philippines have made a proud and
cred out in April when the ratifcatiors of
the treaty Of peace We're exchanged, they
il. They voluntarily remained in the SER
vice ana declared thelT th9 purpose 20 stay
until their places could be hlled by new
leyies and longer il the government need
stood twas not to be in camp or garri-
son. free from danger, but on the battle
them, and where both have eXacted their
VICTIMS
run away: They were not serving the in
surgents in the Philippines or their sym
patience with the men, few in humber
happily, who would have rejoiced to have
presence of an enemy whom they had Just
emancipated from Spanish rule, and who
should have been our frmeSt friends.
They furnished an example of devotion
and sacrifice which will brighten the glor-
ion ut mo n hoy hgT
secured not alone the gratitude of the
government and the people, but for them
selves and their descendants imper-
annrecfate ana the country NAV not The
heroism of their conduct and its impor-
tant support to the government. I think
1 do. and so I am here to express it
The mighty army of volunteers and reg
ularS numbering over two hundred and
fifty thousand. which last year responded
to the call of the government with an ala
Gritty without precedent or parallel by the
terms of their enlistment were to be mus
tered 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 Spain
The senate of the United States ratified
the treaty Every step taken was in obed-
ience to the requirements of the cOnsti-
tuition 1t became our territory and is
ours. as much as the LOUISIANA purchase,
or Texas or Alaska. body of insur-
gents disputed our lawful authority and
even before the ratlllcatlon or the treaty
by the American senate We're attacking
the very forces who fought for and Sc
cured their freedom.
This was the situation in April. 1899. the
date of the exchange of ratifca tiOnS-With
only tWenty-SCVen thousand regulars sub
ject to the unquestioned direction of the
executive and they for the most part on
duty IN cuba and Porto Rico, or inVal1ded
at home after their severe campaign in
tHe tfopIc3. t-NeIl mao IheN peen stNetlIslDIe
II would nave required months TO trans
port them to the Philippines. Practically
a new army had to be created. These 10y
al volunteers in the Philippines said: We
will stay until the government can or
ganize army at home and transport it
to the seat of hostilities.' They did stay,
cheerfully. uncOmplaininglY, patriotically.
They suffered and sacrificed, they fought
ana IelI, they drove back and punished
the rebels who resisted federal authority
eighty ofthe United States in its newly
acquired territory. Without them then
helpless on land, our flag would have had
its first stain and the American name its
first ignominy. The brilliant victories of
the army and navy in the bay. and the
city of Manila, would have been won in
vain, our obligations to civilization would
chaos would have reigned and whatever
government there would have been
sent Of the governed Who refused to
sound the retreat? Who stood in the
sisted the suggestion of the unpatriotic
that they should come home? Let me
call the roll of the regiments and battal-
ions that deserve to be perpetuated in the
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:
1,i, First California CALIFORNIA -. artillery,
Iowa, Twentieth Kansas, Thirteenth Min
First North Dakota. Nevada cavalry, Sec
ond Oregon; Tenth Pennsylvania, First
tillery. First Washington, First Wyoming |
Wyoming battery.
To these must be added about four
thousand enlisted men of the regular
army who were entitled to their dis
April II, 1899; the greater portion of whom I
participated in the engagements of the
duous duties in the field.
Nor must the navy be forgotten. Sixty
nVe devoted sailors participated in the
engagement of May 1st, in Manila Bay
whose terms of service had previously eX-
pred continuing on duty quite a year |
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 I
the most exasperating conditions. For |
weeks subjected to the insults and du- !
piicity of the insurgent leaders they pre- !
served the status quo. rememberinE that |
they were under order from their gov /
OF tne protocol In letter ana spirit and /
avoid all conflict except in defense pend |
peace. They were not the aggressors. |
They did not begin hOstilities against the !
treaty of peace in the senate, great as /
was their Justification, because their or !
all the responsibility for that direction. /
Otis only executed the orders of his gov |
ernment and the soldiers, under great pro- |
vocation to strike back. obeyed. Until |
the treaty was ratified had no auth |
Ority 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 remainder /
of the archipelago Spain had sued for /
peace. The truce and treaty were not |
concluded. The first blow was struck by I
the insurgents. Our kindness was reci- /
procated with cruelty, our mercy with a /
Mauser. The flag of truce was invoked /
only to be dishOnOred. Our soldiers We're /
shot down when ministering to wounded |
Fflipinos. Our humanity was interpreted |
as weakness. our forbearance as coward |
ice. They aSSailed sovereignty and !
there will be no useless parley-no pause |
until the insurrectiOn is suppressed and |
American authority acknowledged and es-
The misguided followers in re-
hav oh rif nit AL