Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-09-14
man and not by the consent Of the

| nation Annals, their action was not
a sudden impulse under excitement,
but deliberate determination to sus:
tain at the cost of life il need be,
the honor Of their government and the
authority of its flag:
First California.
california artillery.
First Colorado.
"First Idaho.
"Fiity-iirst Iowa.
twentieth Kansas.
Thirteenth Minnesota.
"First Montana.
"First Nebraska.
"First North Dakota.
Nevada cavalry.
Second Oregon
"Tenth Pennsylvania.
First Sout', Dakota.
"First Tenn ssee.
utah :. tii.ery.
"First Washington.
"First Wyoming.
"Wyoming battery.
ITO these must be added about 1000
enlisted men of the regular army,
who were entitled to their discharge
under the peace proclamation OF
April II, 1890; the greater portion or
whom participated in the engage
ments of the Eighth corps, and are
still performing arduous duties in the
field.
Nor must the navy be forgotten.
Sixty-fve devoted sailors participated
in the engagement of May 1, in Ma
Mia bay, whose terms of service had
previously expired continuing on duty
quite year after that action.
For these men of the army and
navy we have only honor and graft
tude.
"The world will never know the re.
straint of our soldiers-their self-con.
troll under the most exasperating con.
ditions. For weeks subject to the in.
suits and duplicity of the insurgent
leaders, they preserved the statu quo,
remembering that they were under an
order from their governors to sacredly
observe the terms of the protocol, in
letter and spirit, and avoid all con-
fiict, 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 justification, be-
cause their orders from Washington
forbade it. | take all the responsible
ity for that direction. Otis only exc
cuted the orders of his government,
and the soldiers, under great provoca.
ton to strike back, obeyed. Until the
treaty was ratified we had no author
ity beyond Manila city, bay and har-
bor We then had no other title to
defend, no authority beyond that tc
maintain. Spain was still in posses
sion of the remainder of the archi-
pelago. Spain had sued for peace
The truce and treaty were not con.
cluded
1.-THE first blow was struck by the
insurgents. Our kindness was recp.
rocated with cruelty, our mercy with
Mauser. The flag of truce was in.
voked only to be dishonored. Orr sol
diers were shot down when minister
ing to wounded Filipinos. Our hui
mainly was interpreted as weakness.
our forbearance as cowardice.
"They assaiIed our sovereignty ard
there will be no useless parley-nn
pause-until the instruction is SUP
pressed and American authority &c
lnowledged and established.
1.-THE misguided followers in rebel.
lion have only our charity and pity.
AS to the cruel leaders who have need
lossly sacrificed the lives of thousands
of their people, at the cost of some of
our best blood, for the qualification Of
their own ambitions designs, ! will
leave to Others the ungracious task o
justification and eulogy.
Ever one of the noble men, regu-
lars and 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 pleas
ure to recommend for each of them a
special medal of honor.
"While we give you hail and greet
ing from overlooking hearts, we do
not forget the brave men who remain
am hose who have gone forward to
take your places and those other
brave men who have so promptly vol
unteered, crowding each other to 20
to the front, to carry forward to sue
cessful completion the work you SO
nobly begun. Our prayers go with
them, and more men and munitions
II required, for the speedy suppression
of the rebellion, the establishment of
peace and tranquility and a govern
ment under the undisputed sover-
eighty of the United States-a govern
ment which will do justice to all and
at once encourage the best efforts and
aspirations Of these distant people
and the highest development Of the
rich and fertile lands.
1.-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 unset
fish services to country and TO civil
ration will be to the men who take
your places at the front and on the