Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1899-09-08
M'KINLE ON The WAR:
Eloquent Tribute to Returned
Pennsylvania Troops.
TAeALs WERE THE AGGREssoRs

President McKinleys speech at
Pittsburg on Monday, Aug. 2S, on the
occasion of the reception rendered the
Tenth Pennsylvania regiment on its
return from the Philippines was one
OF the finest examples of patriotic elo-
quence which has been heard in many
months, as well as one of the best re-
views of the war in the Philippines
that has yet been presented to the
American people. 1t should be read by
every American citizen. The speech
in full is as follows:
Governor Stone and my fellow-cit-
izens: I am glad to participate with
the families, friends and fellow-citi-
zens of the Tenth Pennsylvania vol
unteers 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 demon
stration of popular regard. From your
| landing at the Golden Gate in the Pa
! cifc to your homecoming here you
| find a warmth of welcome and greet
ing of joyous hearts, which tell better
than words the estimate of your coun-
/ trymen, and their high appreciation Of
the services you have rendered the
| country. You made secure and per-
manent the victory of Dewey. You
! added new glory to American arms
! You and your brave comrades en-
gagged on other fields have enlarged
the map of the United States and eX-
tended the jurisdiction of American
liberty.
A Glorious Record.
But while we share in the joy that
is yours, there remain with us soft
ened 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 respected by his su-
perior officers, gave his life to his
country, with many others of his COM
rades The ration sorrows with the
bereaved These heroes died for their
country, and there is no nobler death.
These troops represented the courage
and conscience, the purpose and pa
triotism of their country. Whether in
Cuba, Porto Rico, or the Philippines,
or at home awaiting orders, they did
their full duty, and all sought the post
of greatest peril. They never faltered.
The Eighth army corps in the Philip
pines have made proud and eXcep-
tional record. Privileged to be mus
tered out in April, when the ratifica-
tions of the treaty of peace were eX-
changed they did not claim the priv
ilege-they declined it. They volun-
tarily remained in the service and de-
clared their purpose to stay until their
places could be filled by new levies,
and longer & the government needed
them. Their serYice-and they under
stood twas not to be in camp or
garrison, free from danger, but on the
battle line, where exposure and death
confronted them, and where both have
exacted their victims.
Did Not stack Arms.
They did not stack arms. They did
not run away. They were not serving
the insurgents in the Philippines, OF
their sympathiZers at home. They
had no part or patience with the men,
few in number happily, who would
have rejoiced to have seen them lay
down their arms in the presence of an
enemy whom they had just emanci-
pated from Spanish rule, and who
should have been their firmest friends.
They furnished an example of devo-
ton and sacrifice which will brighten
the glorious record of American YaloF.
They have secured not alone the graf
itude of the government and the peo-
pie, but for themselves and their de-
scendants an imperishable distinction.
They may not fully appreciate, and
the country may not the heroism of
their conduct and its important sup
port to the government. / think ! do,
and so / am here to express 1t.
The mighty army Of volunteers and
regulars, numbering over 250,OOO,
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 1000 when peace was affected,
Peace brought us the Philippines by
treaty cession from Spain. The sem
ate OF the United States ratified the
treaty. Every step taken was in obeGi-
ence to the requirements of the con-
stitution. 1t became our territory and
is ours as much as the Louisiana pur-
chase, or Texas or Alaska. A body OF
insurgents, in no sense representing
the sentiment of the people of the
Islands, disputed our lawful adthoTity
and even before the ratification of the
treaty by the American senate were
attacking the very forces who fought
for and secured their freedom.
Loyalty of Volunteers.
This was the situation in April, 1899
the date of the exchange of ratifca-
tions-with only $4,000 regulars sub
ject to the unquestioned direction OF
the executive, and they for the mosI
part on duty in Cuba or Porto Rico
or inValided at home after their severe
campaign in the tropics. Even had
they been available it would have re.
quired months to transport them tC
the Philippines. Practically a new
army had to be created. These loya
volunteers in the Philippines said,
I'VE will stay until the government
can organize an army at home anC
transport 1t to the seat of hostilities,
They did stay cheeTfully, uncom
plainingly, patriotically. They suffered
and sacrificed; they fought and fell
they drove back and punished thu
rebels who resisted federal authority
and who, with force, attacked the soy
eTeignty of the United States in 1t!
newly acquired territory. Withou
them then and there we would haYj
been practically helpless on land; ou
flag would have had its first stain ant
the American name its first ignominy
The brilliant victories of the navy AM
army in the bay and city Of Manila
would have been won in vain; ou
obligations to civilization would hav
remained temporarily unperformed
chaos would have reigned, and what
ever government there was would haV
been by one man, and not by consen
Of the governed. Who refused t
sound the retreat? Who stood in tn
breach when others weakened? VIII
Observation-Disclosures