The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-05-02
HIGH PRAISE FOR
THE HERO OF MANILA.
Addresses by Secretary of Navy Long
at BOstOn-=-President Has Been
Consistent in Prosecuting War.

last night, at which were entertained as
guests Secretary Of the Navy Long, two
heroes OF the Manila bay fight, Captain
Wildes OF the Boston and Lieutenant
Commander Rees, formerly executive
officer OF the Olympia. besides Com
mander Selfridge formerly of the Puri-
TAM and Lieutenant Commander VIII
mer OF the Monadnock.
The speeches were all OF an eloquent
nature. Admiral Dewey being the princ-
pal theme each mention OF his name
bringing forth rounds and rounds Of
cheers and applause.
President Myer of the club introduced
the speakers. Secretary Long being the
first TO receive greetings OF the club. He
spoke as follows
In behalf of the navy thank the
Essex club for celebrating this day,
which is one OF the most conspicuous IN
naval annals and in paying it's tribute
of respect and admiration TO the most
conspicuous naval hero of recent times.
] cannot claim him. however. for the
navy alone Nor can claim that your
paudts are solely OH account of his
naval distinction. BY his display of
large powers OF administration. by his
poise and prudence and by his great dis
cretion, not only in act, but also In word.
which Is almost more important, he has
proved himself a great representative
citizen, as well as n great naval hero.
In the cluster OF military celebrities Of
the recent war. Dewey easily stands at
the front. No captain ever faced "A
more crucial test than when, year ago
this morning. thousands OF miles from
home. with every foreign port I'm the
world shut 10 him. nothing between him
and annihilAtion but the thin sheathing
of his ships, his cannon and his devoted
officers and men, he moved upon the
enemy's batteries on shore and on sea
with that unfinching faith and nerve
which sometimes fail other men even OF
courage and spirit, and. before the sun
was half way up the heavens, had ST.
fenced the guns or the foe sunk the hos
tile feet. demonstrated the superiority
of the American sea power. and trans
ferred from Spain to the United States
an empire Of the islands OF the Pacific.
II thank YOU also. for your courtesy
In inviting to your board so many Off
GERS of the United States navy. whom
am honored to meet Some OF them
served with distinction in the Philip
pines and shared in the victory. the an
niversary Of which you celebrate.
MY only regret is that we cannot
have with us all the other brave heroes
who participated in those great events.
They would include not only the officers
on the decks. but the men behind the
guns. May we not, however, say that,
though not present in person, they are
all here in our hearts, our affection and
our gratitude
4 1,at III IL
ing the glorious record of our navy you
are also, in common with all good citi-
zens. keenly alive to the new problems
which. as "A legacy OF the war, are upon
US. The discussion that has arisen is
interesting and vital. As happens in all
discussion, there is danger OF being mis-
led by terms and of the appearance of
greater differences than really exist
1T is worth while to remember that
there are certain points on which all
sides are substantially agreed. One OF
these is that 1t was the national duty not
TO permit the Philippines TO revert to
Spain. / believe that no more un-
patriotic utterance or one more unjust
to the administration of the government
OF our country has been uttered than the
statement which / see now and then.
that the treatSlent OF the Cubans by
Spain, or the Armenians by the Turks.
is not 10 he compared with our course
toward the Filipinos in wanton and de-
lberate cruelty The mind that can
utter such an extravaganza is so en-
trey warped that its judgment is value
less.
when the statement has been made
that the treatment OF the Cubans or the
Armenians was not worse than our
treatment of the Filipinos in wanton
and deliberate cruelty. understa nd that
this is charged not as an incident 70
the condition OF war, but as the de-
Nberate action OF the administration. If
thdt-ts so, il is an unutterubfy mean,
unwarranted and contemplate asser-
ton. Any mind that is so entirely per
verted shows that IL is not true. and that
the administration has had no purpose
OF wanton and deliberate cruelty, or any
injury TO the Filiplnos.
Its first constant and last instruc-
tlon has been TO insure them every help
TO better conditions. If you viii read
the recent proclamation. issued by the
commission OF which President Schur-
man is at the head. you are blind If you
do not see that IL tenders to them every
advantage Of good government and civil
ization
In the prosecution OF the war with
Spain. II is clear that. az military
movement. as proved by its success the
thing To do was TO strike at Spain i'm the
Philippine islands. And that having
conquered her there we held the Phil
ippines as a result or the war. Per-
sonally. should have been very glad H.
as 7 said once before. that, elephant
had never been put upon our hands. But
at the end Of the war the islands were
in our hands There was almost n
unanimity OF agreement--our beloved
senator. Mr. HOar. himself agreeing
that these islands should not be left In
the hands OF Spain.
"One would think, from what some say.
that the president had gone out Of his
way TO begin an assault and invasion
upon the Philippines. ON the contrary.
around that great city cf Manila. where
life and property were congregateG and
-. a A..