The record-union., 1899-08-03

there you are best beloved and best
appreciated. It will go forth to the
world, sir, due notice that the STAN
dard of high character built up by pa
thence and perseverance honesty and
uprightness cannot be thrown down by
SANDER -
Governor John Pingree. in his
speech, read in behalf of the State
some pointed references to incidents
relating to Alger's home coming, and
fired some Characteristic shots at the
newspapers, which he asserted, were
largely responsible The Governor
said that Ayers best service for his
ment Of the War Department. He
added:
"The facts which led up to the sub
hitting your resignation to the Pres
ident are well known. The treatment
which you have received has justly
aroused the resentment of fair-minded
Americans The people of Michigan
look upon the manner in which your
Withdrawal. from the Cabinet was fore
ed as an insult to the State. They are
here to-day to rebuke the cupidity OF
politicians, high and low. They are
here to show their contempt for the
cowardly attacks of venal press.
"a mean spirited and INSCRIPTIONS
press has carried on a campaign of de-
liberate Misrepresentation and lies con-
corning your business management of
the War Department. The people OF
Michigan know that these attacks are
absolutely without justification. In
spite of the obsolete customs and sys-
TENS of your department, you con-
| tributed more than any one to bring the
war with Spain to a quick end. You
did SO, although hindered by the in
/ reference of others unfit to handle BUS
| mess or military affairs.
1.-The people of Michigan will remem-
| Der the indignity to which the State
| has been subjected. In time they will
| come to know who is responsible for 1t.
I think they already see that politics
| makes towards of some men, in both
| high and low position. They will in
| time despise the official, no matter how
| exalted his position who gave himself,
| truckled to the newspapers, or who
! considered money or information in any
| form. They will turn away from any
representative of Michigan at Wash
! ington who has stood by without pro-
| test and permitted a citizen OF the
/ State to be grossly abused and mlsrep-
resented as you have been. They Will
| not forget the cowardly conduct OF
some of the newspapers and public men
of the State who have by their silence
practically joined in the attacks upon
you. The sense of justice and fair play
of our people will not support such
methods. They will be apparent when
| the people of our State express them
| selves at the polls.
| ~ know that some people think it un-
| wise upon any occasion like this to give
| voice to such sentiments as have been
expressing. 1 say to them that the
| truth is never out of place. l also say
| that there is no better way of show
! ing our appreciation of your worth as
| a citizen of Michigan than by exposing
= the methods of those who have been
part of the conspiracy to discredit
| you and insult the State and its people.
! 81 have come to believe that the in
| stitution most dangerous to our form
of government is the newspaper. It's
boosted liberality is rather a license.
1t has no scruple and no conscience,
but, of course, exceptions, but l speak
of the press as a whole. Because you,
| General Alger, would not bow to them
and conduct the War Department in
the interest of combines, the army con-
/ tractor and the commercial interest
which controlled the newspaper, you
became a marked man. / know l voice
the sentiment of the people of Michigan
when l say to you that we have every
faith that history will rebuke the news
iaio Of hinb nd
lowest station who have used such vile
methods to accomplish their little pur-
poses'
General Alger. responding. said:
Il can command no language to ex-
press my gratitude to you for this royal
welcome to my home. l am glad from
the bottom of my heart to be released