The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-07-04
VOLUNTEER HEROES
Receive q Handsome Tribute From
Postmaster General Smith


Postmaster General Smith
Omaha, Neb., July 4.-''Santiago Day
was celebrated at the Greater American
exposition The guests of honor for the
occasion were Postmaster General
Smith and Major General Joseph Wheel
er. They were both given a most en-
thusiastfc reception by the large crowd
in attendance. President Miller Of the
exposition introduced Postmaster Gen
eraI Smith, VINO said in part:
This intense activity at home, this
universal employment of labor, TINS
great prosperity Will 60 on undlSturDed
although We are engaged IN a serious
conflict 5000 miles away The contest
in the Philippines has not affected our
unparalleled Industrial revival or our
TnatchIess prosperity. In truth the ire
mendous events of the past year have
aided in the awakening of our domestic
activities, for they have lifted the cur
tain and revealed new OutlOOks for trade
and commerce. And even this trouble
in the Philippines would not have come
if the action OF the government had
been left unhampered and unembar-
raised. Its success where it had free
hands was unlimited and undenied- It's
victory in the war with Spain stands
unequaiIed. You will search the annals
of history in vain for a parallel to its
sWiftness of execution, and its com
pletenesS Of triumph It was skliIful in
making peace as in wagfng war The
extraordinary ability, promptness and
judgment. Up TO that point there was
no flaw in the sweep Of success Had
the treaty been promptly and unanim-
Ously ratified, as it ought to have been,
there would have been no conflict The
treaty was sent to the senate early in
December. Then and for nearly two
months after that peace and order pre-
vailed. There was no outbreak till Feb
ruary The sovereignty of the United
States established and recognized by the
treaty was accepted But the nantes
tatiOn of opposition in the senate in
cited and emboldened opposition in the
Philippines, and the contest of nearly
two months at Washington created a
new and unnecessary contest around
Manila
When that contest came the govern
ment had but one course and one duty
1t was under obligation to suppress the
Instruction Of the Tagals in LuzOn
just as much as it would be to suppress
the revolt Of an Indian tribe in Idaho
or wyoming. We owe it to our own
sovereignty, and we owe 1t to the in
terests and well being of the FiHpinOs
themselves. We have no war with the
F'iIipinOS. It is the testimony of our
commission, and of all other authorities,
that fully 80 per cent of the E4HpinOS
accept and welcome the American flag.
which carries liberty and the promise Of
enlightenment and progress to them
Our conflict is only with the single tribe
of Tagals. which, because Of encOurag e-
ment from some Of our own people and
because of a misunderstanding Of the
real American purpose, has broken out
in instruction That conflict has I'M
happily continued beyond the hope and
perhaps beyond the expectation Of the
country. It is no fault of the govern
ment- It is no fault of the spiders
Every battle has been a victory. The
American arms have never once been
defeated or repulsed- No soldiers ever
fought more dauntlessly under greater
hardships than the heroes WAC have
borne our flag through the jungles of
Luzon, and the names Of Otis and Mac
Arthur and Lawton and Funston, with