The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-03
Governor Pingree Serving as
the High Priest.
AND DETROIT WENT WILD
THERE is ONLY ONE ALGER, .
IT DECLARED.
WdsREAT THE GENERAL SMILED AND WEpT
Pipgree Rasps The President and Declares
Newspapers Without Scruple or Con.
science. The future viii
Ripht AIger.
Blight AIger.

Right Ager.
Detroit. Mich, August "a magnii-
cent reception was accorded EX-Secre-
tary of War Alger this afternoon and
evening by the people of his own city
and State. Smiles and tears repeatedly
struggled for mastery over the Score
tarys bronzed counterance as he gazed
into the eager faces of the muititudes
who loudly and convincingly insisted tina!
Ayers all right" and no discordant
voice was heard. Darkness fell during
the speeches from the reviewing stand in
front of the City Hall giving opportunity
for throwing Il searchlight upon the fea-
lures Of General Anger drawn in crayon
on a canvas sixteen feet square hung
from The City Hall front and surrounded
by patriotic decorations. \ great crust
at the indoor reception was the final fea
ture.
The special train which met General
Alger and party ut Toledo consisted Of
six coaches. 1t carried 400 members Of
the reception committee.
Headed by about 800 bicycfists over
| 900 people marched and escorted Gen
eral Alger from the Michigan Central
station i'm this city to the reyiewinr
stand Militia and veterans of the Civil
War. including Fairbanks Post G. A.
r.. of which the General is a member, a
company Of Spanish War veterans, and
scores Of marchers in secret society uni
forms filed past Fairbanks Post carried
two great banners stretching half way
across the street. which declared:
"Ilhere is only one Alger"
When General Alger appeared upon
tne reviewing stand there was roar OF
applause from the dense crowd which
blocked all traffic across the Campus
Martius.
Mayor Maybury welcomed General Al
ger TO Detroit in a speech that was high
ly eulogistic Of the guest of honor.
Governor Pingree's speech in behalf Of
the State made some pointed references
to the incidents leading to Ayers home
coming, and fred some characteristic
shots Of the newspapers. The Governor
said Ayers best service fer his country
was in his efficient mana cement of the
War Department. He said:
'Without your energy, business abili-
| ty and experience. no one knows how
long the war might have lasted. The
facts which led you to submit your re-
sicnation to the President ere we'll
known. The treatment you have recelv-
ed has Justly aroused the resentment of
| fair minded men. The people Of Michi-
| gan look upon the matter, as your with
drawal from the Cabinet was forced, rs
| an insult to the State. They are here
| today to rebuke the cuUidity of politi-
| clans. high and low. They are here
to show their contempt for the cowardly
attacks Of venal press.
SIN spite of the obsolete customs and
system Of your Department you contrib
uted more than any one to bring the war
with Spain to a quick end. You did so
although hindered by the interference Of
| others unfit to handle business or mil
tary affairs.
1.-The people of Michigan will remem
Der the indignity to which the State has
been subjected In time they will COM
to know who is responsible for It,
think they already see that politici
makes towards Of some men in both high
and low positions
'9They will in time despise the Off
cial no matter how exalted his position.
who gave himself, truckled to the news
papers, or who considered money or in
fuence in amy form They will turn
away from every official representative
/ Of Michigan who has stood by without
protest and permitted citizen of the
/ State to be as grossly abused and misrep-
resented as you have been.
| Il have come to believe that the in
/ stitution most dangerous to our form
| of Government is the newspapers. Its
| boaSted liberty is rather Il license. It
| has no scruple and no conscience.
| There are, of course, exceptions, but !
! speak of the press as whole. Because
you, General A1ger, would not bow to
Them and conduct the War Department
| in the interests of the combines. the
army contractors and the commercial in
terests which control the newspapers,
you became marked man. / know |
voice the sentiment OF the people of
/ Michigan when / say to you that we
have every faith That history will rebuke
the newspapers and politicians of highest
and lowest station who have used such
vile methods to accomplish taeir puq.po-
ses''
! General Alger responding, said
Il can command no language to ex-
/ press my gratitude to you for this royaa
/ welcome to my home. | am glad from
| the bottom of my heart to be released
from official care and to again enter
the old home and live among the people
Of Michigan
Since | went away, two and half
years ago. as YOU know, the country
has been through terrific struggle. The
office of which | WAS the head, was
taxed to the utmost of every mans
strength who occupied any position in it.
gave my best Thought and honest ef-
fort and did everything | could TO carry
oGt my part of that great work. What
has been done is matter or record and
am perfectly willing to rest the case
with my countrymen. Every transac-