The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-08

scores. hundreds. thousands OF men doing
faithful devoted and able service In the cause
OF their country and Of their country's army.
OF whom any people upon the face OF this
earth might well be proud. LApplausel
When the history OF these years comes to be
written with cold and unimpassioned pencil.
many men whose hair has been streaked with
gray through the strenuous labors OF these
days in the stamp OF the army will be written
high in the list OF those entitled to his coun-
try's gratitude.
This army OF ours is concentrated or con-
trating largely In the wonderful islands OF the
East toward which all American eyes are
turned to-day. May / say word
to you OF what 1t has been do
ing there and how tho American
soldier has been performing his duty. Will
you 60 back with me to that May morning
when all American hearts were made bright
and joyous by the news OF the Nesonic victory
OF Dewey. lApplausc Upon that day
the title OF Spain to the Philippine
Islands stood unchallenged and unques-
toned. But few months before the
Philippine instruction ceased. ceased by
an agreement under which Spain had PROM
ised to give to the Philippine Islands certain
reforms. moderate in their character. reason
able in their nature, and to pay sum OF money
to the leaders Of the Philippines forces. Agui-
nado and his companions had. as one OF the
terms OF the treaty. been eNiled from LuHon and
when as the result OF destruction Of the Spanish
fleet. Dewey hold Manila at his mercy. he
was the potential master OF an empire.
the title to which was unquestioned and
indisputable as the title OF the Queen
OF England to the island. over which she
reigns. TApplause. He brought Aguinaldo in
an American ship from exile. He set
"a NH anI
in his hands the arms and am
munition by which he might gather the
forces OF the Philippines to aid the American
army. and for three long months. from May
until the 10Th OF August, he waited for reen-
forcements to como from America to make
him strong enough to hold Manila when 1t was
captured.
During that time the leaders were gathering
their forces practically without opposition,
with the guns Of Dewey's fleet protecting
them and with the parayzed Spaniards
within the walls OF Manila. On tho 18th OF
August the protocol between Spain and the
United States was signed and by that we
assumed the solemn obligation Of holding
the bay and hnrbor Of Manila unit.
the final treaty Of peace was executed
and ratified. We took possession OF the
city and for six long. weary months.
while the slow processes OF negotiation
were on. while the slower processes of rati-
flcation and discussion dragged their weary
way we stood on the ramparts OF Manila
waiting. and the American soldier in those
six months OF waiting under tho tropi-
cal sun. not knowing why he waited.
not knowing that he was waiting under per-
emptory orders from Washington. based
upon the necessity OF maintaining ma
tional faith. waited still waited while
the army OF the Filpinos. who had
been gathered about the walls and pro-
missed the loot OF Manila. exasperated by being
kept from their plumber. grew more and more
defiant. grew at last contemptuous. showered
upon him abuse and ridicule and defiance and
insult.
The stern resolve. the self control. the power
OF obedience to orders and to duty. TO restrain
| themselves from even the resentment OF insult.
| entitled them to the admiration OF civilized
! and aw-obeying men. while it won for
| them but the contempt OF their half
| civilized opponents. 1t was this con-
| tempt and the certainty that it bred
| that the Americans would not fight. and
were towards and could be swept into the
sea. that led to the attack OF Feb 5.
when tho hordes OF the Filipinos pre-
| cipitatsd themselves upon our ranks.
They speedily learned their mistake.
| What was it that the American soldier had
before him then? You all understand that
| the Congress OF the United States. not expect
| ing that these Fiipinos to whom We were
| really to give hundred times moro than what
they acce pied from Spain few months before
would reject the offer. had passed q law
dsbandng the army in effect. so that twenty
| Ave days after the attack upon the American
soldiers in Manila. Gen. Otis had left but 44as
| soldiers officers and men. whom he was en-
| titled to command. and the remaining I.OOC
| of his % 600 soldiers were entitled to be dis
charged and returned to the trited States
| The problem before him then was to hold
back the uncountsd hordes who surrounded
Manila. to keep In subsection the 200.OOO Fill
pinos in the city who had received orders to rise
and massacre every European within its limits
| TO wait, with the rainy season coming upoI
him. until a new army could be raised and sen
a third OF the way around the world. to tax,
the place OF the old army which must be son
back home. And then again the American
soldier, the volunteer soldier. and tn,
thousands OF regulars who were emit
tied to their discharge. showed wha
stuff they were made OF. Homesick. long
ing for a sight of their old homes IL
temperate climes. enfeebled and sicl
from their long stay under tropca
sun. and in the tropical rains. never
theless. in this desperate strait OF thei
country thoy abandoned the briRh
Vision SOL home and stayed. without obligations
except that OF patriotism. until new arm,
could he raised and sent to stand behind tn
flag
in many places. We hearit In many news
papers We see it: Impotence. like tn
ION to Richmond" cry OF 1851: like tn
''On to Havana" cry OF 1893, But let me tel
you that events o! 1889 OH the Island of LUXOR
were events that followed a ixed settled an,
wise purpose. The problem. in the face q
the fact that tho country was about I
become morass. impossible for militar
operations that the rains were coming or
which gave. In fact. during the frs
twenty days OF July in this yea
forty-two inches OF rainfall-three fee
and half In twenty days.whichh have givon or
than half a foot of rain in a single day; In tn
face OF the approach Of that climatic condition
with AN army that must be secured nearly ha
, way round the world; the problem was to es
tabish the American position 80 that aRaini
, foes within and foes without, it could hold II