The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-03
ALCER'S BOOM.
Campaign For the Michigan
SenatOrshfp
Was Inaugurated at Detroit
Last Night.
SECRETARY OF WAR
Tells How Successfully He Con-
Quoted the Struggle.
Gen. Merritt Piles Glory on
His Superior.

Detroit, Mich, May 3.-The Michigan
society, Sons of the American ReVolu-
ton, entertained the visiting delegates
officials of the order and distinguished
guests last night by a dinner uneQuaHed
hitherto in Michigan by any similar
event in respect to elaborateness Oh
menu and decorations or the dlstln-
rushed character of the guests of the
evening The occasion was made nota-
BILE by the presence of Secretary Alger.
Senator Chauncey NJ. Depew, Maj Gen.
Joseph Wheeler, Maj. Cen Wesley r.
Merritt. Gen. Horatio King, Inspector
General J. C. Breckenridge and many
others who rendered distinguished ser
vices in the Spanish and civil wars.
A feature which was of peculiar in
terest was a speech by Gen. Wesley
Merritt, warmly defending Secretary
AIger. He declared Alger the best sec
rotary of war the world had ever seen.
Fully 400 members of the order sat at
the eleven long tables running cross
wise of the main dining room or the
Russell house. The speakers table was
in a richly decorated balcony, tronted
by a. white coIonnade and covered py a
canopy draped in the buff, white ana
blue of the order. The coats OF arms
of the thirteen original states were as
q portrait of Washington graced the
center The floral decorations or the
tables followed the cOlOrS of the order
After two hours discussion OF the
menu exSecretary Thomas w. Pal
mer president of the Michigan society,
as POSTMASTER, began the speech
making with a witty introduction. When
he mentioned the name OF Secretary Al
ger. the banuueters rose and cheered en-
Enthusiastically.
The speakers chose their own sub
jects there being no set responses TO
set topics Secretary Alger began his
speech with a reference to the Strug-
giles of the pilgrim fathers to secure
equal rights and religious freedom tor
ALL and alluded to the heroic DEEDS OF
the revolutionary patriots, ancestors OF
the members of the society which FUR
nished last nights entertainment,
but he soon turned the attention of his
auditors to the more recent war Win
Spain. The secretary spoke at length
of the trials of his department in equip
ping the great army so hurrledly, ana
expressed his qualification that ult1-
tories won without the loss of a gun
or COLOR
Continuing, he said:
Surprising they had a little beef
spoiled, what of it? If they had had no
beef at all they would have had more
than Gen. Joe Wheeler and had In
the other war.
saThe people of the United States are
sought territorial accession, except to
the benefit of the peoples that came
with it. The flag of this nation has
been hoiSted over Cuba, Porto Rico and
the Philippines in lands whose people
have for centuries been oppressed by
Spanish misrule. Whatever else may
be, we can be assured that, as 1t has
been, raised in Porto Rico and the Phil
ippines. there it will remain. One of
these islands we hold in trust; the
others are ours.
s"The strife that brought upon this
country the war with Spain was not of
our own seeking; the force of events
and the cry of downtrodden humanity
called for our aid. No human mind
could stop it; it was to be.
There is not a heart in the breast
of any true American tonight whose
pulsations do not quicken with pride
over the achievements of our army and
navy The volunteers and the regulars
in the Philippines have won for them
selves the nations crown; they are the
sons and the heritage of our people. All
honor to them; and hope and trust
that congressional action shall give
such recognition of their services as
shall show to them and to the world
our appreciation of their valor. The
nation mournS for the families who will
never again hear the footballs across
the threshold of those they loved; but
that is the sacrifice they Offer the
sacrifice they have made.
1--WE are today, we hope, nearing the
end of the conflict, and near the dawn
of peace in the Philippines, and upon
every lip is daily-yes, hourly-ex-
pressed: What of the future?' God in
his infinite wisdom can only answer
that question and he has guided us
thus far and as His hand has been so
plainly seen in the history of the past
twelve months, we can feel assured that
as He rules, what is right will be-
Major General Merritt was the next
speaker. Said he:
when we went to the Philippines
II
pursue, viz, the course that has been
taken up to the present. Our navy had
captured Manila bay, and the army
had to capture the city, and we could
not let go and the prospects are now
that the American flag will continue to
wave in the far east.
1.-The army in the east, as I testified
before the investigating committee in
Washington, had everything the war
department could furnish. We lived
well and we did our duty and we have
to offer. This most outrageously abused
administration has done more for the
army than any other administration
that ever existed. If there were any
canned speeches here tonight they are
better than some of the refrigerated
speeches that we have read. If 1 had
a canned speech to develop on this SUBJ
ject / assure you it would not smell"
General Merritt referred to the pres
ent secretary of war as the best Secre-
tary of war the world has ever seen.
He added:
mo secretary was ever more abused.
Secretary Stanton stood through his
abuse as the most fearless secretary
that ever lived. We have now another
secretary who has made fewer mistakes
and been more abused than any of his
predecessors. He has had the con-
fidence of all except a few indictments.
Through him has been attacked the
president of the United States. He is
almost sick at heart at the weight of
unjust obloquy that has been heaped
upon him, but with no promises to make
or platftudeS to indulge in, he is con-