Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-11-07
A ROYAL
| WELCOME
Extended BY the Sons of st.
George.
TO SOLDIER BROTHERS
Splendid Banquet Served After Which
Several Ringing Speeches
We're Made.
SOLDIER BROTHERS

The Sons of st. George last evening
handsomely entertained the members of
the order who had risked life and limb in
the discharge of their duties with the
First Montana regiment in the Philip
pines. 1t was a right royal welcome
that was warmly appreciated by the SOL
dier boys. The guests of honor were
Captain w. L. Hill, Sergeant w. L.. Soper
and Private w. J. Boast. The reception
took place at st. Georges hall in Cen
terville which was beautifully decorated
for the occasion.
There were seats for about 800 guests
and there were no vacant chairs. The
four tables We're loade with every deli
cacy in the market, and after the good
things had been enjoyed, cigars and
pipes were passed u Then began
the speechmaking, Prof A. w. Newill
opening it with an address of welcome.
Mr.. Newill said in part:
''Tonight we are assembled as Ameri-
can citizens to do honor to American
heroes. Heroes! There are many or
them. In every day life there are heroes
untold in history. but it is to the heroes
who nav helped to make history that we
assemble here this evening to pay u
tribute Of respect and esteem.
Heroes! Yes, in all ages they have
lived, and though perhaps this evening
our heroes, in their modesty. think that
they lave done no more than ordinary
men should do, still as generations go and
come their actions will be recorded in
prose and song, and 100 years from now
their children's children. and again their
children, will listen with rapt attention
as they hear, perhaps at their mothers
knee, of the deeds of valor done in the
far off islands of the west.
1T is undoubtedly true that a prophet
is without honor in his own country, and
doubly is it true that not in their own
generation will it be fully appreciated
how great are the deeds done in war by
valorous heroes. Let me in fancy take
you through a century of time. What
see I now in prophetic vision? 1 see a
commonwealth of 25, 900, 900 souls, a Dun
try over which floats old glory, that SYM
boil of human freedom, the stars and
stripes. Here is no distinction of race or
color. The land is fertile beyond COM
pare, and not only provides for the sus-
tenance of it's people, but controls the
price of rice in the markets of the world.
The culture of valuable woods has been
fostered, and though many of the prime
val forests ave been hewed down., young
trees have been reared, and the preserva-
ton of va!uable timber has been so
strongly encouraged that the Philippine
islands control also this valuable indus
try. Manila hemp, then as nOW,i is incon-
parable. Gold, silver, ppe and tin
have been found in large quantities, and
the Cornish miner here finds a country
where his service n experience are well
coined. The grand American system of
education is in full sway n the uni
versities of the state of Philippine are
equal to those in the other states. The
facilities for transportation are so i'm
proved that in a few days after leaving
San Francisco a Traveller can reach the
Philippine islands.
us this an Utopian dream? think not.
for has not our Admiral Dewey said that
! never before has an addition of such
financial and commercial Importance
been made to the United States?
And now, perhaps, you think that I am
wandering from my subject and that this
has nothing to do with u returned
| brothers and their welcome. May be not,
! but in the text books of this new state
will be read that in 1899 the most valiant
of the regiments who helped to rescue the
Filipinos from barbarism and ignorance.
from prejudice and superstition, We're
those that came from Montana, from
Montana. the queen of the mountains, the
! state that first offered to he nation her
| volunteers for service; from Montana.
that not only was the first to send her
quota, but doubled it and was willing and
nxiou to treble it; from Montana, that
through her noble soldier boys not only
gained a national but even an interna-
tional reputation for wisdom, bravery
and courage; from Montana, whose sons
in more than one instance were foremost
on the fighting line; from Montana, whose
AL ,.s.~i %l-a 49, 100, o.
over more han one city in the far west;
from Montana, tina state which has
proved herself most loyal in the service
of her country in times of war;: from oui
great and glorious Montana, which today
attracts the attention and capital Of the
world to her industries in time of peace
AYE, this is all true, and as factors ir
this glorious triumph we. Sons of ST
George, have a noble trinity of heroes il
al, ranks. AS commissioned officer wc
/ v Captain Hill; as nOn-cOmniSsiOneC
officer we ave Sergeant Soper, and as
private we hav William Boast. In thf
list of heroes recorded in heaven no hu.
man distinction such as this is made
There you are all written dow as
heroes, and / say to you one and all, il
the name Of the Sons of st. George, Wei
come home We are proud of you; you
name is inscribed in large letters among
those who have done their duty and have
done it well. Welcome home. Come anC
visit US often. Give us the grip of friend
ship and we will help You. We feel happy
and proud that you have shown to YOU
family, you city, your county, your state
and your adopted country that you arr
industrious and good citizens, faithful
and valiant soldiers, loyal and true Son.
of ST. George"
Then followed the singing of "Ameri
ca" by the entire assemblage, and tn,
song was never better rendered or SUM
with more fervor and enthusiasm.