The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-08-29

been available it would have required
months to transport them to the Philip
pines.
Practically a new army had to be
created. These loyal volunteers in the
Philippines said: We will stay until
the government can organize an army
at home and transport it to the seat of
hostilities. They did stay cheerfully, un-
eomplainingly and periodically. They
suffered ard sacrificed, they fought and
fell, they drove back and punished the
rebels who resisted federal authority
and who with force attacked the SOW
ereignty of the United States in the
newly acquired territory,
Without them then and there we
would have been practically helpless on
land, our flag would have had it's first
stain and the American name its first
ignominy. The brilliant victories of the
army ard navy in the bay and city Of
Manila would have been won in vain
our obligations to civilization would
nave remained temporarily upper
formed, chaos would have reigned and
whatever government there was would
have been the will of one man and not
the consent of the governed.
Let me call the roll of the regiments
and battaliuns that deserve to be per-
petuated in the national annals.
'"Theil action was not a sudden i'm
pulse under excitement, but a deliber-
ate determination to sustain at the cost
of life if need be the honor of their gov
eminent and the authority of the flag:
First California, California artillery,
First Colorado, First Idaho, Fifty-first
Iowa. Twentieth Kansas. Thirteenth
braska, First North Dakota, Nevada
cavalry, Second Oregon, Tenth Penn
sylYania, First South Dakota, First
Tennessee, Utah artillery, First Wash
ington, First Wyoming, Wyoming bat
terry.
ITO these must be added about 1000
enlisted men of the regular army who
were entitled to their discharge under
the peace proclamation of April l, 1899,
the greater portion of whom partici-
pated in the engagements of the Eighth
corps. and ere still performing ardu-
Gus services N the field.
Nor must the navy be forgotten.
Sixty-five devoted sailors participated
in the engagement of May LIST in Manila
bay whose terms of service had pre-
viously expired continuing on duty
quite a year after that action. For
these men of the army and navy we
have only honor and gratitude. The
world will never know the restraint of
our soldiers, their self-control under
the most exasperating conditions, for
weeks subjected to the insults and du-
plicity of the insurgent leaders, they
preserved the status quo, remember
ing that they were under an order from
their government to sacredly observe
the terms of the protocol in letter and
spirit and avoid all conflict except in
defence pending the negotiation of the
treaty of peace.
They were not the aggressors. They
did not begin hostilities against the in
surgents pending the ratification of the
treaty of peace in the Senate. great as
was their justification, because of or
ders from washington forbade it. 1
take all the responsibility for that di-
rection
"otis only executed the orders of his
government, and the soldiers under
great provocation to strike back
obeyed. Until the treaty was ratified,
we had no authority except between
Manila city. bay and harbor. We then
had no other title to defend, no au-
thority beyond that to maintain.
Spain was still in possession of the
remainder of the archipelago Spain
had sued for peace. The truce and the
treaty were not concluded. The first
blow was struck by the insurgents.
Our kindness was reciprocated with
cruelty. our mercy with a Mauser.
THE flag Of truce was invoked only
to be dishonored. Our soldiers were
shot down when ministering to the
wounded Filipinos. Our humanity was
interpreted as weakness, our forbear-
ance as cowardice.
They assailed our sovereignty, and
there Will be no useless parley until the
insurgents are suppressed and Ameri-
can authority acknowledged and estab-
lished
THE misguided followers in rebellion
have only our charity and pity. AS to
the cruel leaders who have needlessly
sacrificed the lives Of thousands Of
their people at the cost of some Of our
best blood, for the qualification of their
own ambitious designs, l will leave to
others the ungracious task of justi-
fication and eulogy.
Every one Of the noble men, regulars
or volunteers, soldiers or seamen, who
thus signally served their country In
its extremity, deserves the special rec
ognition of congress, and 1t will be 10
me an unfeigned pleasure TO recommend
for each of them a special medal of
honor.
while we give you hail and greet
ing from overlooking hearts, we do NOT
forget the brave men who remain. and
are going forward to take your places
and those other brave men who have
so promptly volunteered, crowding each