The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-08-04
AlGER'S RECEPTION
By the People of His
Old Home.
A MOST ROYAL OVATION
Given the kx.Secresary Of War On His
Arrival In Detroit - An Immense
Speeches Of Welcome e-Gsvernor Pine
grec's Attack on the Press and .
Certain Onsciai in Nigh Plaee-The
Hnthusiasm Great.

a
/ xree's Attack On the Press and .
Certain On,ciai In Nigh Plaee-The
1 Rnthusiasm Great.
, Detroit, Mich, August A magnifi-
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 secre-
| tarys bronzed countenance as he gazed
! into the eager faces of the multitudes
/ who loudly and convincingly insisted
| that "Algers all right" and no disso-
nant voice was heard. Darkness fell
! during the speeches from the reviewing
| stand in front of the city hall, giving
| opportunity for throwing a searchlight
| upon the features of General Alger
! drawn in crayon on a canvas, sixteen
| feet square, hung from the city hall
| front and surrounded by patriotic dec
orations. A great crush at the indoor
| reception was the final feature.
! The special train which met Gen
| eral Alger and party at Toledo con-
! sisted of six coaches. 1t carried 400
members of the reception committee
/. Headed by about 800 bicyclists, over
1000 people marched and escorted Gen
eral Alger from the Michigan Central
SldllOn III InlS city TO the reviewing
stand. Militia and veterans of the civil
war, including Fairbanks Post, Grand
! Army of the Republic, of which the
general is a member, a company of
| Spanish war veterans and scores of
marchers in secret society uniforms
filed past. Fairbanks Post carried two
| great banners stretching half way
! across the street, which declared:
There is only one Alger."
When General Alger appeared upon
the reviewing stand there was a roar
of applause from the dense crowd
which blocked all traffic across the
Campus Martius.
Mayor Maybury welcomed General
Alger to Detroit in a speech which was
highly eulogiStic of the guest of honor
Governor Pingree, in behalf of the
state, made some pointed references to
incidents leading to Alger's home COM
ing and fired some characteristic shots
at the newspapers. The governor said
Alger'S best service for his country
was in his efficient management Of the
war department. He said:
Without your energy, business abil-
1ty and experience, no one knows how
long the war might have lasted. The
facts which led you to submit your
resignation to the president are well
known. The treatment you have re-
ceived has justly aroused the resent
ment of fair-minded men. The people
OI MlcnlSdn look upon the manner In
which your withdrawal from the cabi-
net was forced as an insult to the
state. They are here today to rebuka
the cupidity of politicians high and
low. They are here to show their con-
tempt for the cowardly attacks of the
venal press
In spite of the obsolete customs and
system Of your department, you con-
tributed more than any one to bring
the war with Spain to quick end. You
did so although hindered by the inter-
ference of others unfit to handle busi-
ness or military affairs.
THE people of Michigan will remem-
Der the indignity to which the state has
been subjected. In time they will come
to know who is responsible for it. /
think they already see that politics
makes towards of some men in both
high and low positions.
They will in time despise the official.
no matter how exalted his position,
who gave himself, truckled to the
newspapers or who considered money
or influence in any form. They will
turn away from every official repre-
sentative Of Michigan who has stood
by without protest and permitted a
citizen of the state to be as grossly
abused and misrepresented as you have
been.
Il have come to believe that the in
stitution most dangerous to our form
boasted liberty is rather a license. 1t
has no scruple and no conscious. There
are, of course, exceptions, but / speak
of the press as a whole. Because you.
General Alger, would not bow to them
and conduct the war department in the
interests of the combines, the army
contractors and the commercial inter.
ests which control the newspapers, you
became a 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 news
papers and politicians of highest and
lowest station who have used such vile
methods to accomplish their purpose. -
General Alger responding, said:
Il can command no language to ex-
press my gratitude to you for this royal
welcome to my home. I 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 peo-
pie of Michigan.
Since I went away, two and a halt
years ago, as you know, the country
| has been through a terrific struggle
The office of which I was the head, wa.
taxed to the utmost OF every mans
strength who occupied any position in
it. I gave my best thought and honest
effort and did everything I could tc
carry out my part OF that great work
| What has been done is a matter Of rec
, ord and I am perfectly willing to res,
, the case with my countrymen. Every
transaction, every order and every
thing that was done in conducting tha,
war is a matter of record and the peo-
pie have a right to have that record
searched.
And now, my fellow citizens, I come
home without a grievance. During tina,
struggle and while that great work was
upon me- / can truthfully say that
had from the president all the support
. he could give"
The closing scene was a reception In
the city hall corridor. Thousands OF
people grasped General Alger's hands