The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-03
ALGER CHEERED AT DETROIT.
WAS WARMLY DEFENDED BY GEMS.
MERRITT AND KING.

Distinguished Guests at the banquet
Given by the Michigan Society to
the Sons of the American ReVoIu-
tion--Gen. Merritt Said AIger Was
the Best Secretary of War on Rec
Ord-The Secretary Made an Inter-
esting Speech.
| Detroit, Mich, May 1.-The Michigan So
ciety Sons of the American Revolution,
entertained the visiting delegates, officials
of the order and distinguished guests to-
night by a dinner unequalled hitherto in
Michigan by any similar event in respect
to elaborateness of menu and decorations,
or the distinguished character of the
guests of honor.
The occasion was made notable by the
presence of Secretary Alger, Senator
Chauncey M Depew, Maj. Gen. Joseph
Wheeler. Mai. Gen. Wesley R. Merritt,
Gen. Horatio C. King Inspector General
]. c. Breckenridge and many Others who
rendered distinguished services in the
Spanish and the civil war.
A feature which was of peculiar inter
est was a speech by Gen. Wesley Merritt,
warmly defending Secretary Alger. He
declared Alger the best Secretary of War
the world has ever seen.
After two hours discussion of the menu,
ex-senator Thomas W. Palmer, president
of the Michigan society, as POSTMASTER
| began the speechmaking with witty in
PRODUCTION. When he mentioned the name
of Secretary Alger the banQueters rose
and cheered enthusiastically.
The speakers chose their own subjects
there being no set responses to set topics
Franklin Murphy, the newly elected presi-
dent general of the national society, was
first called upon. He responded happily
and appropriately. His mention of the war
heroes present was heartily cheered.
AIgcr ON the War.
After the reading of several letters of
regret. Secretary Alger was called upon.
He said in part:
within the last year we have again
been called to arms and upon April q,
1898, under the first call for volunteers,
125, 600 patriots were sent into the field,
while a million men offered their services.
At that time, owing to the persistent par
simony of Congress in making appropria-
tions for munitions of war, we had no
provisions of war; we had no equipment
for war but we had men and we had the
manufacturers, who sooner than those OF
any other nation on earth, could equip
that army, an army which included the
volunteers of the first and second calls,
numbering approximately 275000, and this
army was marshalled in camps and equip
ped $4,000 of them were sent to distant
islands 10000 miles apart; battles We're
fought victories were won without a sin
gle reverse or without the loss of a gun
or a color and all this within 113 days
from the declaration of war to the sign
ing of the protocol
What of Little Bad Beef.
Surprising they had a little beef spoil
ed, what of it? Ii they had had no beef at
all they would have had more than Gen.
Joe Wheeler and 1 had in that other war.
'eThe people of the United States are
an unselfish people; they have never
sought territorial accession except to ben
eft 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 as it has
been realized in Porto Rico and the Phil
ippines, there it will remain. One of these
islands we hold in trust, the others are
o-rs.
Honor to the Volunteers.
There is not a heart in the breast of anv
true American tonight whose puIsations
do not quicken with pride over the achieve
ments of our army and navy. The vol
unteers and the regulars in the Philippines
have won for themselves the nations
crown; they are the sons of the heritage
of our people. All honor to them and
hope and trust that congressional action
shall give such recognition of their ser
vices as shall show 70 them and to the
world our apprecia ton of their valor
1.-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 offered, the sac
rihce they have made
Gems. Merritt and King both made
speeches defending Secretary Alger.
Was without Parallel.
Gen. Joe Wheeler reviewed the circun-
stances of the mobilization of the army |
during The war and asserted that history |
win record that the United States hum |
bling Of Spain was without parallel
Gen. Wheeler asserted that he had heard |
no complaint about ratons. The only
question was whether the benefits of |
American civil and religious liberty should |
not be given the people whom Providence |
had placed under our control.
Senator Depew said he was an expan- |
sionist, but not an imperialist in the com |
monty accepted sense of the word. AS TO |
the Philippine campaign, he said the |
Fuipinos were not to be tyrannzed over |
by the United States but were to have |
some one like Gen. Sherman to tell them. |
go home, stop raising hell, and go TO |
raising crops"
The senator concluded with the loudly |
applauded sentiment that the spirit Of |
true Americanism would carry the nation |
through the perlls of expansion 1