The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1899-09-06
MKINLEY TO
THE TENTH.
President Outlines His Policy iu
Regard to the Philippines.

AhE IL Aut duuI6SS OcllNcrcQ
by President Mckinley at Pittsburg,
last Monday, welcoming the members
OF the Tenth Pennsylvania Volunteers
back TO their homes:
GOVERNOR STONE AND MY FELLOW
CITIZENS:
i am glad to participate with the
families, friends, and fellow citizens of
the Tenth Pennsylvania Volunteers in
this glad reunion.
You have earned the plaudits, not
alone of the people Of Pennsylvania,
but of the whole nation. Your return
has been the signal for a great demon
stration of popular regard from your
landing in the Golden Gate on the
Pacific TO your home coming, and here
you find warmth of welcome and
greeting from joyous hearts which tell
better than words the estimate of your
countrymen and their high apprecia-
ton of the services you have rendered
the country. You made secure and
permanent the victory of Dewey. You
added new glory TO American arms.
You and your brave comrades engaged
on other fields of conflict have enlarged
the map Of the United States and ex-
tended the jurisdiction of American
liberty.
"But while we share in the JOY that
is yours, there remain with us softened
and hallOwed memories of those who
went forth with you, not found in your
ranks to-day. Your noble Colonel, de-
voted to his men, beloved by his COM
mand, and respected by his superior Of
ficers, gave his life to his country, with
many others of his comrades. The Ma
ton SORROWS with the bereaved. Those
heroes died for their country, aud there
is no nObler death.
"Our troops represented the courage
and conscience, the purpose and patriot
ism, of their country. Whether in
Cuba, Porto Rico, or the Philippines, :
or at home awaiting orders, they did
their full duty, and all sought the
post Of greatest peril. They never fall
tered. The Eighth Army Corps in the
Philippines have made a proud and
exceptional record. Privileged TO be
mustered out in April, when the rati-
fications of the Treaty Of Peace were
exchanged, they did not claim the
privilege-they declined it, they vol
UNFAIRLY remained in the service and
declared their purpose TO stay until
their places could be filed by new
levies, and longer if the Government
needed them. Their serviee-and they
understood twas not to be in camp
or garrison, free from danger, but ON
the battle line, where exposure and
death confronted them and where both
have exacted their victims.
They did not stack arms. They did
not run away. They were not serving
the Insurgents in the Philippines OF
their sympathizers at home They
had no part or patience with the men,
few in number, happily, who would
have rejoiced to have seen them lay
down their arms in the presence of an
enemy whom they have just emanci-
pated from Spanish rule and who
should have been our firmest friends
They furnished an example of devo-
ton and sacrifice which will brighten
the glorious record of American valor
They have secured not alone the graft
tude of the Government and the peo-
pie, but for themselves and their de-
scendants an imperishable distinction.
They may not fully appreciate, and the
country may not, the heroism of their
conduct and its important support to
the Government. | think do, and so
I am here to express it.
"The mighty army of Volunteers and
Regulars, numbering over two hundred
and fifty thousand, which last year
responded to the call of the Govern
ment with an alacrity without preee-
dent or parallel, by the terms Of their
enlistment, were to be mustered out,
with all of the Regulars above twenty
seven thousand, when peace with Spain
was effected. Peace brought US the
Philippines by treaty cession from
Spain. The Senate of the United States
ratified the treaty. Every step taken
was in obedience TO the requirements
of the Constitution. 1t became our ter
ritory and is ours as much as the
Louisiana purchase, or Texas, or
Alaska. A body of Insurgents, in no
sense representing the sentiment of the
people OF the islands, disputed our
lawful authority, and even before the
ratification of the treaty by the Amer
can Senate were attacking the very
forces who fought for and secured their
freedom.
"This was the situation in April,
1899, the datelof the exchange of rati-
fications, with only twenty-seven thou
sand Regulars subject to the unques-
toned direction of the Executive, and
they, for the most part, on duty in Cuba
and Porto Rico or invalided at home
after their severe campaign in the
tropics. Even had they been availa-
bic, it would have required months to
transport them to the Philippines.
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, eheerfully,
uncomplainingly, patriotieally. They
suffered and sacrificed; they fought and
fell; they drove hack and punished the
Rebels who resisted Federal authority,
and, who, with force, attacked the SOW
ereignty of the United States in its
newly-acquired territory. Without
them then and there, we would have
been practically helpless on land; our
flag would have had its first stain, and
the American name its first ignominy.
The brilliant victories Of the Army and
Navy In the Bay and City of Manila
would have been won In vain; cur OBJ
legations TO civilization would have re-
mained temporarily unperformed;
chaos would have reigned, and what
ever government there was would have