The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-05-03
Principals iD StocktoD's Sep
sotioDoI Double Tragedy.
MERRITT SHOWERS
PRAISE UPON THE
SECRETARY OF WAR

were fought and victories won, without
the loss of a gun or a color"
Continuing, he said
Supposing they had a little beef spoiled
what of it? If they had had no beef at
all they would have had more than Gen
eral Joe Wheeler and l had in the other
war
The people of the United States are an
unselfish people. They have never sought
territorial accession except to the benefit
of 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
that as it has been raised in Porto Rico
and the Philippines there it will remain.
One of these islands we hold in trust; the
others are ours. The strife that brought
upon this country the war with Spain
not of our own seeking; the force Of
events and the cry of downtrodden hui
manity called for our aid. No human
mind could stop it. 1t was to be-
There is not heart in the breast of any
true American tonight whose pulsations
do not quicken with pride over the
achievements of our army and navy The
volunteers and the regulars in the Philip
pines have won for themselves the ma
tions crown. All honor to them, and
hope and trust that Congressional action
shall give such recognition of their serv-
ices as shall show to them and to the
world our appreciation of their valor 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 sacrifice
they have made.
We tO-d3V
end of the conflict and nearing the dawn
of peace in the Philippines, and upon
every lip is daily, yes, hourly, expressed;
What of the future?" God in his infinite
wisdom can only answer that question.
and he has guided us thus far and as his
hand has been so plainly. seen in the his
tory of the past twelve months we can
feel assured that as he rules what is
right will be.
Major General Merritt was the next
speaker. Said he:
When we went to the Philippines there
was only one course for US to pursue, viz.
the course that has been taken up to the
Bay and the army had to capture the city
and we could not let go; and the prospects
are now that the American flag will con-,
tinue to wave in the Far East.
The army in the East. as l testified
before the investigating commission in
Washington, had everything the War De-
pdIlneUI COufu IuTHlSH- we llNeQ We'll
and we did our duty. and we have no
apologies to make or recriminations to
offer This most outrageously abused adj
ministration has done more for the army
than any other administration that ever
existed. If there were canned speeches
here tonight they would be better than
some of the refrigerated speeches that we
have read. If | had canned speech to
deliver on this subject l assure you it
would not smell.
General Merritt referred to the Secre-
tary of War as the best Secretary of
War the world has ever seen He
added:
No Secretary was ever more abused.
Secretary Stanton stood through his
abuse as the most fearless Secretary that
ever lived. We have now another Secre-
been more abused than any of his prede-
cessors. He has the confidence of all ex-
cept a few malcontents Through him
has been attacked the President of the
United States He is almost sick at heart
at the weight of unjust obloquy that has
been heaped upon him; but with no prom
iseS to make or platitudes to indulge in
he is conducting an honest administration
| was born a Democrat. / don't think
I'll ever get over it. I'm proud to belong
to that political faith. "a voice: You're
a Republican. but don't know it.'D But
| hope the time will come when there will
he no differences between Democrats and
Republicans. a least manifested against
those who rule the Government. | talk
as soldier. / don't commit myself to
any complications that may lead to
trouble with Germany. but I hug myself
for being an American citizen.