New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-03
ALGER SPEAKS IN DETROIT.
DINNER OF SONS OF THE AMERICAN
REVOLUTION, WITH WELL
KNOWN GUESTS.
THE WAR SECRETARY REFERS TO "A
LITTLE BEEF sPoILED"-wARMLY
DEFENDED Try GENERAIa

DEFENDED by GENERALS
MERRITT AND KING.
Detroit May 1.-The Michigan Society," Sons
of the American Revolution. entertained the
visiting delegates, officials OF the order and dis
tingulshed guests tonight by dinner. The oc-
casion was made notable by the presence OF
Secretary Alger. Senator Depew. Major-General
Wheeler. Major General Merritt. Inspector-Gen-
eral j. c. Breckenridge and others who rendered
distinguished service in the Spanish and the
Civil wars.
Fully four hundred members Of the order sat
at the tables of the main dningroom OF the
Russell House.
Ex-senator Thomas w. Palmer, president Of
the Michigan Society. was POSTMASTER. and re-
gan the speechmakng When he mentioned ths
name Of Secretary Alger the banqueters rose
and cheered enthusiastically. The speakers
chose their own subjects there being set re-
sponses TO set topics. Franklin Murphy the
newly elected president-g general OF the National
society, was first called upon. After the reading
OF several letters Of regret, Secretary Alger
spoke.
After abiding to the heroism and success In
war of the Revolutionary patriots ancestors Of
the members of the society and to the contest
between the North and South. resulting in the
unihcation Of the Nation. Secretary Alger said:
And now within the last year. we have again
been called TO arms, and upon April y. 1928
under the first call for volunteers lZoVo pa
triots were sent into the field, while million
men offered their services. At that time, owing
to the persistent parsimony OF Congress In max
ing appropriations for munitions OF war. we mad
no provisions of war. we had no equipment Tor
war but we had men, and we had the manu.
facturers who sooner than those or any other
nation on earth, could equip that army. an
army which. including the volunteers OF the
first and second calls numbered approximately
27JOO0 men, and this army was marsnaled In
camps and equipped; 10000 OF them sent TO
distant islands ten thousand miles apart; bat
ties were fought victories were won WITHOUT
single reverse or without the loss OF gun or a
color. and all this within 113 days, from the
declaration Of war TO the signing or the protocol
Surprising they had little beef spoiled. what
of IL? If they had had no beef AT all they would
have had more than General joe Wheeier ana
l had in that other war;
The strife that brought upon this country the
war with Spain was not or our own seeking;
the force of events and the cry OF ooWntrooden
humanity called for our aid. No human MIND
could stop IT, There is not heart In the breast
of any true American tonight whcse Fuisa-
ticns do not quicken with pride over ths
achievements OF our Army and Navy. Inc vol
unteers and the Regulars in the philippines
have won for themselves the Nations crown;
they are the and the heritage or our peo-
pie All honor to them and hope ana trust
that Congressional action shall give such recog-
milton of their services as shall snow 20 them
and TO the world our appreciation OF their Vaor.
Every great achievement Is MADE az sac.
rifce Nations have been built up as the result
OF war and we may hope as result or the
conquest Of the last twelve months that CIVIL
ization, education. Christianity ana God
fearing people shall bless the United states, SO
long as il endures, for the heroic sacrifice that
has been made for men and for freedom
Maior-General Merritt was the next speaker.
He said:
When we went to the Philippines there was
only one course for us to pursue. the course that
has been taken up to the present Our Navy mad
captured Manila Bay, and the Army had 70
apture the city and we could not let go; anu
the prospects are now that the American nag
will continue to wave in the Far East
The Army in the East, as testified before me
Investigating Commission In Washington, BAD
everything the War Department could FURNISH
We lived we'll and we did our duty, and we have
no apologies to make or recriminatiohs 10 ouer,
This most outrageously abused Administration
has done more for the Army than any other Al
ministration that ever existed. IL there ws.e
any canned speeches here tonight they are W..
ter than some OF the refrigerated speeches. tnat
we have read. II had a canned speech 10 oe-
velop on this subject. assure you it wouid not
smell. g..
tary Of War as the best Secretary Of war, the
world has ever seen. He added: NO oecre|ai!
was ever more abused. Secretary stanton STOOD
through his abuse as the most fearless oeote-
tarv that ever lived We have now another
Secretary who has made fewer mistakes ana
been more abused than any OF his predecessors.
He has had the confidence or all except tsS
malcontents Through him has been attacked
the President of the United States. He is almost
sick at heart at the weight OF the unjust onioquy
that has been heaped upon him, but win 70
promises to make or platltudes 10 lhduse :" -.
is conducting an honest administration. l was
horn n Democrat / don't think Ill ever eee
over IT, I'm proud to belong TO that pohtlcsi
faith. "a voice: You're Republican. but don't
tkA tEraa will
there will be no difference between Democrats
and Republicans. at least manifested against
those who rule the Government talk as SUI
der l don't commit myself 10 any coinpi'c~
tons that may lead TO trouble with Germany
but I mug myself for being an American ci'i'
zen"
In the course of his speech General Horatio
c. King said:
strongly deprecate this abuse, and especially
that which has been heaped upon an honorea
guest OF this evening, the Secretary OF war,
have known him since we served together IN .a s
great war, and have watched his career wy.
affectonate interest. Pure in every relation %
life social and political. those who would attno.
ute wrong motives 10 him are wholly ignoran.
OF the character of the man. AS all tnihs'
come to him who waits. so will his full vlho,ea'
ton come. and come soon. The war or the w
bellion had its scapegoats. and to-day their
memory is revered by every careful reader Oh
history; and so. too, will all those now slandere9
stand forth in the clear ugnt OF eNents' yeee,
by the grand results they have accomplished
not by the Nominations of partisan maleyolencs
and Misrepresentation.
SONS OF AMERICAN REVOLUTION
OFFICERS ELEcTED-MEDALs FOR THOSE WHO
TOOK PART IN NIsH-AMERIcAN WAR
Detroit May 1.-The Congress OF Sons OF me
American Revolution to-day took action toward
comforting medals all Its members who haa
taken part in the Spanish American war. Inc
president general was authorized 10 appoint COM
mIttee OF three 70 procure metal from capturea