The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1899-09-14

resisted ths suggestion or the unpa-
triOtic that they should come home?
Let me call the roll of the regiments
and battalinns that deserve to be per-
petuated in the nations annals Their
action was not sudden impulse under
excitement but a deliberate determin-
alton to sustain, at the cost of life,
II need be, the honor of their govern
ment, and the authority of its flag:
Roll of Honor.
First California California artillery,
First Colorado, First Idaho. Fifty-first
Iowa, Twentieth Kansas, Thirteenth
Minnesota, First Montana, First Ne
braska, First North Dakota, Nevada
cavalry, Second Oregon, Tenth Penn
sylvania, First South Dakota, First
Tennessee, Utah artillery, First Wash
ington, First Wyoming, Wyoming bat
terry.
To these must be added about 1000
enlisted men of the regular army, who
were entitled to their discharge under
the peace proclamation of April IL,
1899; the greater portion of whom
participated in the engagements of the,
Eighth corps, and are still performing
arduous duties in the field.
Nor must the navy be forgotten.
Sixty-five devoted sailors participated
in the engagement of May 1 in Ma
nilla bay, whose terms of service had
previously expired, continuing on duty
quite year after that action.
For these men of the army and navy
we have only honor and gratitude.
The world will never know the re-
straint of our soldiers--their self-con-
troll under the most exasperating con-
ditions For weeks subjected to the
insults and duplicity of the insurgent
leaders, they preserved the status quo,
remembering that they were under an
order from their government to sa-
credly observe the terms of the pro-
tocol in letter and spirit, and avoid all
conflict, except in defense, pending the
negotiations of the treaty of peace.
They were not the aggressors. They
did not begin hostilities against the
insurgents pending the ratification of
the treaty of peace in the senate, great
as was their justification, because their
orders from Washington forbade it. l
take all the responsibility for that d.
rection. Otis only executed the orders
of his government, and the soldiers,
| under great provocation to strike back,
obeyed. Until the treaty was ratified
we had no authority beyond Manila
city, bay and harbor. We then had no
other title to defend, no authority be-
| yond that to maintain. Spain was still
in possession of the remainder of the
| archipelago. Spain had sued for peace.
The truce and treaty were not con-
cluded.
Cruelty For Kindness.
! The first blow was struck by the in
surgents. Our kindness was recipro-
Gated with cruelty, our mercy with a
Mauser. The flag of truce was in
voked only to be dishonored. Our SOL
diers were shot down when ministering
to the wounded Filipinos. Our human
ity was interpreted as weakness our
forbearance as cowardice. They as
sailed our sovereignty and there will
be no useless pariey-no pause until
| the insurrection Is suppressed, and
American authority. acknowledged and
established. The misguided followers
in rebellion have only our charity and
pity. AS to the cruel leaders who have
needlessly sacrificed the lives of thou
salds of their people at the cost Of
rc:ne of our best blood, for the graft
f1cation Of their own ambitious de-
signs, will leave to others the un-
gra ,ous task of justification and eu-
logv
Every one Of these noble men, regu-
lars and volunteers, soldiers and sea-
men, who thus signally served their
country in its extremity, deserves the
special recognition of congress, and it
will be to me an unfeigned pleasure
to recommend for each of them spe-
cial medal of honor.
Those at Front Remembered.
While we give you hail and greeting
from overlooking hearts, we do not
forget the brave men who remain and
those who have gone forward to take
your places, and those other brave
men who have so promptly volun-
teered, crowding each other to go to
the front, to carry forward to success
full completion the noble work you
have begun. My prayers go with them
and more men and munitions, if re-
quired, for the speedy suppression of
the rebellion, the establishment of
peace and tranquility and govern
ment under the undisputed sovereignty
of the United States-a government
which will do justice to all and at once
encourage the best efforts and aspira-
tions of these distant people, and the
highest development of their rich and
fertile lands.
The government to which you gave
your loyalty welcomes you to your
homes. With no blot or stain upon
your record, the story of your unself-
ish services to country and to civiliZa-
tion will be to the men who take your
places at the front and on the firing
line, and to future generations, an ex-
ample of patriotism and an inspiration
to duty.