Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-08-07

Detroit, August o.--1dt0 O0Cf0ldly VI
War Alger was rendered a magnificent
welcome last night by the people OF his
own city and state. The welcoming
commenced in his private car upon its
arrival at Toledo, and continued until
9 O'Clock at night when the general
ceased grasping outstretched hands.
The scene was a constant and spOntan-
eous ovation. Smiles and tears
struggled for mastery over the secre-
tary's countenance as he gazed into the
eager faces of the multitudes who loud
ly and convincingly insisted that AL
ger is all right and no discordant
voice was heard. At Toledo there
were 400 members on the recep-
ton committee. Upon Ayers arrival
in Detroit 300 bicyclists and over 1000
marchers escorted the late secretary of
war from the depot to the reviewing
stand. The militia and veterans of the
civil war, a company of Spanish war
veterans and scores OF marchers IN
secret society uniforms filed past.
When Alger appeared upon the review
ing stand there was roar of applause
from the dense crowd which blocked all
traffic across Campus Martius The
ex-secretary reviewed the parade and
returned the salutations Of the many
marchers, especially his veteran G. A.
R. comrades. Mayor Maybury said:
General Alger, I should despair, sir,
of being able to voice the heartiness OF
this welcome were it not already
shown in this vast concourse, through
whom you have passed. 1t will go
forth to the world, sir, that where you
are best known, there you are best be-
loved, and best appreciated 1t will go
to the world sir, that the standard of
high character built up by patience and
perseverance, honesty and uprightness,
cannot be thrown down by SANDER"
Governor Pingree read an address, in
behalf of the state and made some ref
erence to the incidents leading to
Ayers homecoming, and fired some
characteristic shots at the news
papers, which, he asserted, were large
ly responsible for Ayers treatment.
The governor said Ayers best service
for his country was in his efficient
management Of the war department.
Said he: without your energy, bus
mess ability and experience no one
knows how long the war might have
lasted. You were handicapped by the
machinery in your department., which
was ancient and obsolete. In spiteO of it,
q
to bringing the conflict to an end, With
the loss of life so small as to astOnlsh
the world. The facts which led you
to submit your resignation to the pres
ident are we'll known and the treatment
which you received justly aroused the
resentment of all Americans. The
people of Michigan look upon the man
ner in which your withdrawal from the
cabinet was forced as an insult to the
state. They are here to show their
contempt for the cowardly attacks of a
venal press. I know some people think
it unwise upon an occasion like this to
give voice to such sentiments as |
have been expressing. | say to them
that the truth is never out OF place. L
have come to believe chat the instltu-
ton most dangerous to our government
is the newspaper. It's boosted liberty
is rather license. It has no scruple
and no conscience. There are, of
course, exceptions, but speak
of the press as whole.
Because you, General Alger, would not
bow to them, and conduct the war de-
partment in the interests of a combine
of army contractors and the CONNER
cial interests which control the news
papers, you became marked man. l
voice the sentiment Of the people OF
Michigan when [ say to you that we
have every faith that history will re-
buke the newspapers who used vile
methods to accomplish their little pur-
pose"
Gen. Alger, responding, said: Il
can not command language to express
my gratitude for this royal welcome to
my home. I am glad from the bottom
of my heart to be released from official
cares and again live among the people
of Michigan. Since I went away the
country has been through a terrific
struggle. The office which headed
was taxed to the utmost of every mans
strength who occupied any position in
it. I gave my best thoughts
and honest efforts and did everything
I could to carry out my part of that
great work. What has been done is a
matter of record, and. I am perfectly
willing to rest my case with my coun-
trymen. Every transaction and every
thing done in conducting that war is a
matter of record, and the people have
the right to have that record searched.
And now my fellow citizens, come
home without grievance. During that
struggle and while that great work was
upon me I can say that had from the
president all the support that he could
give. We went through that struggle
and came out victorious"