Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-03
GEN. AlGER AT DETROIT
Guest of Honor at Banquet of the s.
A. R.
In n speech He Praises the Army anH
NaNy-Hc Is EuIogiscd by
Gen. Merritt.

ShsShtu guests at Detroit last night. \
dispatch says the dinner was uuegualcd
hitherto in Michigan by any similar event
in respect 10 ela0orateneSs OF menu ana
decorations or the distinguished character
of the guests Of honor OF the evening. The
occasion was made notable by the presence
of Secretary A'ger. Senator Chauucey NJ
Depew, Major General Joseph Wheeler.
Major General Wesley X. Merritt. General
Horatio c. King. Inspector General j. &.
Breckenridge and many others who rem
dered distinguished services In the Spanish
ana The civil war.
A feature which was OF peculiar interest
was a speech by General Wesley Merritt
warmly defending Secretary AlEcr. lie de-
ciared AlEer the best Secretary OF War the
world has ever seen.
After the reading Of several letters OF re-
Sfet secretary AlSer was called upon. lie
said in part:
Secretary AIger's speech
Nhen oppression had denied civil and
religious liberties to a God-loviug and God
fearing people tnur forefathersp. and they
had determined To leave their native couu-
tries for these then unknown shores. and
when, after a long and perilous voyage.
they landed upon the Atlantic coast. their
first declaration was Equal rights and re-
ligious freedom to ALL and from then until
now that has been the watchword OF the
American people.
Under the American flag battles have
been fought and won against every force
that has sought to check its onward prog
resS toward the setting sun, flag that
has never yet been unfurled against an
enemy but to prevail Here has been found
ed the cradle Of freedom: here erected the
arch of independence. here the child of
liberty has waNed strong into mighty re-
public.
Every sign Of the present and past as
sures us that this government is destined
to be permanently in the lead. that this
country is to be, If II is not already. the
center Of civilization and power-a power
winch rests in all the people, which has no
sovereign save the people
After alluding to the herotsm and success
IN war of the revolutionary patriots an
ceStorS OF the members of the society ana
TO the contest between the north and south
resulting in the unificaton OF the nation.
Secretary Alger said:
The Latest Call 10 Arms.
And now within the last year We have
again been called 10 arms and upon April
n, 1895 under the first call for volunteers.
l23.WO patriots were sent into the field,
while a million men offered their services.
At that time. owing to the persistent parsl-
mony of Congress in making appropria tons
for munitions Of war, we had no provisions
OF war, We had no equipment for war hut
We mad men, and We lad the manufacturers
VINO, sooner than those of any other nation
on earth. could equip that army. an army
which included the volunteers Of the first
and second calls. numbered approximately
2'oooo. and this army was marshaled in
camps and equipped, 10000 Of whom were
sent to distant islands 10000 miles apart:
battles were fought, victories were won
without single reverse or without the
loss OF gun or color and all this within
III days from the declaration OF war 10 the
signing OF the protocol
'Supposing they had a little beef spoiled
what of it? II they had had no beef al an
hE al MOI fhaT 1a..
Wheeler and 1 had in that other war.
The people of the United States are an
unself1sh people: they have never sought
territorial accession, except to the benefit
of the peoples that came with il. The flag
of this nation has been hoisted over Cuba
Porto Rico and the Philippines, in lands
whose people have for centuries been OPP
pressed by Spanish misrule. Whatever
else may be, We can be assured II has
been realized in Porto Rico and the Philip
pines. there it will remain. one of these
Islands We hold in trust, the others are
ours.
The strife that brought upon this coun-
try the war with Spain as not Of our own
seeking: the force Of events and the cry of
NO human mind could stop it. 1t was TO be-
achievements OF Army aud Navy.
There is not heart in the breast Of any
true American tonight whose pulsations do
not quicken with pride over the achieve
ments Of our army and navy The voIun-
teers and the regulars in the Philippines
have won for themselves the nations
crown; they are the sons and the heritage
of our people. All honor to them and |
hope and trust that congressional action
shall give such recognition OF their ser
vices as shall show TO them and TO the
world our appreciation of their Nslor. The
nation HlournS Tor the families who VIII
never again hear the footballs across the
threshold of those they loved: but that is
the sacrifice they offered, the sacrifice they
have made.
Every great achievement is made at
sacrifice. Nations have been built up as
the result of war; and may hope, as a
result Of the conquest of the past twelve
months, that civilization, education. Chris
tianity and a God-fearing people shah bless
the United States SO long il endures for
the heroic sacrifice that has been made for
men and for freedom. We are today. We
hope, nearing the end of the conflict and
near the dawn Of peace In the Philippines,
and upon every lip is datly-yes> hourly
expressed: What of the future God, in
His infinite wisdom, can only answer that
question and as He has guided US thus far
and as His hand has been so plainly seen
in the history of the past twelve months,
We can feel assured that. as He ruled, what
is right will be-"
Gen. Merritt's Address.
Major General Merritt was the next
SPEAKER:
When We went 10 the Philippines there
was Only oHt CbuI sc 10 pul Sut VIZ AAAN
course that has been taken up to the pres
ent. Our navy had captured Manila Bay.
and the army had to capture the city. and
we couldn't let go; and the prospects are
now that the American flag will continue
to wave in the far east.
The army in the east, / testified be-
fore the investigating commission in Wash
iEgton, had everything the War Department
could furnish. We lived we'll and We did
our duty. and have apologies to
make or determinations to offer This most
outrageousiy abused administration has
done more for the army than any other
that ever existed. Ii there
We're any canned speeches here tonight
they are better than some of the refrigerat-
ed speeches that we have read If l had a
canned speech to develop this subject,
assure you il wouldn't smell"
General Merritt referred to the present
Of War as the best Secretary OF
War the world has ever seen He added:
No secretary was ever more abused. Sec
rotary Stanton stood through his abuse
as the most fearless secretary that ever
lived. We have now another secretary who
has made fewer mistakes and been more