The record-union., 1899-08-26

eliminate in the insurrectionary war
which brought further hardships and
suffering to the American soldiers in
the Philippines.
Your valor, which was shown with
such triumphant emphasis against
Spain, was again exhibited in these still
more dangerous days from February
4th to February 10th of the present
year against the insurgentSarmy Your
march on Sunday, the 9Th of February
to the support of the firing line of the
Washington volunteers was dauntlessly
done, and was the precursor to your
gallant and impetuous advance from
Santa Ana to San Pedro Macati.
In the war against the insurgents
the heroic deeds and effective work of
the California First Battalion of Heavy
Artillery should not be overlooked for
they also form a prominent page in the
history of this eventful contest. From
February s, 1899, until June Goth the
skillful artillery fire Of this battalion
not only effectively checked the aggres-
sive advance of the insurgent forces,
but prevented their concentration in the
vicinity of Manila The artillery and
San Rogue, Novaleta, Salinas and Ca
vite Viejo merit the highest commenda-
ton of the military authorities, as we'll
as the gratitude Of the American peo-
pie.
Neither the tropic sun. the drench-
ing rain, the morass, the jungle nor the
enfilading fire of a concealed and vim
dictive foe made you falter or retreat
when the command was Forward"
The struggle from first to last
found every volunteer not only an in
trepid soldier, but a hero.
while 1 have adverted to your valor
and achievements, we'll worthy of our
country's praise, we must not forget to
pay the great debt of gratitude due to
your brave comrades who, at their
country's. call, volunteered for the war.
and though denied the privilege of ac-
companying you to the battle-ground.
endured patiently the necessary and
unavoidable hardships and sufferings
at the San Francisco garrison.
Failing through no fault of theirs
to share in your military achievements,
they are to be praised and admired for
their heroism and patriotism Their
stead of active service in the Philippines
made them eager for the battlefield
and rendered gloomier the chill and
damp days and months of waiting here
at the Golden Gate
THE desire to serve their country
to challenge and face the. foreign foe,
to partake of your glory, oftentimes led
them to sickness and dependency.
And yet their patriotic spirit, SOL
dierly instinct and sense of duty finally
overcame the murmur of disappoint-
ment, and their manly courage bore
them through the sad period of in
action until their country no longer
needed their arms.
While the people of this State are
proud of the martial deeds of the living.
they are not forgetful Of the dead, and
sincerely mourn the volunteers who
died here in camp as we'll as those who
perished in the Philippines, fully rec
ognizing that their deaths We're in the
same noble cause and that the same
glory enshrouds their memory.
During the present struggle to re-
tain and govern the Philippines, the
necessary result of the Spanish Amer
iNsSii Ne1i, tHeIc - IlON IlO just
for criticism. Upon you who have
shared the perils of this contest, as
we'll as upon all Americans citizens,
devolves the patriotic duty of support
ing the national Administration for the
honor of the American name and the
glory of the American flag
when our country is involved in
war, only one desire should stimulate
American citizens, irrespective of party
and irrespective of questions of policy;
and that desire, always uppermost,
should be the triumph of the American
soldier.
THE present war is not war of
conquest Notwithstanding the treason
able utterances of a few carping critics
to the contrary. The acquisition of ter
ritory is but an incident, the war itself
being in defense of American rights,