Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-04
PLACING THE BLAME
Declarations on Postmaster General
Smith In an Address ut the
Omaha Exposftfon.

santiago Day was celebrated yesterday
at the Greater America exposition.
The guests of honor were Postmaster
General Emory Smith and Gen. Joseph
wheeler They were both given an en-
thusiastic reception by the large crowd in
attendance, the former members of the ID
and Sd Nebraska Regiments present being
particularly enthusiastic in greeting Gen.
Wheeler.
President Miller Of the exposition intro
duced Postmaster General Smith, who
spoke Of the success OF the war with Spain
and the promptness OF making a treaty of
peace.
up to that point" he said there was
no flaw in the sweep of success. Had the
treaty been promptly and unanimously
ratihed as 1t ought to have been, there
would have been no conflict in the Philip
pines. The treaty was sent to the Senate
early In December. Then and for nearly
two months after that time peace and or
der prevailed. There was no outbreak till
FEBRUARY. The sovereignty of the United
States, established and recognized by the
treaty, was accepted. But the manifesto
ton OF opposition in the Senate melted and
embeldened opposition in the Philippines,
and the contest of nearly two months at
washington created a new and unneces-
sary contest around Manila.
TT is no fault Of the government 1t Is
no fault of the soldiers. Every battle has
been victory. The American arms have
never once been defeated or repulsed. No
soldiers ever fought more dauntlessly I'M
der greater hardships than the heroes who
have borne our flag through the jungles of
Luzon, and the names of Otis and Mac
Arthur, Lawton and Funston, with their
gallant comrades, win ever be inscribed in
the brightest records of American valor.
There has been no lack of vigorous leader
ship and no lack Of faithful and arduous
service in the ranks. The only trouble had
is that our numbers have not been great
y, %N >.l~-
crush the revolt.
The Problem of the President.
mot only did the opposition and delay
in the ratification of the treaty encourage
the insurrection, but the emasculated army
bill crippled the power of suppressing it.
The President was compelled at the same
time to face the revolt and face practical
reconstruction of the army.
Under the statutes, when the treaty of
peace with Spain was ratified, not only
was every volunteer entitled to be dis
charged, but every regular above q, $50
was required to be mustered out. The
President then was confronted in the midst
of instruction with the problem of reiiev-
ing large part of the force in the Philip
pines and Of being compelled to substitute
new levies. He stood face to face with the
difficulty. in the presence of force already
too small, of withdrawing more than 10000
trained and disciplined men from the fight
ing line while the campaign was at its
height. and of filling their places with new
forces.
Had the volunteers exercised their right
of immediate discharge our army would
have been seriously crippled and disastrous
results might have followed. But, to their
undying honor be it said. they made an
swer which reflects immortal glory upon
the American citizen and the American SOL
der They said: We are entitled to dis
charge; we want to return to homes
and families: but, nevertheless, We will
stay here and fight on, and we will not
leave our posts until the government is
ready to put others in our places
A Magnificent Exhibition.
''It was a magnificent exhibition of the
devotion and patriotism of true Americans.
Nebraska holds high place on that lus-
trous roll of honor. Two days ago the Ne
braska regiment, which has been at the
front and shared the triunlphs and glories
Of the campaign, sailed for home. In
few weeks these heroes will be here to re-
ceive your welcome, and to wear the we'll
earned laurels of their faithful and intrepid
deeds.
They were entitled to come in March,
but, with that noble and ciliyalric spirit
which has ever distinguished the American
soldier, they declared that they would hold
their post on the fighting line until the gov
eminent was ready to make their places
good with equally true fighters. and now
| they come only WheH 0tnerS are IneTe ana
on the way to carry forward the flag of
the country, which they have so bravely
upheld.
Another Army Made.
Now. when many loyal and earnest
people, without having understood what
has been going on. are asking that volun-
teers may be called out to crush the IN
surrection they awake to find that the
army has been quietly reconstructed, and
that instead of being obliged to raise and
hurry forward raw troops. the government
IS able to give Gen. Otis from $3.50 to
10000 of the best-trained and most effect
i've soldiers in the world. With such
force of such quality, at his command,
when the rainy season is over and the
fighting can be resumed again. the earnest
desire of the country for short sharp and
decisive campaign will be fully realized"
Gen. Henderson introduced Gen. Wheeler,
who spoke briefly of the events at Santi-
ago and Endorsed the attitude of the ad-
ninistration in the Philippines.