Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-10-23

portunity to pay a merited tribute to
those other patriotic men who like YOU
to their country's call in the
hour of danger. The Montana u
Riders were not accorded the privilege
of striking a blow for the honor of Old
Glory. but the fault was not theirs. Ihey
were anxious and willing. and am sure
we are all agreed, that had the chance
been given them, they too. like yoursel-
YES, would have made a record OF when
we should all have been proud.
In conclusion let me say to you that
the reception we give you today knows
no party, no class and no creed. 1t is
the generous out pouring of the sentl-
ment of pride. of admiration and affec-
ton which fill the hearts of all the peo-
pie. In this spirit we greet you. In TINS
spirit. with al, our hearts, we bid YOU
welcome
Senator Thomas H. Garter spoke as
follows: u 4
This occasion exposes the poverty of
our language. Humanity's tenderest ana
best emotions can never be expressed.
AS the poet aptly says-"The thought
which most thrills our existence is one
which before we can frame it i'll language
is gone
mo tribute of words can adequately
measure the sense of gratitude we feel
for our patriotic service to the republic
lllu l1C Ououo Wv ~
roism has given to our state. IT,
I'm manhood's most hopeful hour. in
the fervid glow of youth, you cheerfully
stepped forth at o u country'ss call.
and each with uplifted hand reverently
made the most solemn pledge man can
be called upon to make. You pledged your
lives to your country's cause. From the
ways of sweet peace, YOU voluntarily
turned at the command of duty to par
ticipate in the dreadful work of war.
With patriotic fortitude, you left home.
with it's wealth of love, comfort and
sympathy, to engage as actors in the
tragedy of misery and death on carnage
covered fields. Anxious parents, loving
wives, tender children, Or, perchance,
trusting s~weethearts, We're left behind.
Scenes at parting drew all heartstrlngs
to painful tension. Your safe return
hung on the cruel chances of war, and
| yet, amidst a flood of parting tears, you
faced the future and faltered not. Your
! relatives, riends and %neighbors believed
in YOU. They never doubted that the
First Montana regiment, m%arshaled in
battle array under the Stars and Stripes,
would fairly display the splendid quail
ties of patriotism and courage abiding
in our Rocky mountain homes. The mag
nificent manner in which you justified
our faith is today known. not only
throughout this country, but all over
the civilized world. In your deeds will
DC lOullQ IldlGIldl lOi one Ol ln6 llOSl
brilliant chapters in the illustrious his
tory of the volunteer army of the United
States. In the camp through weary
weeks and months of drilling and wait
ing, on the ocean, as victims of hopeless
discomforts, on the lonely picket line
amidst TRANCE and weird surroundings,
and finally or the firing line in the very
presence of death, you proved yourselves
worthy of the flag under which you
served. -
mo greater compliment can be paid
to any body of soldiers, whether living or
dead, than to truthfully affirm that at
the front of the battle, in the hour Of
supreme trial, they proved worthy de-
Tenders of the grand old Stars and
Stripes with all that emblem means to
us, and stands for in humanity's strug-
gle for broader freedom and better condi-
tons.
"Montana's quota for the war was
less than seven hundred out the zeal of
her citizens furnished over sixteen hun-
dred stalwart volunteers under the ma
tional standard and still hundreds of our
brave boys, anxious to enlist, We're re-
luctantly left behind. While your trials
and losses have been severe. l doubt if
you We're ever burdened with the mental
anxiety and painful disappointment suf-
fered by your four und comrades in
the Third Volunteer Cavalry who We're
by the course of events denied the priv
ilege of going to he front? All honor to
these patient men who had hearts for
any fate. With the body of the people,
they rejoice here today over your splen-
did achievements and Well-earned fame.
Our war with Spain was a righteous
war. Every effort consistent with hon-
or was made by those charged with the
conduct of the government to avert re-
course to arms. OverZealOus men ever
charged the president with coWardice,
! so persistent We're his efforts to avoid an
appeal to the arbitrament of battle. War
was declared against ~sne kingdom OF
Spain when no other course was possible
and only then. So complete was our tri-
umph that the utter humiliation of our foe
actually excited the national sympathy
The once majestic Spain was overthrow
in the Philippines within four hours and
her reign in the West Indies was forever
ended within ninety days. Your mission
to tn distant Philippines was to sustain
the nation in the full enjoyment of the
world-renowned victory Admiral Dewey
had Won. You went there to sustain the
honor of the flag of your country.
While our government was considering
the prOpriety of ratifying a treaty of
peace with Spain, the flag then and there
in your care and keeping was without
provocation or justification fired upon in
malice by an armed body of men. You
quickly and bravely and nobly returned
the fire, had you done less, you would
not have been worthy of the flag yol,
carried nor of the uniforms You wore. It
has been long known in Europe and in
our own hemisphere as well that firing
on the American flag means a fight to
a finish. You boys made that important
fact known to the hundreds of millions
of people residing in Asia. For so doing,
the benedictions of all your worthy
countrymen will follow you to your
graves and confer honorable distinction
on you posterity.
tsYcl,o hattla intp which voy u-ova faro