The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1899-08-05
ALTER IS WELCOMED
The Ex-Sscretary Receives Royal
Greeting in Detroit.
Eov. PinErec and Mayor Maybury
Make Addresses Full Of Expressions
OF Respect and Confidence
A Feeling Response.


may have been the personal feelings of
the late secretary of war, Gen. Russell
A. Alger. concerning recent incidents
of his official career, all sentiments save
those of genuine happiness were very
evidently banished Wednesday after
noon and evening by the magnificent
welcome rendered him by the people OF
his own city and state. From four
O'clock. when the welcoming committee
crowded into his private car upon its ar
rival at Toledo. until nine o'clock, when
the general ceased grasping out
stretched hands, the scene was n con-
slant and spontaneous ovation. Smiles
and tears repeatedly struggled for the
mastery of the secretary's bronzed
countenance as he gazed into the eager
faces of the multitudes who loudly and
conyincingly insisted that "Alger's all
right" and no dissonant voice was
heard.
The special train which met Gen. AL
ger and party at Toledo consisted
of six coaches. 1t carried 400 members
of the reception committee.
When the train arrived here the gem
erals car was besieged by his old
friends. Gen. Alger was escorted
through the reception train and greet
ed by all. Headed by about 800 bicy-
Clists over 1000 marchers escorted Gen.
Alger from the Michigan Central sta
tion by circuitous course. leading past
the generals home 10 the reviewing
stand. Militia and veterans of the civil
war, including Fairbanks post. G. A. r.,
of which the general is member,
company OF Spanish war veterans and
scores of marchers i'm secret society uni
forms. filed past. Fairbanks post car
ried two great banners, stretching half
across the street, which declared,
There is only one Alger."
words of welcome.
Mayor Maybury, after calling order,
said:
Gen. Alger, I should despair. sir, OF be-
Ing able TO voice the heartiness OF this well
come Were II not already shown In this
vast concourse through whom you have
passed. IL will go forth to the world sir
that where you are best known, there you
are best loved, and best appreciated. IL
Will go forth TO the world sir a due notice
that the standard OF high character. built
up BY patience and perseverance, honesty
and uprightness can not be thrown down
by Islander. | welcome you home, sir, TO
a people who love Justice and fair play
This welcome Is by your neghbors They
come from all parts OF this glorious state.
only for the purpose OF saying: God bless
you and Welcome home. You have come
home TO walk these streets as before. You
VIII command and carry with you the
same confidence, affection and esteem that
have been with you all your life. Men will
say that with an upright character so well
established there Is no power on earth that
cai aetract from the fame OF good neigh
Dor and citizen and honest man"
GOV. Pingree's Address.
Gov. Pingree, in his speech in behalf
of the state, made some pointed refer
ences 10 incidents leading TO Ayers
home coming, and fired some character
istic shots al the newspapers, which, he
asserted, were largely responsible. The
governor said that Ayers best service
for his country was in his efficient man
agement of the war department. lie
said, among other things:
1.-THE facts which led you to submit your
resignation TO the president are well
known. The treatment which YOU have
received has Justly aroused the resent
ment OF falr-minded Americans The people
OF Michigan look upon the manner In which
your withdrawal from the cabinet was
forced as an insult TO the state. They are
here to-day 10 rcbuke the Cupidity OF poll
ticlans. high and low. They are here TO
show their contempt for the cowardly at
tacks of a venal press A mean spirited
and interruptions press has carried on
campaign OF deliberate misrepresentation
and lies concerning your business manage
ment OF the war department. The people
OF Michigan know that these attacks are
absolutely without justification.
Gen. Ayers Response.
Gen. Alger responding said:
II can command no language to express
my gratitude 10 you for this royal welcome
TO my home. | am glad from the bottom or
my heart TO be released from official care
and 10 again enter the old home and live
among the people OF Michigan. Since
went away two and half years ago. as
you know, the country has been through
a terrific struggle. The office of which |
was the head was taxed TO the utmost or
every mans strength who occupied any
position in &C.. | gave my best thought and
honest effort and did everything | could
to carry out my part OF that great work
what has been done is a matter OF record,
and / am perfectly willing TO rest the case
with my countrymen. Every transaction
every order. and everything that was done
In conducting that war Is a matter OF rec
ord. and the people have a right TO have
that record searched.
And now. my fellow citizens. ] come
home without a grievance. During that
struggle and while that great work was
upon me / can truthfully say that / had
from the president all the support that he
could give. We went through that strug-
gle and came out victorious. We transport
cd across the seas more than 10000 men
one way and the other, without an acci-
dent. We fought battles in the Philippines
In Cuba, and In Porto Rico. and we never
lost battle. a color prisoner or a gun.
Wherever the American nag was planted
by the American soldier. there IL stands.
and there Il shall stand forever"
The closing scene was reception in
the city hall corridor. Mrs. Alger and
a score of other ladies with several OF
the generals relatives viewed the scene
from canopied decorated platform
built into the main stairway, and thou
sands pushed past and grasped Gen.
Ayers hand.
Death of nm Old-Time Actor.
Philadelphia, Aug. 3.-Joseph Afford
Smith. dean of the colony of actors and