The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-05-03
MERRITT CHAMPIONS ALGER
BEST WAR SECRETARY THE WORLD
Has EYER SEEN.

He Declares That No Secretary Was Ever
More Abused-Almost Sick at Heart nj
the Unjust Obloquy Heaped Upon Him
is Conducting an Honest Admtnts-
tration-senator Depew Speaks.
Detroit, Mich, May 2.-The Michigan
society, Sons of the American Revolu-
ton, entertained the visiting delegates,
officials of the order and distinguished
guests to-day at a grand dinner, the
menu being elaborate and the decora-
| tons fine. The affair was made notable
by the presence of Secretary Alger,
Senator Chauncey M. Depew, Major
General Joseph Wheeler, Major General
Wesley r. Merritt, General Horatio c.
! King, Inspector General ]. G. Brecken-
ridge and many others, who rendered
distinguished services in the Spanish
and the civil wars. A feature of pecu-
f! liar interest was a speech by General
Wesley Merritt warmly defending Sec
retary Alger He declared Alger the
best secretary of war the world has
ever seen. Senator Thomas w. Palmer,
president of the Michigan society, as
POSTMASTER, began the speechmaking.
When he mentioned the name of Sec
retary Alger the banaueters rose and
cheered enthusiastically
Secretary Alger in his speech after
| 4l, 80
teer army said: Supposing they had
beef that was boiled and was spoiled,
what of it? They had more than Gen
eral Joseph Wheeler had in the other
war. The people of the United States
have never sought territorial acquisi-
tion except to the benefit of the peoples
that came with it. The flag of this ma
ton has been hoisted over Cuba Porto
Rico and the Philippines in lands
whose peoples have for centuries been
oppressed by Spanish misrule. We can
be assured as It has been raised in
Porto Rico and the Philippines there it
will remain Every great achievement
is made at a sacrifice. May we hope as
a result of the conquest Of the past
twelve months that civilization, educa-
tion, Christianity and God-fearing
people shall bless the United States, so
long as it endures, for the heroic sac
rifice that has been made for men and
soldier freedom We are to-day we
hope nearing the end of the conflict
and near the dawn of peace in the Phil
ippines. Upon every lip is hourly ex-
pressed: What of the future?" God in
His infinite wisdom only can answer
that question, and as he has guided US
thus far, we can feel assured that as
He rules, what is, will be.
Major General Merritt was the next
speaker. Said he: "When we went to
the Philippines there was only one
course to pursue, viz: The course that
has been taken up to the present. The
prospects are now that the American
flag will continue to wave In the far
east. The army in the east had every |
thing the war department could furnish.
We lived well and we did our duty. This |
most outrageously abused adninistra-
tion has done more for the army than |
any other administration that ever ex-
listed. If there was any canned speech
es here tonight they are better than
some of the refrigerated speeches that |
we have read''
General Merritt referred to the present
secretary Of war as the best secretary
of war the world has ever seen. He
added: mo secretary was ever more
abused. Secretary 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 abused than
any of his predecessors. He has had the
confidence Of all except a few malcon-
tents. Through him has been attacked
the president of the United States. He
is almost sick at heart at the weight of
the unjust obloquy that has been heap
ed upon him, but with no promises to
make or platitudes to indulge in, he is
an honest administration. I
was born democrat I'm proud to be-
ong to that political faith, but T hope
the time will come when tfere'll be no
difference between democrats and re-
oublcans, at least manifested against
hose who rule the government. l don't
commit myself to any assertions that
nay lead to trouble with Germany but
hug myself for being an American citi-
.en."
|
'ionist, but not an imperialist in the
accepted sense of that word
As to the Philippine campaign he de-
Jared that the Fiipinos were not to be
yrannzed over by the United States 1
,ut were to have some one like General
Sherman tell them 'go home, stop rails
ng hell and go to raising crops" The ,
senator concluded with the loudly ap-
,lauded sentiment that the spirit Of
rue Americanism would carry the ma
ion through the peris of expansion.
General Horatio c. King deprecated ,
he abuse heaped on Secretary Alger,
BECAUSE of his conduct of the war. He {
offended the secretary and said that | :
he latter's full vindication would come !
OOn. ,
TESTERD STD