The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1899-10-20
THE NATIONS WELCOME.
President McKinIey's Remarks to tn
Thirteenth Minnesota.

President McKinIey's Remarks to the
Thirteenth Minnesota.
MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 13.-From a plat
form in front of the Minneapolis expo.
sition building President Mckinley
voiced the nations welcome to the
Thirteenth Minnesota volunteers, Just
returned from the Philippines, and de-
livered an address to thousands Of
cheering people,
DR.. Cyrus Northrop, president of the
University of Minnesota, presided over
the exercises and the invocation was
pronounced by Bishop Isaac w. Joyce
of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Mayor Gray spoke words of greeting
to the soldiers and the distinguished
guests on behalf of the city and Gov
ernor Lind on behalf of the state. The
governor paid strong tribute to the
returned volunteers.
President Mckinley was greeted with
cheers that continued for several min
utes and throughout the delivery of his
address the applause was frequent. In
opening he said:
Tribute to the Volunteers.
"I have come from the capital of the
nation that l might give theEnation's well
come to regiment of the nations de-
tenders 1 have come to speak the voice
of love and gratitude which comes from
every American heart today that loves the
flag. 1 have come to bid you welcome be-
cause you did your duty, and that is the
highest tribute that can be paid to any
soldier anywhere I do not think the
members of this regiment, or the regi-
ments constituting the Eighth army
corps in the Philippines, realize the inn
portance and heroism of their action
after the treaty of peace was signed and
ratified
IT come to bid you welcome and give
you the honor of the nation, because you
sustained the flag of the nation, because
you refused to stack arms, refused to
sound the retreat. And you have come
back havinga high place in the hearts
and affections of the American people
and gratitude That will continue for all
time You have also by your services
added much to the cause of humanity,
added much to the advancement of the
civilization which has so characterized
the century just now fading away"
Reference to the Philippines.
After discussing the acquisition of
territory by the United States during
the present century and citing at length
the riches of our latest possessions, he
said:
''The future of these new possessions is
in the keeping of congress, and congress is
the servant of the people. That they will
be retained under the benign sovereignty
Of the United States I do not
permit myself to doubt That they
will prove a rich and invaluable
heritage I feel assured. That con-
gress will provide for them government
which will bring them blessings which
will promote their material interests as
well as advance their people in the path
of civilization and intelligence, conf
IDENTIFY believe They will not be gov
erned as vassals or serfs or slaves-they
viii be given a government of liberty,
regulated by law, honestly administered,
without expressing exactions, taxation
without tyranny, justice without bride,
education without distinction or social
condition, freedom of religious worships
and protection in life, liberty and the pur-
suit of happiness"