The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1899-09-06

Artillery, First Colorado, First Idaho,
Fifty first Iowa, Twentieth Kansas,
Thirteenth Minnesota, First Montana,
First Nebraska, First North Dakota,
Nevada Cavalry, Second Oregon, Tenth
Pennsylvania, First South Dakota,
First Tennessee, Utah Artillery, First
Washington, First Wyoming, Wyom-
ing Battery. To them must be added
about four thousand enlisted men Of
the Regular Army, who were entitled
TO their discharge under the Peace
Proclamation Of April IL, 1893, the
greater portion of whom participated in
the engagements of the Eighth Corps
and are still performing arduous ser
vices in the field.
"Nor must the Navy be forgotten.
Sixty-five devoted sailors participated
in the engagement of May LIST In Ma
Mia Bay whose terms of service had
previously expired, continuing on duty
quite a year after that action.
'For these men of the Army and
Navy we have only honor and graft
tude.
"The world will never know the re.
straint of our rsoldiers-theirs self control
under the most exasperating cOndi-
tiOns. For weeks subjected to the in
suits and duplicity of the Insurgent
leaders, they preserved the status quo,
remembering that they were under an
order from their Government to sacred
ly observe the terms of the protocol in
letter and spirit and avoid all conflict,
except in defense, pending the negotia-
tions of the Treaty of Peace. They
were not the aggressors. They did not
begin hOstilities against the Insurgents
pending the ratification of the Treaty
of Peace ia the Senate, great as was
their justification, because their orders
from Washington forbade it. i take
all the responsibility for that direction.
Otis only executed the order OF his Gov
ernment, and the soldiers, under great
provOeatiOn to strike back, Obeyed.
Until the Treaty was ratified we had no
authority beyond Manila City, bay and
harbOr. We then had no other title to
defend, no authority beyond that to
maintain. Spain was still in possession
of the remainder of the Archipelago.
Spain had sued for peaca. The truce
and Tr, atty were not concluded. The
first blow was struck by the Insurgents.
Our kindness was reciprocated with
cruelty, our mercy with a Mauser. The
flag of truce was invoked only to be
dishOnOred. Our soldiers were shot
down when ministering to the wound
ed Philippines. Our humanity was in
terpreted as weakness, our forbearance
as cowsrdiee. They assailed our SOW
ereignty, and there will be no useless
parley-no pause-until the insurrec-
ton is suppressed and American su-
thority is acknowledged aud establish
ed. The misguided followers in rebell-
ion have only our charity and pity. AS
to the cruel leaders who have needlessly
sacrificed the lives of thousands of their
people, at the cost of some Of our best
blood, for the qualification of their own
ambitious designs, will leave to 9TH
ers the ungracious task of justification
and eulogy.
every one of the noble men of the
Regulars or Volunteers, soldiers or sea-
men, who thus signally served their
country in its extremity deserves he
special recognition of Congress, and it
will be to me an unfeigned pleasure to
recommend for each of them spt cal
medal of honor.
"While We give you hail and greeting
from overhowing hearts, we do not for
get the brave men who remain and
those who have gone forward to take
your places, and those other brave men
who have 50 promptly volunteered,
crowding each other to go to the front,
to carry forward to successful compile
tion the work you so nObly began. Our
prayers go with them, and more men
and munitions, if required, for the
speedy suppression of the rebellion,
the establishment of peace and tran
quillity, and government under the
undisputed sovereignty of the United
States-a government which will do
justice TO all, and at once encourage the
best efforts and aspirations of these dis
tant people and the highest develop
ment of their rich and fertile lands.
"The Government to which you gave
your loyalty welcomes you to your
homes. With no blot or stain upon
your record, the story Of your unselfish
services to country and to civilization
will be TO the men who take your places
at the front and on the firing line and
to future generations an example of
patriotism and an inspiration to duty"