The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-29
PENNSYLVANIANS WELCOMED.
PRESIDENT SPOKE TO RETURNING
TROOPS AT PITTSBURG.

philippines Are Ours Just as Much
rs Are Louisiana and AIaska-XVin
BE No Pause Until InsurrectiOn Is
suppressed.
Pittsburg, Pa, Aug 2S.-A hearty and
enthusiastic welcome was given to-day by
the citizens of Pittsburg TO the Tenth
Pennsylvania Regiment OF Volunteers, who
have had over a years gallant service IN
the Philippines.
Ii was one of the biggest days that Pitts
burg has ever seen. Ii was estimated
that 100000 persons witnessed the parade.
The presence of President and Mrs Nc
Kinley. Maj. Gen. Merritt, Mai. Gen.
Francis V. Greene and other prominent
persons, added immense interest to the
occasion.
The reception to the soldiers, which was
preceded by a parade took place in Schen-
ley Park The President and other disun-
guizhed visitors participated.
GOV. Stone delivered an address, after
which the President was introduced.
The President spoke as follows:
Governor Stone and my Fellow Ctti-
zons: ! am glad to participate with the
families, friends and fellow citizens of the
Tenth Pennsylvania volunteers in this
clad reunion. You have earned the plaGd-
Its not alone of the people of PennsylVa>
mia. but of the whole nation. Your re-
turn has been the signal for a great dem
onstration of popular regard from your
banding in the Golden Gate on the Pacific
TO your Homecoming and here you find
warmth of welcome and greeting from
joyous hearts which tell better than words
the estimate of your counirymen, and
their high appreciation of the services you
have rendered the country.
You made secure and permanent the
victory of Admiral Dewey. You addoi
new cory to American arms. You ana
your brave comrades engaged on other
fields of conflict have enlarged the map
OF The United States and extended the ju-
risdction of American liberty.
But while we shared in the joy that is
yours there remain with us softened and
hallowed memories of those who went
forth with you, not found in your ranks
to-day. Your noble colonel, devoted to
his men, beloved by his command and
respected by his superior officers, gave his
life to his country with many others of
his comrades. The nation sorrows with
The bereaVed. These heroes died for their
country, and there is no nobler dead Our
troops represented the courage and con-
science, the purpose and patriotism of
eheir country. Whether in Cuba. Porto
Rico or the Philippines, or at home await !
ing orders, they did their fun duty and all
sought the post of greatest peril. They
never fahered The Eighth Army Corps
ia the Philippines have made proud and
exceptional record.
A Privilege Not Claimed.
privileged to be mustered out in Aprf,
when the Publications of the treaty of
peace We're exchanged. they did not claim
the privileSe-they declined fl. They VO.un- |
tariiy remained in the service and declared |
their purpose to stay until their places |
could be flied by new levies and longer if
The government needed them. Their ser |
Vic6-and they understood il, was not 10
be in camp or garrison, free from danger |
but on the battle line, where exposure and |
death confronted them and where both |
have eXacted their victims They did not
stack arms. They did not run away. They |
were not serving the Insurgents in the
Philippines or their sympathizers at home
They had no part or patience with the |
men, few in number happily, who would |
have Tejoiced to have seen them lay down |
their arms in the presence Of an enemy |
whom they had just emancipated from |
Spanish rule and who should have been |
our firmest friends. They furnished an eN-
ample of devotion and sacrifice which VIII |
brighten the glorious record of American |
valor. They have secured not alone the |
gratitude of the government and of the |
people, but for themselves and their des-
ceudants an imperishabTe distinction.
They may not fully appreciate and the |
country may not, the heroism of their con
duct and its important support to the |
government. l think ! do and l am here |
10 express it.
Philippines Are Ours.
The mighty army Of volunteers and |
regulars numbering over $4,000, which |
last year responded to the ca!l of the gov
eminent with an alacrity without prece-
dent or parallel by the terms of their en-
IStmeQt, were to be muster |
ed out with all of the reg
ulars above 27000 when peace was
effected with Spain. Peace brought us |
the Philippines by treaty cession from |
Spain. The Senate of the United States
ratified the treaty. Every step taken was
in obedience to the requirements of the !
constitution. 1t became our territory and |
is ours as much as the Louisiana purchase |
or Texas or Alaska A body of insurg |
ents in no sense representing the senUi- |
ment of the people of the islands, dis
puted our lawful authority, and even be-
fore the ratification of the treaty by the |
American Senate were attacking the very |
forces who fought for and secured their |
freedom.
This was the situation in April. 1898 |
The date of the exchange of Publications |
with only $1,000 regulars subject 10 the |
6nquesuoned direction of the executive,
and they for the most part on duty in |
Cuba and Porto Rico or invaded at home |
aiter their severe campaign in the trop- |
les. Even had they been available il |
would have required months 10 transport |
them to che Philippines. Practically a |
rev army had TO be created. These loyal |
volunteers in the Philippines said:
we will stay until the government can
organize an army at home and transport
1t to the seat Of hostlites.'
They did stay, cheerfully, uncompain-
ingly periodically. They suffered and
sacrificed, they fought and fen, they drove
back and punished the rebels who resist
cd federal authority, and who with force
attacked the sovereignty of the United
states in its newly acquired territory. |
Without them then and there we would !
have been practically helpless on land, our
nag would have had its first stain, and |
the American name its first ignominy.
The brilliant victories of the army and
navy in the bay and city of Manila would
hon IN LII u N