The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-11
HE IS GIVEN AN OVATION
a LARGE AUDIENCE HEARS BRIG.
GEN. KINGS LECTURE.
He Pays High Tribute to the Volun-
tecrs In the Philippines, to Law
ton and TO Bevcridge.

At English's opera House last night.
under the auspices Of the Young Mems
Christian Association. a large audience
gave close attention to a most interesting
and instructive lecture by Brig. Gen.
Charles King, of the United States volun-
teers, until recently stationed in and about
Manila. General Kings subject was with
the Volunteers in the Philippine Islands"
and the nature of its treatment is best
shown by the following PREDATORY words:
Il have a very simple soldierly story to
tell you OF class of men called into serv-
ice of the United States at the outbreak
of the war with Spain, sent. most unex-
pectedly to them. across the far Pacific
and retained there under most unusual
circumstances. They found themselves late
in the winter confronted by an unreason-
ing and almost savage foe. inspired by
hatred OF the American race that had been
taught them by their leaders. not by any
association with the Americans themselves.
and at the very time when, by the terms
of their enlistment, they were entitled to
claim their discharge from military serv-
ice and to return to the United States. The
flag they were sworn to serve was men
aced by Aguinaldo and his powers, leaving
General Otis. the commanding general in
the Philippines, with only between three
and four thousand men whom he could
legally call into action, but for the pa
triotic and soldierly and. i would think,
admirable conduct OF the volunteers from
the far Western States who decided then
and there that they would cast their lot
with the regulars and stand by the flag,
whether they were enlisted for the war
with Spain or not
THE WAR JUSTIFIED.
After giving testimony to the intelligence
of the volunteers, and their quickness to
learn military tactics-even though some
of them, a Tennessee regiment particularly,
were 'the greenest of the green"-General
King plunged into the heart OF his theme.
which was an explanation and justification
of the war with the Philippine insurgents.
He related In calm, yet graphic manner,
the courteous treatment accorded the Flip
mos by American soldiers and the jeers and
insults with which they were repaid. He
described the building of breastworks by
the insurgents before the very eyes of the
Americans. who were powerless to prevent
such action because OF instructions from
Washington mot TO recognize the POSSIBLE
ity of hostile intent the part of the Fill
lpinos. Finally, an attack was first made
by the insurgents, and then, forbearance
ceasing to be longer a virtue, the Ameri-
cans went at them Two fierce conflicts
were portrayed. which the lecturer said
nave not since been equaled for their fury
and the losses sustained on both sides.
Referring 10 the charge made in the New
York Evening Post and reiterated by the
Springfield Republican. that the American
soldiers had deSecrated Catholic churches
In the Philippine islands, General King
said that, on the contrary, they had care
fully guarded the congregation in a church
from which, afterwards, a most violent at
tack was made upon the Americans.
Another charge of the same newspapers
refuted by the speaker was that his brigade
had shot down-massacred and slaughtered
dozens or helpless natives bowmen and
spearmen from the mountains. He said
that the only noncombatants killed were
two Cinnamon who were luckless enough
to get between the American and insurgent
forces, just as did a German military at
tache afterwards lose his life by happening
TO get caught between the lines OF General
Macarthur and the Filipinos. Outside of
these two Cinnamon, said the general, alb
solutely no helpless people were killed, and
not bow or spear was TO be found with
In ten miles OF the field of battle.
HIS PERORATION.
deheTdl NlIlS CLOSING words aroused his
audience to high pitch OF enthusiasm,
and he finished amid veritable ovation.
His peroration follows:
mo story of that campaign could ever
be complete that failed TO tell of him who,
coming, after the outbreak, among those
volunteers. within few short stern weeks
stood foremost in their affections We old
regulars knew him well, and those among
us who had served on the Indian frontier
in the campaigns against the savages held
him In honor and in high esteem. OF all
the array of eager and energetic young
officers twenty years ago and in the ten
years that followed the civil war fought
under Generals Merritt, Miles and Crook
In one campaign after another there was
not one who would not have accorded to
him what We might call the head of the
class, Tor he was an Indian fighter and a
plainsman facile princeps. When he came
TO the Philippines We had only one fear,
and that was that, although then a major
general, he would insist upon following out
the same old system that made him con-
spicuous in the days when he was a lieu
tenant and captain of cavalry, ever at the
forefront, that he would become too tempt
ing target for the insurgent rifle. That
fear proved only too well-founded. Com
manding as L did the First Brigade of the
Eighth Division, il fell to my lot for the
first month after he arrived and assumed
command to be with him day after day,
and sometimes night after night along that
slim and extended line of ours, and time
and again he had narrow escapes, for he
would heed neither counsel nor protest.
There was no peril that he would not share
with his men. He held IL to be his bounden
duty to see for himself the exact situation
at the front in order that he might not
needlessly, heedlessly or recklessly expose
his men, and So thinking only of them,
he seemed to think never of himself. Tn
equaled in energy, tireless in pursuit, fear
less in battle. Spartan in self-denial, a
soldier in everything, so lovable as a
friend. lovable friend he was
dreaded as a foe-soui and body he seemed
built upon heroic lines-he lived the fore
most fighter in the Philippines. and lived
as he died-at the head of his men, la
mented. well-nigh idolized-your own grand
Indiana soldier, Henry Lawton. Tire
mendous applause You sent great fight
ers to the front in '6l. The regiments OF
Indiana throughout. the war of the re-
bellion won a record, a reputation most
enviable. You gave TO US war Governor
whose name has gone to Immortality.
TRIBUTE TO BEVERIDGE.
you have chosen to represent you in the
councils OF the Nation men whose words
carried conviction whatsoever they saw fl
TO speak. and on this day the Nation far
and wide is hailing with acclaim this new
little giant OF the West-your brilliant and
gifted Beverage. prolonged applause. J