New-York tribune., 1902-06-26
PRESIDENT TO VETERANS.
TALKS FEARLESSLY OF PHILIPPINES,
CUBA AND PORTO RICO.

Boston. June 25-On President Roosevelt's re-
turn from Harvard this evening. he was escort
ed to the Algonquin Club house. where ban
Quet given in his honor by the Commandery
of Massachusetts Naval and Military Order Of
the Spansh-American War The guests. besides
the President Governor w. Murray Crane.
Mayor Patrick A Collins. john D. Long. Rear
Admiral Mortimer L. johnson, L. 5. N. and
Colonel John l. Tiernon, L. S. \. Brigadier
General Curtis Guild POSTMASTER. and he
proposed a toast to the President.
In response the President said:
Mr. POSTMASTER Mr. Chairman and Com
rades: L have a special right of comradeshlp
with the men of the I'd and the 9th. who were
down al Santiago, where | served also some
of your number here tonight fought IN the great
war. You. of course. saw the real fighting, the
days that tried mems souls. All the chance that
came to us was to show that willing
and anxious to try to do duty in a way not
to make the older feel that the younger genera
ton had been unworthy of it. CApplauseo
Really, this is not exactly the audience 10
which / would like to say two of the
I have got you with me. There has been good
deal of criticism, and some of it of an exceed
ingly Incorporate kind. about the actions OF the
army over in the Philippines. That army Is
composed of exactly such men as those L see
here tonight. Some of you went TO Cupa Soile
Porto Rico. some to the Philippines, ana the
regulars, whom 1 joined with you in greeting
tonight. have served simply wherever tneS
happened to be sent. 1t is exactly the same
army that went to Santiago. that went 10 fotto
Rico that stayed in Chickamauga because II
was it's duty stay there, and if praised or IL
blamed it must stand our representative
and we share the praise or the blame with H.
Within the last fortnight there has been an
appalling outrage committed in the Philippine
Islands. Four men were captured and. after
being kept for little while, were put to death
by torture. You have heard very little of IT, ana
the reason is because those four men wore the
United States uniform. For that deed, II IT he
possible to exact punishment. punishment Will
be eXaCted cloud applause ana waving OI
hanokerchiefs) You know that any infringe
ment of the laws of will not he tolerated
for a moment. and that any man wearing our
uniform who discredits ii by torture shall not be
saved from punishment by any record of excel
lence in the past But let the other side OF the
shield be kept in view also Let it be remem-
bered that of all forms of cruelty the worst is
the weakness which hesitates to use just
proper severity when just a proper severity Is
needed. loud applause)
Peace has almost come in the Philippines
We have trouble with the uncivzed tribes in
a small part of the archipelago, but outside of
that peace has almost come, because the OFF,
and enlisted men wearing the ma ational uni
form bravely. quietly, uncOmplatningly and with
iron resolution have gone about their duty,
needing the foe in front little as the advance
ment of those who should nave known better
behind. It has gone forward until now through
out the Philippine Islands there is a condition
of greater peace than has obtained in them from
the time when the keels of the Spanish ships
first furrowed the waters of Manila Bay until
the present moment. (ApplauseD And more
than that-remernher that the army has
quered, TO bring military rule, but in order
that the sphere of civil government should be
constantly extended at the expense of military
rule loud applause
Gentlemen so much for what 1 was glad TO
say TO you. but what l should have been even
more pleased TO have the chance OF saying TO
other people.
Now | want just briefly to take a text
what was said by President Mckinley. who him.
self fought all through the Civil War. when in
speaking after the Spanish war. he said: The
highest tribute that can be paid TO the soldier
is to say that he performed his full duty The
field of duty is determined by his government,
and wherever that chances TO be there is the
place OF honor. All nave helped in the great
cause. whether in camp or in battle. and when
peace comes ali alike VIII be entitled 10 the
nations gratitude
Now. gentlemen 1 intended to say that the
first essential in getting good work out of
army as a whole is make IL understood
among them all that the thing TO be sought
after is duty-that the glory is an accident
IApplauseD And that to seek after the glory
at the expense of doing the duty is consider
ably worse than an accident. daughter and ap-
plause)
My regiment was of those OF which a part
had TO go and part to be left behind at Tampa.
| have always felt that a heavier load. con-
siderably heavier load. was put upon those who
stayed behind. and that. while the honor was
equal as between them, the work done was
greater by those who stayed.
recently. in some of the promotions made in
the regular army with full knowledge and of
set purpose promoted certain men who. TO their
bitter regret had stayed in office work instead
Of going as they desired. TO the field. because
their superiors felt that damage would come to
the interests of the army whole if they did
not STAY and the men themselves yielded the
desire to go to the front to do the duty which
there was most crying need TO perform at tnat
time.
II is unnecessary to say that soldier can
be worth his salt If he has not got the ngntlnS
spirit: but he is going to be of mighty nttIe
consequence If he has not also got the power
of faithful performance OF duty in the INFINITE
number of small things that Will have 10 come
up first or he won't get into the battle
Governor Long followed the President. and
after him Colonel Tiernon responded for the
United States army
President Roosevelt left Boston on the New
York New-Haven and Hartford Railroad FOR
\ew-London on the midnight express.