Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-04-25
Continued ron Ft1', Pags.l

UISI tHB VI IEt SAINT Sttliti5,
glfded into Hampton Roads AT the close OF a
disastrous DAY, saved ell the shipp,ng Will 20
was Yet eIioaI, defeated the lron-aTmOEed Mer-
IiDsck. drove her into blockade, and 10 de-
stIuction, the revolution vas com plere, and the
IGyie3 Of the world were pogeTie7S hef]re us,
until they took time 10 adopt our methods.
When FaTragut, therefore, IN JANUARY, ls52,
went aboard the Hartford, In command OF the
gulf SQUADRON he did SO IL day OF 1ght and
knowledge Ia his profession, anu WIZ jhe ey eS
OF all nations watching the developments ana
the possibilities OF the American niFy. IN the
lessons OF naval warfare under the o.d system
OF wood and sails. and in the open sea; but he
had kept pace with me spirit OF American pro-
prsss and soon showed mat ne was master OF
me problems OF steam and iTon and at home
In river bay or haroor. He embraced within
himself all the splendid associations, patriot
ism, and courage OF the navy OF the past, to-
gtther with a tuIl appreciation or the advance
MT MS or modern science. To complete his
ciai setter as a hero. hts love OF country was
NOT merely a conviction or DUTY; it was that
and more; it vas the ruling passion OF hts SOUL
lie loved ;he flag with al sailors affection,
ard bis allegiance 10 his government was more
q dep reverence for that power IN whose ser
VII G be lad fought, and whose name and fame
had o. co his 10y from childhood, than an 0rdl-
Da ~ sense o! attachment. With lofty and
stem enthusiasm, but without bitterness OF
heart, he struck the rebellion It's hardest blows.
and gave his name 70 Immortality Ii the raSto-
ration OF the American Union
The conception and the execution OF Farra-
CUTS expedition up the Mississippi river were
Iatal 10 The cause OF southern independence.
TT rover which holds the mastery or that
mighty stream Will hold an unbroIen union OF
states from the lakes 10 the Gulf In spite OF all
sectional antagonisms- jefferson foreSaT It's
Lece ssity to united and prosperous country
when In 1903. and under threats OF impedch-
ment he purchased Louisiana from the great
Napoleon. When Farragut passed the forts
Jackson and ST. Philip and anchored before
New orleans. nineteen years ago to-day, he
was executing the craftsmanship OF Thomas
Jefferson, Whlch had declared That no foreign
government SlOu!d ever share The Mississippi
river with the government OF the nited States;
that It's tosom and lis banks beloL gel TO US,
ard that It's waters should continue forever to
flow 10 the sea unveXed by custom houses and
uL6istUTbed by the keels Of foreign GRATIS. And
iC appears as one OF the compenSationS OF time
and history that the system OF gunboats, SO
much denounced and derided In JeferSoa's adj
mipIstTation, was conspicuous In restoring the
Mississippi TO the protection or The American
flag.
Sut Why dwell In this presence upon the war
for the possession OF the Father OF Waters; why
recount the giorieS and the dangers or the
Forts Of New orleans. and OF VIckablrg, on
this occasion? Why tell OF the dread magnid
ceECe Of Mobile Bay TO these who are listening
10 me now? ] see many here who were IN the
flame and smoke OF those terrific conflicts, and
whose names Will descend to poSterlty With
that OF their great commander. They Saw him
al his best: they saw hin With the light OF
battle in his face; they saw him intrepid In
acton and humane Ia victory; they saw MS scOrn
lor personal danger, and he3rd his orders given
with Co0lne:S and precision when aioft in the
rigging OF his ship, under ire as Strong and a3
accurate as ever assaulted ileef. ] at0 speaking
10 those who were with him from The beginning
20 the end, ffCin January. 1862, 10 4 prli, 1865
curing three years and three months OF con-
tEuOuS Triumph ana honor. You know bis
DEF ds and his fame. His place is fifs- amongst
tie naval heroes OF history. His is no second
name III the ron-can OF the sea kings OF the
world. Nelson died In the arms Of victory, and
was buried amidst the soo5 CT the English
nation N Westminster Abbey, bat there is a
iofueF niche IN the tempe o. tame for the
American Admiral than Tor the British Peer.
TO beat the French az sea was an easier Task
ID rec quarters 81 century ago than 20 rednee
GO iterles and capture ships manned by Am r.
leans and defended oy all the improvements
Of modern warfare: In other countries
FaIragUt would have been decorated
with honoTs and worn the Title OF
Of nee We him The hsnes rank anox Gl
to his profession, and nave decreed him statue
In the capital. There Is a simplicity and
strength III such honors. recalling the days Of
republican Rome, and far beyond the Signif.
caLce OF star or garter or cross OF the legion OF
honor. THIS figure Of bronze, so faithful In
,ikeness, and so familiar In features TO those
the American people. It is also OF American
origin AID workmanship. Who out al
American artist should have modelled the great
American admiral? Nor does Il lessen
TIC kIiAC VI lAio SlCoL UCEiOLoGf -tiOA 10
n member that this statue VII com
L eMCIate for all time 10 come me genius
the cLuIage and the educated skill. OF al Amer
l. an woman, as well as tie manly virtues ana
CT dy iDg fame OF an American hero. Il is cha
,tlsJ ct DpeI salon Of the artist for years OF
a. XiCUS toll 10 witness her work received AMI
cisplayed as WORK Of fidelity 10 art, and gor-
ny tie proud character II Is designe1 90 per-
pttrate. This day viii also bc lntin3Ta3.e In
nertcan history. \ hundred years : z = Da5se.
away since our Independence WIS acQieved.
TIE American navy, in five different wars.
las studded the history OF Iae Telaptit;
with tie mcst brilliant iIIrs.raiions u pa
IrlotisT, genius and valor. IGs OF e :
md 9, aILan have dwar;et the naval VIC
tories C ether nations AMI ages. All 10 ide
hem look tame and commonplace o. c1mp3ri-
son, and yet we are looking now upon the a,st
statue ever erected 10 naval character hy the
government CT the UniCed States, The army IS
iull Of such honors, and it merits all it has re-
ceivtd, out the navy has been un1ustIy pushed
aside. peoples gratitude 10 their national
tenefactoTS IS TO b. found recorded IN bronze
and marble rather than in written BOOKS. Mon
CEents towering 10 the sky from every battle
field OF freedom, statues OF the wise 10 council,
and the brave in action, standing IL all the
cities Of the Union, would be more faithful, ex-
preston OF the popular heart, and 90 more TO
cherish patriotic memories, AMI love OF co1a-
try, than the pens OF the most gifted
historians There IS vast work In this dlrec-
ton, and as the government grows older Il will
go On. Farragut leads the way for the navy.
-
the omnander of the Bon Homme Richard
will soon or late stand ID the capital FOR the
navy OF the revolution: Lawrence, Porter, De-
catur. Perry and others VIII arise IN marble
ard IN brass 10 represent the second war for
American independence, While those Who
Tough ulon the waters Tor the fi3got the
Union twenty years ago Will be embalmed by
the sculptor art for the reverence OF a CRATE
ful posterity. speak not now Of hono?s for
lhe living. Their time wiz come, alas. all too
soon; but 10 the dead alone, whose fame is be-
J ord the reach OF the accidents Of time. is due
~, governments decree Of monumental
honors.
Sn' now soon these as embed THOUSANDS
will disappear from this cOnsecrated spot, and
FaITagut Will be left alone, as he stands re-
yealea By the magic power CT art But DINERS
will come to look upon his commanding pres
cree In the days, and IN the years. and In the
lar distant Ceatur1es OF the future. The Amer.
lean outh will here resort TO behold one whose
6oyhoOd was the bright, heroic dawn or q
life so Useful, and SO inspiring 10 noole
deeds. Old age will pause, and linger mere
In Iapt admiration OF one WHO, with
the weight OF three score years ana
more upon him. crowded the evening
of his lie 60 full OF glory In the defense or his
Partments, and public officials OF every grade
Will visit this spot, as long as American patriot
Ism endur6s, 10 reverence one whose life was
dedicated TO public duty In his childhood, and
who left the world with no bleIn1sh upon any
part OF his lorg career. The soldier and the
sailor will come 20 gaze upon the face Of the
Sravest Of the brave, and TO drink In lessons or
courage and fidelity. for future wars II they
should Unhappily befai US. The American