Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-20

happy to say that the Department spared no pains
and in my dispatch, No. Il, written as early as
January 28th. 1883 expressed myself as follows:
freGuenfl1 ia OF snese vessels
have been confirmed, viz: that whatever de-
gree OF impenetrability they might have, there was
no c1,Iepondng ana,tg OF aggression or de-
This experiment also convinced me of another
impression nrmly held and often expressed, that IN
all such operations, to secure success, troops are
necessary.
These facts, however, seemed not to have changed
with its previous orders and its well-known deter
mlnation to effect the capture OF Charleston, de-
terln1ned to make the experiment. and to risk and
pToDapiy lose whatever OF prestige pertafned to
long and successful professional career in order to
meet the necessities OF war and the wishes OF the
! government"
THE ATTACK ON CHARLESTON
There Is no space here for description OF the
attack OF the fleet Of eight iron-clads Charleston
1t proved to be failure, but his sef-reliant and
courageous Judgment ordered the withdrawal Of
the Meet when the proper moment arrived, in ORDER
verted into disaster" and with the intention to
renew the attack the next day;-but so furious had
been the contest so vigorous and stubborn the
resistance as well as the persistent intrepidty OF
the attack, that upon calling his commanders to
report on the evening after The discov
cred that i've out OF the eight vessels disabled
and that "half an hour more fighting would have
placed them all hors de combat" The Keokuk an
IRON plated vessel sank the next morning from the
INJURIES received Read by the light OF the facts as
, we now know them, it becomes difficult to
measure the value to the cause he was
Admiral Du Point, at this juncture under review.
The scope OF the 'sdsaster" so alluded to. conse-
Saeas upon the eight roncads falling into the
II may De well to consider. The possession OF such
vessels at that time by the enemy, would have put
and the unprotected condition of the sea-board OF
oe EoICnern states (Which unhapp1ly is suffered to
continue) would have made widespread devasta-
LION IN tnat quarter speedily possible. With the
blockade SO broken, the action of foreign govern
mentS In respect to the recognition OF the new
con1ederacy, might have given q turn to events not
peasant LOT contemplation even at this remote date
YET these suggestions may assist In measuring the
responsibility OF the commanding ofncer-the I'M
opinions given to the Navy department. and the
Vaiue or his JudiciOuS conduct In ordering the
attack come to an end just when he did, thereby
preventing "dlSaSter" grave indeed and whose
IaI reaching consequences 1t is difficult for the i'm
agihatlon TO limit There is not, in my opinion,
public virtue more valuable, and unfortunately
more rare, than the deliverance OF judgments in q
period OF adverse popular excitement And yet Just
Inen ndei1ty is most needed and the expression OF
real convictions
ADMIRAL DU POINTS DISPATCHES.
When Admiral DuPont's duty required the de.
livery OF his Judgment, to the practicability OF
capturing Charleston with the new fleet Of iron
ciads, anc without the cooperative movement OF
serohg land force, he gave it sincerely, and pre-
ana those who had entrusted him with the COM
mand- AS read his dispatches the moro / feel
nus nus Iame and memory deserve this public recogni-
tion LOT ne possessed the qualities that save ma
llons-those personal qualities that are indeed the
plvots upon which the great wheels Of human
society securely and smoothly revolve, and which
an political societies need for their safety in the
hlgn places OF public trust Wordsworth expresses
well the thought,
''Say, what is Honor? IT'S the finest sense
VI justice, which the human mind can frame"
And this man had honor-sneered at by the base
and swallow as mere abstraction, but which will
prove Ia Inc great stress and strain OF events the
InooI aDsoute reality. 1t was this that tmpeled
Admiral Dupont to tell unpalatable truths in an
nour OF eAcltemenuwhen great results were pending.
me was ana his great heart was panied,
ana MS nigh and delicate pride wounded by injus-
tlce, ignorance, asperson and the other countless
SilaItS against Which no coat or mail can protect.
put tne was his indicator and the correctness of
MS judgments was soon established. His successor
In command, Rear Admiral Dahlgren, an oficer of
high attainments and courage never attempted a
course VI action different from his predecessor and
In nus published memoir ample material will be
found.ii 1t were needed-wholly to exonerate Ad-
ana the action he pursued The history of the
navy from that day to this attests the truth OF all
ne reported and since he led the feet of iron-clad
monitors to the assault upon the defenses OF
Charleston. no renewal Of the attack was ever Or
been put in service
The proper scope Of an address on such an occa-
sion as thls does not include more detailed bog
rapny OF the officer in whose honor this statue is
erected In saying what have, iU has been my
intention only to describe the man as he lived and
the circumstances which surrounded him. which
Iested ana proved the qualities he possessed, and
which entitled him to be perpetuated in the re-
spectful and afectionate remembrance OF his coun-
s s1 That the generation who knew him may
feel gratled by the just reward his name receives:
tnat the youth who are now upon the threshold OF
HE may find in his character and career an ex-
ample and incentive to pursue with earnest devo-
tion tne path or ruggedsduty, until they gather on
the table lands OF truth the sweet flower OF honor
ana 1he loItler crown Of Divine approval. Our age
nd lit-au IN
country are hlied with ceaseleSs activity in the
creation and acquisition OF material wealth, so
that that. society needs other and counteractlny
lead US to higher and better lives. Encour-
ag s en,. must be given to pursuits that have
De an incentive to our youth
ITO scorn delights and live laborious davsn
and this 1t is public duty to supply. Education
VIII broaden the horizon OF knowledge, ana learn
Ing will increase the intellectual demands: and
ton; and the mind and the soul viii thus rise above
the grossnesS OF material life, and progress
upward as well as onward will mark American
civilization. Public respect and recognition of viz
tue exhibited in the public welfare should be gener-
ously ana gratefully bestowed. Nothing should be
6 omitted that can mould public onion to give
nOnor ana praise TO those who haVe .erved WOrthily
and are entitled to the palm Of public favor
The night before the battle OF Aboukr bay Nelson
said TO his officers, before this time Tomorrow 7
shall have gained
L.
Such were the rewards which his heroic sn,r,t
sought. peerage officers OF the United States are
forbidden to receive, nor have as yet In our new
land venerable repository for the ashes and
memories OF our distinguished dead, but there are
puoc buildings ut TO receive the statues OF those
who have we'll served the Republic in anv calling
and no place so proper as this CITY, the seat and
center or the government OF the United States
The erection OF this statue Is In the line of public
justice and proper recognition or the unselnsh de-
Votion or The Individual for the welfare OF the com.
munity. Approval of this public act OF Justice will
be widespread In this broad land, but no where so
strong as in the state In which the ashes OF her
heroic son are deposited.
The state OF Delaware has given to the Tinted
States Navy men on whose brows the laures of
victory have been Justly placed The victory on
Lake Cnhfnplaln was gained by one of her Sons.
Commodore NcDonough, and in the severest bat.
Ties OF the second war with Great Britain another
OF her sons, Commodore Jacob Jones, stood in the
'front.' rank OF honor From the earliest confedera-
ZION OF The American colonies, Delaware has borne
an honorable and faithful share In the "oOmmon
oe1ense and general welfare" and to-day the
hearts OF her people are led with gratitude In this
recognition by the general government OF one of
life and mourned in death as Rear Admiral Samuel
Francis Du Point
THE STATUE sALuTED.
At the conclusion ofthe grafton rear admirals
salute of ID guns was fred by the light battery and
the exercises were over. The statue has been
described heretofore in The STAR at length.
When it was unveiled and shown to the gaze of
the public this afternoon the effect was highly
satisfactory, and the general comment was one
OF admiration. 1t was designed by Mr. Launt
Thompson. OF Philadelphia and was cast in the
ru Of hn De-, ,orl