The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-26


as tie defending Decatur was welcomed
thirty-five years ago. Colonel Haines then
told of reporter who was always set to work
when the paper wanted q good deal of mat
ter spread upon few facts. In this way, he
said, he was called upon to talk of coast
defenses, for there were few or no facts to
build upon. The slightness of our coast
defenses was wildly set forth. The
speaker dwelt upon the brilliant achieve
ments of the American navy which had de-
Tended our coasts in the past. But the
navy is now inadequate to the growing
country, and we must supplement- the
navy by coast defenses. The government
can well afford to look after its own, and
any investment in coast defenses is good
one. This state on the border
land, the first to be struck by the bolt of
war, is peculiarly interested in coast de-
lenses, and should lend all its influence
toward getting them 1t is simply ques-
ton of standing up and defending ORR
selves. War may be terrible, it may even
be called brutal, but we must defend our
selves liAe men. So we must advocate
first. last and all the time a navy BETTING
our Importance, and the coast defenses
properly to supplement the magnificent
navy we desire.
When the decks had been sufficiently
cleared for action to begin. General Turner
arose and proposed the toast, The Presi-
dent of the United States" Judge j. r.
Lewis responded. He said the president of
the United States was spoken of not as
man but as an officer. We have here his
representatives, the sovereign people, and
also the admiral and officers of the navy. 1t
was matter of history, Judge Lewis said
in referring to the name Charleston, that
no attack had ever been successfully made
upon the Charleston of this country, and
it was safe to say that whoever should fire
upon her would be beaten especially
were she commanded by an admir- al
who would do the work up
brown. Judge Lewis then spose in well
come of the guests, referring to the
part the navy had played
in the very early history of
of Seattle. The president, continued
Judge Lewis. was the head of the greatest
nation on earth, the refuge of the down.
trodden and oppressed of all nations; and
this president was represented not only by
the navy, but by the army as we'll, for a
commander of part of the militia of the
state. Colonel ]. c. Haines. was present.
With an eloquent reference to the dignity
of the Office of president, to the dignity of
the navy. and to the quotation concerning
''men who know their rights, and know
ing, dare maintain Them" Judge Lewis
closed.
The next toast was "Our Guest" to
which General Metcalfe responded. He
said he was unable to express the hearty
welcome of Al, 900 inhabitants of Seattle to
the officers and the crew of
the Charleston. The people here
believe the naval officers of today have the
same fine American spirit and urdaunted
bravery that actuated John Paul Jones.
Oliver Perry Hazard ard Admiral Far
ragut. The string is always on the outside
of Seattle's doors for officers of the Charles
ton, not only for the present, but for all
time. With the best wishes for the ves-
sells success and happy voyage, General
Metcalfe presented the floral emblem, the
Charleston, and said that wherever the
cruiser might go, the flowers would be a
token that the gallant ship was freighted
from stem to stern with the hearts of the
people of Seattle.
1.-The United States Navy" came next,
and Admiral Brown was greeted with ap-
piause as he arose. Only few years ago, he
said, the toast could have had justice done
it in a very few words, for we had little or
no navy. But things are changing; we are
rehabilitating our navy and trying to make
it the equal of any in the world. In the
old days of wooden ships and smooth-bore
| guns, the American naval forces were as
efficient as any. Then Admiral Brown re-
ferred to the brilliant part the navy played
in the late civil war, touching briefly upon
the brilliant victories of the American
searnen. After the war of the rebellion the
navy dwindled to such insignificance that
the men of the navy were Inundated at
having TO serve in worn-out wooden ships
with obsolete guns. But that day is past.
Before long we shall have a navy which,
for its size, will be the equal of any in the
world. 1t took long time to convince the
Lawmakers that we needed navy, and q
modern navy. 1t was not until it was
shown that the demand for good ships was
not partisan. but came from both parties.
that congress began to build up the navy.
Since March, 1856, preparations have been
made for twenty-six vessels of modern type
and four formidable monitors, armed with
the best guns made in the world.
| for in our ordnance yards are guns super
| Tor. caliber for caliber, to any made in Eng
| land or Germany. What the navy has
done in the past will be improved on. if in
the future the seamen are called to defend
the flag. The action of congress has been
| largely due to the influence brought tn
bear upon it by such organi cations as
| the Seattle Chamber of Commerce. The
start on the new navy was due largely to
Secretary Whitney's honecty, ability and
energy. In Secretary Tracy the country
| has an officer whose grasp of duties has
never been surpassed, and who is sure
| to carry on most creditably the work be-
| gun by his predecessor. Admiral Brown
then thanked the Chamber of Commerce
and the citizens of Seattle for their cor
| diality, and accepted in the name of the
Charleston the floral ship which had been
| presented.
When Admiral Brown closed he was
heartily applauded, and three rousing
cheers with tiger were given to the Of
fcers and her crew.
Then Admiral Brown rose again and said
that to those who thought there was going
to be war. he would reveal the fact that
he and his officers had Just received an in
vitation TO be present at Victoria at a re-
ception to Admiral Hotham and his staff
General Turner then read dispatch from
Governor Ferry regretting that he could
not be present; accordingly Judge /. n.
Llchtenberg responded TO The State of
| Washington" He referred TO the fact that
the iron from which the Charleston had
been made came from Washington, and so
it was fitting that she should return from
her trst cruise TO the waters of Puget
10 ~ aolo