Los Angeles herald. [volume] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1890-1893, 1891-11-13
THE NERVE OF THE NATION.

naval stations shows that the govern
ment is fully awake to the needs of the
hour. There are no two opinions
amongst the people or between the two
parties on the question of Strengthening
our naval force. The people have always
believed in keeping this branch of the
service ample and at all times available
for strong and swift work. During Mr..
Cleveland's administration the most eff
fcient service was performed in this line
by Secretary of the Navy Whitney, and
his efforts have been followed up by his
successor in very creditable spirit.
Whatever differences in opinion there
may have been at times as to the need
of considerable standing army, as we
have said, there has never been any dis
sent, anywhere in the nation, from the
proposition that we should have good
ships and plenty OF them.
The spirit of our old heroes comes
down to us with peculiar force now, and
their memories are having new interest
and praise. We want no war. and it is
hardly probable we shall have one just
yet: but actual fighting is but
small part of the meaning and service
OF navy. Nocountry in these times can
have the confidence of its own people or
the real respect of the nations OF the
earth if it does not stand ready to pro-
tect its interests at all times, in all the
harbors and waters of the world. The
very traditions OF the navy are the truest
inspirations Of patriotism. No saying
of an American ever took so deep hold
OF the public mind at the time, or has
ever been so often quoted and cheered,
as the toast OF gallant Stephen Decatur
Ia contemporary curiously ascribes the
utterance to Webster) when we were
about to be involved in great conflict:
''Our Country! In her intercourse with
foreign nations may she always be right;
but our country, right or wrong" 1t
was famous company that sat around
the board at the Norfolk banquet where
these bold words were spoken, but the
wild cheers with which they were re-
ceived that night have found complete
echo forever since in the national ex-
preston of loyalty to the flag in connec-
ton with the navy.
There is no such regard for the stars
and stripes anywhere else as on ship
board. To the sailor the flag means
everything, is everything. He sees no
other token of duty or protection, and
he hears and cares to hear about little
else in the matter of determining his
course. He never has doubt or
a thought about anything but the
just and righteous cause which
he is engaged in. OF politics in gem
eral way he cares nothing, and, with
Balzac, he believes that dissension
weakens allquesrions of duty that relate
to the sensibilities. There is some
thing inexpressibly touching in the
devotion of the sailor to his ship and its
flag. Who that has read it can ever for
get the poets pathetic picture OF Old
Ironsides and her tattered ensign, and
recalled how
MANY an eye has danced to see
That banner in the skyl'
1t is good for the American citizen to
turn from the almost constant political
strife that goes on amongst US, with all
the selfshness and lack of real patriot
ism which we are compelled to recog-
nize, to the American navy whose record
= IL u - or,I
which is capable of the most devoted
and unquestioning loyalty and service
in every contingency. Let us be thank
full for this bright and promising sign Of
peoples hope and confidence. The
navy stands for the truest interpreta-
ton and expression of the country's
sense of honor and duty. 1t is the
nerve of the nation.