Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1892-06-08
Admiral Farragut.

- T 7ARRAGUT was a
NJ ~ seaman Of the old
- - time when the navy
=o@ee==@: --=-=ss1-- Qstood apart, with a
ksaa - IsgGNGGssalH jhistory, traditions
isslssssssSsssFsgs and life peculiar to
/l5EE as s3sssz 4sG Sim itself. Once off
sz gu! t.1 ny soundings it owned
- zz-=-- the great world, and
SM yet had a little
NaS<' world Of its own. In
no respect would he have been called
''sea dog" even when the term was
fiatteringly applied. He was the sea
officer and gentleman, well-bred, keen
eyed and gracious, and competent to
take his ship wherever ship could go.
An utter cincerity shone in his life.
it is not an uncommon trait in seafar-
ing men. 1t found expression in fear
lessness of speech, and won that conf
dence on the part of those with whom
he had to do which enabled him tie ex-
cute through them. He had the sacred
hunger for fame, but was not inhu-
enced by political ambition, refusing
without hesitation when he was APP
preached with reference to a candidacy
for the presidency. ''I am to have a
flag in the gulf" he joyously writes to
his wife, ''and the rest depends upon
myself" Outside of the service moth
ing tempted him.
There came to Farragut throughout
his life, as to other men, various griefs
and disappointments, but he bore them
all with fortitude and dignity. At the
outbreak of the war he exclaimed, God
forbid that [ should have to raise my
hand against the South" Southern
by birth and association, he went back
to New Orleans, his boyhood's home,
conquerer indeed, but with none of the
conquerer' pride in his heart; and vet
among many friends and acquaintance
''no man dared to say he was happy to
| see him" Secretary Welles has written
| Of the annoyances which he suffered
during the last eighteen months Of his
life: Changes were made in the SER
vice without his knowledge and against
his Judgment. The office of admiral.
which Congress had created for him in
acknowledgement Of his distinguished
and unequaled services, was, he saw,
destined by favoritism to pass to an
and position as chief of the navy he
was made port admiral, an usher to
wait upon and receive naval officers at
New York, an employment which self
respect and regard for the navy com
PEELED him to decline. Among other
indignities was that of ordering the
uniform and the flag of admiral to be
changed. Farragut would
neither change his coat nor permit the
tawdry substitute for the admiral's
flag to wave over him. On his special
personal application, which he felt
Inundated to make, the secretary OF
the navy permitted him to be spared
these indignities during his lifetime,
but it was with the knowledge that the
| flag which he had earned, the emblem
he had chosen and prescribed as the
symbol Of the highest naval rank, was
to be buried with him"
Sincerely religious in his nature, his
faith was a marked characteristic in
his life. He tells Of himself that, at
the critical moment in the battle OF
Mobile bay, when defeat or victory
hung in the balance, he offered up this
prayer: go God, who created man and
gave him reason, direct us what to do.
Shall [ go on?" And it seemed as if,
in answer, voice commanded him to
''go on.
The people at large saw him only as
the hero dashed to the rigging of the
Hartford, amid tho smoke clouds,
flashing guns and roar of battle. It
was no act of brayado on his part, but
the consciousness that Sc he might