The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-11-13
His Speech On the Occasion Of the
Launching Of the ST. Louis.
CRRISTENED BY MRS. CLEVELAND.
Fully Twenty-Five Thousand People WIZ
ness the Ceremony -" Commerce
the Ijfe-Blood OF a Nation"


Cleveland stood sponsor Tor the Vesssl,
and christened II the st. Louis, after the
metropolis Of MISSOURI
At lZi0 o'clock the special tram haNlhB
the President Mrs. Cleveland, and their
party aboard steamed SLOWLY up 10 the
ship-yard gate Clement A. Griscom'
president OF the International Navigation
Company ana Charles ii. Cramp, presl-
dent of the Cramp Ship-Buiiding Com,
pany. had boarded the presidential special
before il arrived at the yard and thty
were the first to alight. Henry W. Cramp.
secretary Of the company, and NUMBER
Of others were In waiting, and they step
ped forward and raised their hats as Mrs;
Cleveland, followed by Mir. Griscom ana
Mr.. Cramp, stepped from the car. Mrs.
Cleveland followed the President and took
Mr. GriscOms arm and Mr.. Cleveland
walked beside MIR. g. II. Cramp. The
other members Of the Presidential party
speedily alighted from the cars. and for a
few minutes saiutations and introduction5
took place.
FUIiY $4,000 PToP r. PRTsKST.
Mr.. II. W. Cramp presented Mrs. Cleve-
land and the other ladies' OF the party
with bunch of flowers, and then the
party walked into the yard and up the
incline TO the stand. Right under the
keel q small platform had been rallied on,
and in this Mrs. Cleveland. the President,
Mr.. Griscom and Mr. Cramp took their
stand. After the christening party had
entered the yard the gates were thrown
open and the waiting crowd thFo1ged M
| vantage from which to view the launch
and the ends of the piers adjoining the
! place where the steamship stood were
! soon black with people.
| me more fortunate ones, ana these were
mostly WOrkmen of the yard, found a
! good position 10 view the launch from
! the deck Of the unfinished st. Paul, the
| sister ship Of the st. Louis which is on
! the stocks adjoining where the st. Louis
| stood. Fully 5000 people were In the
yard as the moment for the launch ap-
| preached. All the morning. workmen
| were busy about the steamship, prepai-
ing her for her baptsmal dip into her
! native element The national nag noated
from the bow, and a string OF iags OI
| many nations were Strung over the deck
from stem to stern A great han nerlng
came up from beneath the steamship 5
keel. Mr. II. W Cramp was finally no
titled that all was in readiness, and he
handed Mrs. Cleveland the gaily-deco-
rated bottle Of champagne that she was
| to break on the ships bow
AS he handed Mrs. Cleveland the bot
tie, ne advised her as 10 the best way
! in which 20 break It, Mrs. Cleveland
took the bottle, nodded and smiled. IN
reply TO Mr. Cramps advice. and stood
| waiting for the ship to begin TO move.
'rh, sharp kissing sound made by
saw cutting its way through wood. came
clearly above the noise made by the
crowd. Suddenly the big ship began TO
move.
II oHRsTEN THfT. ST. LOUIS"
A cry Of There she goes" went up
from the crowd, followed by cheer that
sWelled into a great volume of sound
as the steam whistles Ia the yard ana
on the flotilla OF waiting steamers IN the
river added their noise to the din.
AS the vessel began to move two MIN
utes past o'clock Mrs. Cleveland swung
| the bottle Of champagne by It's parti-cOl-
Ored ribbons, much as a BOY throws a
stone from a sling and smashed the glass
! against the side. at the same time call
ing out in a clear voice:
Il christen thee, st. Louis.
The movement of the vessel at first
had been almost imperceptlDle, but one
fairly started, the st. Louis swept down
the ways with the irrestible rush ~ an
avalanche. The stern struck the water
cleanly and an instant after tne Nessel
was floating on the surface oI me i1VSI, YER
A hig wave rolled over the ends OF the
wharyes i'm the steamers wake, ana many
of the crowd paid for their sight
of the launch with ducklhS'
Tho 81 Louis sped a quarter or mlle
ont mon the river from the momentum
received on her slide from the STOCKS
and waiting tugs caught her ana hei
anchor was let go. Nhen the suSsts
had nartaken Of the luncheon President
Cramp. of the shipbuilding company, Wh1
saT a. the head Of the table, raped
for order and delivered briei address
Clement A.Griscom, president OF the III
, ternotional Navigation Company, thei
made a few remarks, in which he euIo-
. ssized President Cleveland for his as
distance in creating an American navy.
MR. cLEviLASD's SPEECH.
M. Griscom formally introduced Presi
dent Cleveland, who said; -
- would MT be entirely frank II
, did not acknowledge the extreme per
? | snngl satisfaction Afforded me Dy lH'
: reference Just made 10 the part which itf
TO me, as a nigh duty ana pIlNlese, III w VI
2 great work OF creating an American haNi
I | and at the same time Stimulating A4i0ii
| 80, u -blllldiEg.
) vi cannot. however, keep out Of min'
% the feeling thai the gIathcauon appio
| priately growing out OF this OCCASION y
: | ,tch a. must be shared by every palrlot'
I | AMERICAN and that the important even
e winch has Just now taken place Is OIL suei
e nattonal interest that ii Is nttlngiy VII
a messed by the highest officials OF our Gov
I'VE shall fail to realize the full signiii
i canoe Of what we have seen to-day, ]
u We overlook the fact that the causes o
our Congratulatlon redcE oeSoiiu ~ aSs :,
accomplishment, and are rot limited U
he things already done and within ou
sight While We may well pe prouu De
l. cause we have launched the iaTSest an
most powerful steamship ever bullt IN IN
Western Hemisphere. and with two eN
Il ceptions the largest and most poWefIul
l the world and while We may hnd reaso
! for additional pride in the fact tnat not
i withstanding general economic condition
not ENCOURAGING to such achieNme1ts, I'M
> great vessel has been bull, on America
e Ilons bv American mechanics and o
| American materials, We must not ioISe
. lot our e. catest cause Of CCnSratulauo
= ! Is found in the hope and premise tines
= incidents furnish. OF the revival ana ue
II velcrment of American commerce an
. the renewed appearance OF me AnerlCa
II flag in foreign ports.
5. THa LIFE BLOOD OF NATION.
> Il hoIe / shall not be accused oil man
o mo a suggestion calculated TO mar IN
e gratfIcafion which this occasion inspire
q" II i remind you that the snip We nave yus
lnl-rc ched was built In fullnlment OF conu
tions imposed in consideration Oh u -
relaxation Of our registration laws al
that the constructive plant anu ihacntiasi mn 90
!, ,o nuild this ship on American plan
" hv Smarican mechai les, and of America
y,oterlals originated in the necessity
i buiicing Of an American navy. l.. A.
n ssrhere should be no more delay IN VI "
; ,,.,,,.,, ~ reinstating American commerS
WI MolN ~ o nv the inspiration supplied
: NV, ny ax,ants as we lave this day WI
. nassad hut by such Legislation as WI
2 -, free American mechanical indnstI
: and excite American enterprise. Nor u
/, ,,anrcs Il the life-blood OF nauoht az
: ec,,rfrv that loses or impoverishes
ceo reach and n aintaia a commhndii
,e,n,,ion among the nations OF the eaftl
~ doc not only tells OF our eNistenc
OuI i"ss "a symbol of all that America
, nuu..,,n,ions nu. represent. II Is glorious an
y Iilss,,.,ottc 10 uphold our rag, and 70 10
y pa ~, ~ and defend II but II is also giorio'
iv" an, natv.otic TO carry our rag 10 q
= ~arts OF the world, ana 10 extend lts u
!, snncs and protection TO American me
u lcnSo merican property I'm the ports I
: anu Hnation / am not able to see WI
< sNsnr,cans owning ships navigated