The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1894-05-19

such signal proof of ability, sound
judgment and patriotic zeal as to
make all regret the law which termi-
mates such service by the progress of
the calendar His experience in Brazil
is further proof of the Importance Of
having our flag represented In all
parts of the world by men trained in
the only safe school of diplomacy,
which is the school of experience. A
study of international rights and obi
cations, and of the best means of en-
forcing them, is part of the curriculum
of the navy officer, and Admiral Ben
ham has shown the results of this
training in dealing with delicate sit
uation. His Judgment is sound, his
temperament is cool and under no
: circumstances of haste or excitement
does he lose that mastery of his facul-
ties so essential to the proper conduct
of great undertakings
Admiral Benham was lad of Is
when he entered the navy, and he fol-
lowed the old custom of getting his
practical education at sc before enter
ing upon his studies at the Naval
academy. When he entered the
academy in 1853 he had already been
six years in the service as acting mid
shipman, receiving his promotion to
passed midshipman June 10, 1858.
Before our civil war he had seen
service in the Pacific squadron, on the
Coast Survey, on duty in Brazilian
waters, and in the Paraguayan expe-
dition. AS lieutenant of the side
wheel steamer Bienville, Capt Steed-
man, he took part in the capture OF
Port Royal in November, lsol, receiv-
ing his promotion to lieutenant-com-
mander the following July. From
1885 he commanded the gunboat
Penobscot in the West Gulf Blockad-
ing Squadron.
Since the war Admiral Benhem has
been in command of the Susquehanna.
Canonicus, Saugus, Portsmouth and
Richmond, on duty as light house in
spector, and at the Ports
mouth and Mare island navy
yards, concluding with the COM
mand of the South Atlantic sta
ton, where he has won such honor for
the state of New York. He has in the
navy a son, Ensign Henry X. Benham,
who is in the tenth year of his service.
having been appointed naval cadet
in 1854. Admiral Benham is still
vigorous man, physically and men
tally, and, aside from the legislative
decree which terminates his active
career at SO years of age, there is no
reason why he should not continue to
do duty, to his own credit and the
honor of the country.
Francis Munroe Ramsay has now at
tanned the highest rank possible to an
officer of the American navy, has. by
faithful and distinguished service,
established just title to this honor
which comes to him by the slow pro-
cess of longevity promotion. He has
always been what is known in the
service as n duty officer" and during
his connection of nearly forty-four
years with the navy he has been I'M
employed for less period than any
officer of the grade of commodore eX-
cept Joseph S. Skerrett, who follows
next in promotion, and his total serv-
ice on sea and land exceeds that of
any other officer of that grade with
this single exception.
Admiral Ramsay entered the navy as
a midshipman Oct. 5, 1850, and served
during our civil war as lieutenant and
lieutenant commander. He took
conspicuous part in the joint military
and naval operations on the Missis-
sippi and in the siege of Vicksburg,
where, as Gen. Grant tells us in his