The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1895-05-23
APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE.
Plan to Procure a Testimonial
for the Battleship Oregon"

j The undersigned, the committee appointed
by the governor of the state, to devise way
and means of presenting to the battleshil
Oregon suitable testimonial as mementt
from our state and people, beg leave to cal
the attention of our patriotic citizens to tn.
fact that the general government of thu
United States has honored our state by Civ
Ing its name TO one of its newest aad best
armored vessels. And as we are the rccipi-
ents of this honor, should, III seme suit
able manner. manifest our appreciation of i
and dem ,nstrate, by our action, our thauk
fulness that i'll navy SD small as our owI
cur state has been selected by the powers
that control to receive so signal and So grea
an honor, that n battleship of the mos
modern design and greatest effectiveness.
that American skill has thus far been abl,
to conceive, and wherein the highest typ.
of American workmanship and scientific
effort eliminates, should bear the name O
the matchless wales and mountains, which
to us, mean Oregon, and that the name SC
dear to us shall be carried by this battleshis
to the far away shores of the stranger, il
all elimes and seas, and become the mailed
patrol of liberty, bearing our flag, that il
may he honored in every land.
1t is a time honored custom that whoever
shall be honored i'll giving his name to yes
sci in the merchant marine, should make some
fitting present to the ship, captain and crew
of the vessel that bears his name, and will
carry it through her every scene Of labor
and success, How much moro, then, should
this custom be complied with, when a state
is honored as our swn has been, in the nam
ing Of this battleship9
The upbuilding of the new navy of the
United States is the Keynote of a higher
power and civilization than we have ever
reached iu the competition of nations. New
ships of design approved by the naval
powers Of the world are being called into
existence, officered and Manned and placed
III commission for the maintenance of Law
| and right, so that policy of peace may lie
maintained with all the world, without en-
tanglements, or loss of national honor; and
| without the thought of conquest or terri
| torial aggrandizement,. demonstrating that a
nation, republic of over 90, 900, 900 Of
human beings, can live and be prosperous,
without infringing the laws of weaker
nation, and by being frm and true to it's con !.
stitutional rights and fundamental doctrines,
EXHIBIT to all mankind that we would be
just we must be strong.
Had the navy of the United States been
in the same efficiency and power as it is
today, the Chill episode would have been
impossible, and were the naval power of our
nation at the standard it should be, and
which it must reach in the near future, the
occupation of an important city of friendly
nation on our own continent would never
have been permitted.
The story of the nations of the earth
reach but one conclusion, no matter hew
good and excellent the laws may be, or
how well they may be administered, if the
power to enfprcs them be lacking. The
laws Of nations niay be equitable, but the
power to enforce them, so far as our own
land is concerned, must lay within our navy,
or the nation must be dishonored It can
not be otherwise.
The recent conflict between China and
Japan is simply the story of a modern navy,
well organized and effectively carrying out
the orders of its government against navy
without proper organization and central
lied power of control. The lesson to our
selves, the citizens OF this United States, is
the necessity for continued watchfulness ON
eur institutions. avisilance as to our growth
and prosperity and efficient organization of
Naval Power, and to adnonish as to build
up ourselves and those who are to follow
after us, in every way possible, with that
patriotism and love of our country that ha.
always been the guiding star OF our people
Therefore, to this end, let every citizen OF
| our state see to it that ths honor bestowed
| upon us as state, by the general govern
nent. shall be returned by presenting to
the officers and crew of the battieship s.Ore.
gon'' suitable memento, fitting memorial,
that wherever the ship shall sail, this memo
rial shall form with her part, token that
the hopes aud faith of our people are ever
with her.
The committee having this matter in
charge estimate the cost of such memorial q,
$lO,000 the same to be raised in tho 80
J counties of the state, by subscription, from
i incorporated cties and towns, from the
various county organizations within the
state, from the school children of every dis
trict and every parish. The lesson O
patriotism could not be better instillsd il
the mind of the child, or citizen, than thai
each and every one within our borders shal
have patriotic, personal and financial inter
est in this ship
$50 stripes might stream, and stars nigh
soar,
The glories of thy chosen name.''
This memorial should be completed ant
ready for presentation about November l5
1895, and it is of Importance that all mayors
of cities and Incorporated tcwns, officers o