Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1896-02-29
THE NAVAL ACADEMY,
CAPT. JOHN MULLAN, U. 5. A.
Addresses an Open Letter to Members
of the General Assembly Some
Reasons Why the Naval Acad-
emy Should Remain at
Annapolis.

tired, of Washington, d. c., an old resi-
dent of Annapolis, has addressed the fol-
lowing letter to the members of the GeL-
eral Assembly, on an attempt made by
Representative Barrett, OF Massaehu-
sets, to remove the Naval Academy
from Annapolis:
DEAR SIR Numerous citizens, re
siding in or having varied interests con-
nected with the State of Maryland. but
doing business III the City of Washing
ton have read with great concern the
resolution recently introduced in Con-
gress ''to investigate and determine up
on suitable location for the L. ). Ma
val Academy This resolution, when
properly construed, means but one thing,
To Wit: IAN attempt To remove the L.
5. Naval Academy from Annapolis. "
The present location of the National
Naval Academy was fully determined
upon and finally selected in lS45, but
only after much Investigation and ma
ture deliberation. Chesapeake Bay, the
magnificent Inland Sea of the South,
the commOdious harbor of Annapolis,
free from ice in winter, easy of access
from all parts of the world; its equable
and genial climate, all conspired in the
opinion of those authorized to then de-
eide, to render Annapolis, not only a
suitable location for said Academy, but
one surpassed by none, scarcely
equalled by any along our Atlantic Sea-
board.
The experience of the naval authori-
ties of the United States for the half
century last past has confirmed the wis
dom of this selection, during which time
every officer of The line now III the Amer
lean navy, not appointed from civil life,
has been educated within its classic halls,
around which cluster associations which
no ruthless hand should be permitted to
destroy. On the banks Of the Severn,
the historic shores of whose majestic wa
ters bound and fix the limits OF Its aca-
demic grounds, the heroic naval dead,
inspiring all its alumni To the deeds of
valor, i'll defense of National life and OF
National loyalty
What West Point for a century has
been and now is to the army, Annapolis,
for half a century, has been and is now
to the navy. Just one hundred years
ago, in 1896, General Washington, in his
last annual message, presented to Con-
gress the subject of the selection of a
permanent site suitable for a National
Military Academy, and the wisdom III
selecting its present site no one now dis
putes, aud New York, the Empire State
of the North, would never willingly con-
sent TO have this Military Child OF the
Revolution removed from that State,
but OH the contrary, would cheerfully
donate generous sums OF money, ii ne
cessary, to retain IL on the banks OF the
Hudson, where it was located IN 1902.
So. too, with our National Naval Acad-
emy, the State of Maryland, the Empire
State of the South, owes it to herself; to
all her people; to her generations yet TO
come; TO the lamented Bancroft, - It's
founder: to all officers of the line, now
in the American navy, its distinguished
graduates, who sail the seas and navigate
and fight our ships of war, to see 10 It,.
that our National Naval Academy shall
not be removed from, but be retained
aud permanently anchored at the place
where it was wisely located over a hall
century ago.
''The Gods help those who help them
selves. - and while / know the full dele
CATION in Congress from Maryland, III
both Senate and House, will resist all
attempts to secure the removal of said
academy from Annapolis, yet all the
same | reflect the views and express the
wishes of numerous persons now IN the
| City of Washington, having interests III
| the State of Maryland, in urging upon
YOUR present Legislative Assembly to
| also duly and seriously consider this mat
| ter. and to leave no proper Act untakel
| TO secure the permanent retention OF
said academy At its present location.
If It be true, as charged, that some Of
the surroundings of, or approaches T.
/ the United States Naval Academy with
| lu the city limits of Annapolis, are not
in fact such as they should be, then IL
| that event, let Maryland's Legislature
now i'll session, having clearly ascertain
ed and fully determined that fact fol
themselves, apply the remedy such a
/ the wisdom of Its members may best de
termine 10 be appropriate.
Wherefore, in addition to any othel
action which your Legislative Assembl!
may duly take at its present session, il
these premises, with very great respect
Isuggest that before its sine die adjourn
ment it may create permanent Com
/ mission, to be composed of the GoYerncl
/ and highest officers of the State, wht
| shall serve ex-officio, without addltiona
salary or compensation, to be duly vest
ed with authority and power to take al
steps in anyWise properly relating to th'
| United States Naval Academy in am
and all matters which from time to tim'
may arise, and particularly such step
AS shall, in their opinion, prevent an!
charge of the past, if valid, from eve
being repeated in the future, as reason
to Justify the removal of said academy
from the present Capital of Maryland
such Commission to report thereon Il
the General Assembly of Maryland al
its every regular session, and thereby
'sout of this nettle, danger, we plucl
this flower, safety"