Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-04
Mr.. M'ADOO'S ADDRESS
The Assistant Secretary Of the Navy OF
the Naval Militia
Members Complimented for Their De-
vOtiOn to the Service-The Mis-
sion of This Country.

The address delivered by Assistant Secre-
tary McAdoo at the annual meeting of the
Association of the Naval Militia of the Unit
ed States at Baltimore Thursday has at
tracted general attention of persons inter-
ested in the development of the naval re-
serve. In the course of his remarks he
said:
you are today representing nearly four
thousand of the very flower Of the young
men of this country, scattered over thou
sands and thousands of miles. All of these
young men cheerfully give their time and
labor to perfect themselves in the national
defense. In addition, many of them con-
tribute from their means toward building
up the organization. and this in addition
to contributing all the time they can spare
from the labors of earning an honest living
During the drills and outings they cheer
July undergo the most severe physical
labors, accepting voluntarily that which
the regular soldier sailor would do only
under compulsion of orders: undergoing
hards hips and fatgues that only strong
ana healthy young men could endure pro-
ducing work and results which only highly
intelligent men under skilled officers could
show, and everywhere and at all times
animated and inspired by idea-the
country and it's flag, a sublime faith in the
nation, its rights. its dignities and it's flu
ture. The flag of the country, a sacred
emblem representing holy memories and
sacred. America, one country, with the
k1ndliest feelings toward all other peoples
"A shovelful of sand on the Jersey coast
Is something more to be defended than the
Alps the Bay of New York is of more
consequence than the Mediterranean; the
rocks of New England and the sand dunes
Oh florlda OF more concern to US than the
coast OF Europe. And then the fine mill
tary spirit which this organiza ton has
evoked from the raining which makes a
young man a better man and citizen
teaches him discipline and self-restraint
sunordination and patieace and simple
opeoiehce 10 authority, gives him an erect
ana manly carriage eultivates the quail
ties of courage and self-respect imparts to
MN a touch of that fine Swing which be-
longs to citizen of such q country as this
fts him for any supreme crisis in the ma
tlon history, to act a, mans part to do a
soldiers duty. Instead Of being a great
national evil it is great. national blessing
Importance of Military Training.
Il hope the time IS soon coming when
every boy in our public and private schools
Will have military training. 1 hear a COM
plant IN some quarters that our histories
nave too many accounts Of battles. should
distrust- any healthy, well-organized. bost
who wou)d not rather READ an account OF a
battle tfan a mffkst essay OF some long
winded. prrsy egotist exploiting his views
about nothing. The splendid growth of this
desire for military training among the
young mer Of the republic is one of the
healthiest signs Of the times. 1t is lifting
us above the maters lism which threatens
TO enguif the country. 1t is getting out
of the idea that this na ton is simply a
huge boarding house or a caravansary
where ones ambition ia to get three meals
day. grub like mole for so many dol
lars, become agnostic and cynical, stifie all
national feelings sIeer at all national as
pirations. deride all patriotism, jeer at the
! nag and be content to sit like ragged
beggarman IN the doorsteps of other rich
nations and swell our stomachs with the
leavings of other kitchens, and thank God
! tfat We have no pride that prevents us
from receiving occasional kicks and indig-
mites from our lest customers and pa
irons.
This COuntry's Mission.
The young men of America will not
| nave this. They are not hunting for war,
and they would be the first to oppose an
unjust one: but they believe that this coun-
| try has great future and distinct in
dividuali.y, and mission of its own-that
| II has rights to be defended, policies to be
carried out, citizens to be protected, COM
MERGE to be extended. and a destiny to be
fuihiied; and in this great drama they are
| going to play a mans part with sound
| heads warm hearts and good right arms
II any one quarrels with them it will be
| his fault, and If any one insists on quar-
| relins with them it will be the worse for
MIN. Ihey are neither braggarts nor bull
| lies. swashhucklers nor fireaters, and they
| are not afraid of being named at home any
more than they would to be shot at abroad.
See them all over this great country to-
| day. and what grand army they are, or
! ganizing, equippng, drilling, struggling,
| hoping, full of enthusiasm, manly, intelii-
| gent and self-respecting. Thousands of
! them today: millions if you want them to-
morrow Very practical young men they
| are, too, WHO see life full of possibilities,
ana nave no time to waste on mere specu-
latiVe theories. The young men of America
VII! continue to act as well as think, and
with them. by them and through them this
hemisphere, from the Polar sea to the
| Straits of Magellan, is to be and ever will
be dedicated to human liberty"