The record-union., 1896-09-22
The Presentation Ceremony Simple
But Impressive.
Governor Matthews Presents the
Service, Which is Accepted on the
Part of the Navy Department and
the Captain of the New Warship
by Assistant Secretary McAdoo-
An Address by Ex-President
Harrison.


NEW YORK, Sept. 21.-The battle
ship Indiana was presented to-day with
handsome silver service by the citi-
zens of Indiana, in honor of the crack
fighter of the navy. The ceremony was
simple but impressive. The handsome
silver set was spread out on the quarter
deck aft, and gathered about it was a
distinguished company Of naval and
military men, a number of citizens of
Indiana, and beautiful and we'll -gowned
women. Grouped about on the turrets
and the sides of the ship were the jack
tars in their natty costumes, all making
striking scene.
one of the features of the day was a
speech by ex-President Harrison, who
was numbered among the guests. Near
~ all the official party, including Gov
ernor Matthews Of Indiana, ex-Presi-
dent Harrison and Assistant Secretary
of the Navy McAdoo, boarded the dis
patch-boat Dolphin at West Thirty
fourth street early in the morning and
steamed down the bay. Others pro-
ceeded to the Indiana by way Of the
ferry to TOmpkinsville.
The Dolphin came down to the man
of-War shortly before noon. The ships
had been formed in indented columns,
and as the Dolphin passed through the
flagship New York gave a salute of
seventeen guns, the Dolphin acknowl-
edging it with a response of thirteen
guns. The Dolphin proceeded out, CIV
ms the guests a little excursion out to
sea. She returned shortly after
o'clock, and transferred her guests to
the Indiana.
Meanwhile Admiral Bunce had come
aboard from the flagship, and was re-
ceived by Captain Robley D. Evans OF
the Indiana. The first party to come
aboard from the Dolphin was ex-Presi-
dent Harrison, who was warmly greet
ed by Admiral Bunce. The moment he
stepped on deck the big guns of the
whole fleet, the Raleigh, Massachusetts
Maine. Montgomery, Columbia, New
York and Indiana thundered out TWEEN
ty-one guns, the Indiana's band played
Hail to the Chief" while the jack tars
stood at quarters and saluted.
The guests, some 200 in all, formed
circle around the spot where the silver
service was displayed. The ceremonies
opened with presentation address by
Governor Matthews, who took his posi-
| ton in front of the beautiful silver set
Governor Matthews was followed by
Assistant Secretary McAdoo, who ac-
cepted the service in behalf Of his de-
Iartment and Captain Evans.
Charles r. Williams of Indianapolis
the prime mover in starting the fund for
the service, was the next speaker, and
at the conclusion of his address there
were cries for ex-President Harrison
who responded as follows:
Il am delighted to be here and wit
ness this magnificent spectacle 1 am
| especially delighted because of the fact
that l am sort of grandfather to this
ship, and / confess the fact the more
| willingly because she is so young a
| ship. When | was in a position to have
some influence with the Secretary OF
the Navy told him / wanted the best
ship then building to be named after
Indiana, and 1 guess he followed my
| wishes
| A company Of Indiana people have
| come here to-day, all those who could
get away, but all Indianans are ami
mated by the thought of pride in the
| snip, love for the flag and confidence in
the men the Indiana carries. This is a
magnificent silver present Governor
| Matthews here takes pleasure in the
| white metal while we take pleasure in
the fact that SO much silver will never
get into the mints. He is free silver
| captain Evans, and in all that this
means, is Indiana a free silver State
| we have wrought wonders in the
building of our navy. When 1 was a
Senator / recall with much regret the
partisan jealousy manifested in recon
structing and rebuilding the navy. II
mortified me then, and / rejoice now
| that we have passed that state of af-
fairs, and that Congress does not pause
now TO consider whether we have a
Democratic or Republican Secretary
when asked to build additions to our
navy, for fear of building up the navy
yard for election time. The progress
made in our navy has been amazing
The countries Of Europe had spent mill
ions of dollars upon their navies, while
we 1ell behind for twenty-five years
after our civil war. Now we come in to
reap all the benefits of the blunders and
outlay of those countries. We have
| marched up to them, until now we
stand abreast of the great naval con-
structors of the world Who says we
shall not go beyond them?
| Iii IldS IliOIS SHIPS tHdL
! we have, but she needs every one OF
them to protect her interests. She
must look out for her numerous colonies
and guard her various interests, for
some of the European nations are catch
ing up with her. But we do not need
| such navy. We are commercial
people, and our commerce is extending
our people are scattering all over the
earth. We send missionaries to far off
lands We must take care Of them. We
must have ships to speak of our power
| at home. and If necessary let the COM
manders clear decks to protect our citi-
zens from outrage abroad.
| our foreign policy has not been q
! sentimental one, but our sympathies
have gone out to every one suffering fol
| freedom. We are not nation Of fill
| busters, but our citizens are stretch
ing out. The world is not big enough
for them They have come to a time
like that in which Alexander found the
world was not large enough There is q
hemisphere here in which we have in
terests. We have a watermelon, so to
! 1y md to- -