The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-09-02
REAR ADMIRAL MEADE's SLY DIG.
Naval Veterans Applaud Thrust at
President Cleveland.


Naval Veterans Applaud Thrust at
President Cleveland. F
Il would rather be admiral than
president
A shout which fairly lifted the roof
OF the old Bodega on Sixth street
greeted this remark, and it was several
seconds before the applause subsidized.
1t was not that the actual words
spoken meant so much; but it was the
man who uttered them, and the tone
In which he spoke them-bold, fearless,
defiant-that gave them weight.
For the speaker was Rear Admiral
Richard w. Meade, retired. And Rear
Admiral Meade is the man who once
had q little wordy set-to with Grover
| Cleveland
1t Will be remembered that while he
| was an officer of the United States
navy, he took occasion to criticise
president Cleveland's lack of back bone
in dealing with Great Britain, and
suggested that if he were afraid he
| better resign. The president, as COM
mander-in-chief, objected to such crit
icism from an inferior officer, and sug-
gested that Meade should be court
martialed. But the admiral stood
| pat" and politely told the president to
go to. Meade had his resignation in
and insisted that it be acted upon.
And it was.
That the remark quoted was intended as
an aodltlonal thrust at the president no one
could doubt The occasion was the dog
watch" OF the naval veterans at their St.Paul
headquarters.
Capt. Foss. of the st. Paul Naval Veterans
association, called the meeting to order. and
at once introduced Past Rear Admiral
Francis B. Allen, of Hartford, Conn.,, who
presided throughout the evening Admiral
Allen spoke but few words 'aand then pre-
sented one OF the most popular men attend
1 or1lYlf
Admiral Meade's address was singularly
appropriate. He frankly confessed that he
loved the sailor better than the soldier. The
was no hand at politics.
You never heard of a sailor running for
president of the United States" said Admir-
cantly when the admiral added:
1 would rather be rear admiral than
president OF the United States.'
Admiral Meade paid tribute to the sailors
Whatever the naval officers had accomplished
during the war, it was the man behind the
gun who did 1t ALL The sailors never for
conclusion, the speaker said that during the
past three weeks he had travelled from
Germany, distance Of 5000 miles, to sec
tne jolly tars, and that his heart would al
ways be with those who sailed the ocean to
DEFEND the starry flag
Capt c. F. Gooding, of the Illinois Naval
Veterans association, was next introduced.
Capt. Gooding said the veterans were there
as the representatives in the West of branch
of the service which maintained a strict block
ade OF LOCO miles of coast That service they
were proud to have belonged to. Capt Good
ing dwelt upon the Importance of the naval
operations On the rivers during the war, and
described some Of the famous naval victories
that opened the Mississippi river Capt Good
ing paid tribute to the seamen, not only to
those behind the guns, but to the engineers
and hremen who stuck to their dangerous
posts without the inspiration of open action
The navy should be gratefully remembered
by all in St Paul
Speaking of the decorations Capt Good
ing said that the naval veterans had only
one fault to find; that was the absence of the
anchor. the Union Jack and the naval pen
ant Surely the navy deserved more recog-
milton.
Congressman Picker, Of South Dakota fol-
lowed with rafting good speech, in which
he urged the veterans to swear to uphold the
integrity Of the government no matter how 1t
may be attacked. Mr. Picker referred to his
bill for a service pension for soldiers and
sailors and expressed the hope that it would
become law. The government could not be
too quick to recognize the claims of men
who had sustained disabilities in behalf OF
that government.
Capt. Michael Minton, of Kentucky. Com
rade Jones, survivor of the memorable
bombardment of Fort Fisher. and other vet
Grams addressed the meeting, which did not
adjourn until after II o'clock