The herald., 1897-10-22
A FRIGATE'S
BIRTHDAY
Celebrated With Pomp and
Ceremony
OLD IRoNsIDEs' CENTENNIAL
OLD IRoNsIDEs' CENTENNIAL
REvIvES MEMORIES OF STOUT
SEA FIGHTERS
A Boston Demonstration in Honor Of
the Launching Of the American
Warship Constitution
Associated Press Special wire.


BOSTON, Oct. 21.-Untoward weather
conditions interfered with the out-of-
door exercises today, marking the ceu-
tennial of the launching Of the United
States frigate Constitution. Rain fell
throughout the forenoon, giving be-
draggled appearance to the decorations
in honor OF the occasion. Long before
the hour assigned for the exercises to
begir, the historic Old South church was
filed to it's utmost capacity.
Governor Wolcott acted as presiddng
officer and delivered the opening adj
dress, referring in eulogistic terms to
the vessel in honor of which the amir
versary was held ard the patriotism
which marked her history.
Governor Wolcott introduced Theo-
dore Roosevelt assistant secretary Of
the navy, who spoke in part as follows:
1.-The moment of the Constitutions
launching was the beginning of our
navy, as we know it today. 1t was f1f-
teen years after the launching Of the
Constitution and her sister ships before
the proud flag which menaced was
humbled and during that fifteen years
there were many people who objected
to the maintaining Of navy.
1T was because we had the Constitu-
tion. and her sister ships that we came
out of the war with credit, and it is due
to a policy contrary to that which
prompted the introduction of such ves-
sells that in recent years brought us to
danger Of the gravest national dis
honor"
| At this poir.t Major William H. ar
land Of Boston, who was a powfs hoy
on board the Constitution in hsf famous
battle with the Guerriere. was presented
to the audience and Cover ior Wolcott
himself led in three cheers for the vet
eran.
Mayor Quincy of Boston then deliv-
cred a short address. Prof. ]. w.
| Churchill of Andover read oliver Wen
| dell Holmes poem, "Old Ironsides.'
Then Major Garland addressed the au-
dience briefly. The historic address Of
the day was then delivered by Senator
Henry Cabot Lodge.
Senator Lodge, after dwelling at some
length on the history and victories Of the
glorious old ship, spoke particularly Of
the way in which our small but well
eQulppeO navy VI tHdl ody IAlOiS l4dlA c
trieved on the water the reverses which
a tardy administration and halting for
eign policy had invited on land. He
said:
England and Europe received valua-
BILE Instructions from the war of which
this battered old ship is the sign and
symbol, but we Americans were taught
great deal more. We learned that
weak defenseleSsness means war and
strong armies and readiness meant
peace honor and quiet 1t is we'll to
note that the lesson of wise preparation
taught by the war of 1912, and always
worth remembering, is even more impor-
tant now than then, for today wars are
fought in a few months, while it takes
years to build modern ships and cast
rified guns Weakness and defenseless-
ness mean war. Readiness, preparation
and courage mean honor and peace.
Where we We're unprepared in 1912 we
suffered; where we were prepared we
prospered and vindicated our national
existence"
In the naval parade marines and sail
ors from the vessels from the North At
lantic squadron in port, comprising the
Massachusetts, New York. Texas, In
diana and Brooklyn, were in line, accom-
panied by the Massachusetts, naval vet
erans, Kearsarge Naval Veterans asso-
citation and the survivors of the Eighth
Massachusetts volunteers.