The Portland daily press., 1897-08-20

1ne vessels OF our Navy nave Deeu OaAiSu
1.-THE dogs of war )" / am sure they might
more appropriately be termed 1.-THE Watcn
dogs OF peace" for there is a moral, as
we'll as physical force in u feet like tn
North Atlantic Squadron, which makes
most for peace.
10 refer to another branch of our service
our diplomacy; 1 take it that the chief
mission OF American diplomacy is to pro-
tect the rights and advance the interests of
America, and of even the humblest
American citizen in every quarter of the
globe; and at the same time maintain
and strengthen the peace and friendship,
which now happily exist between the
United States and every nation of the
world
American diplomacy has it's strongest
support and ally in our modern American
Navy.
One marked instance of the peaceful
mission On which our warships may be
sent fell under my own observation.
Some seven years ago, standing on
far northern shore in the bright Septem
per twilight, saw slowly, gliding into the
harDor or the capital of the Northland a
grand white man-of-war. Great cannon
frowned from her decks, and from her
flagstaff foated the stars and stripes.
Was her errand peace or war? 1t was
peace. Yes, peace with honor.
Lying in solemn state On GARD, borne
of oyer sst the ocean like king was the body
father OF all the modern navies of the
world, the great Swedish American, John
Ericsson
1t is said that Republics are ungratefu1.
1t is not true. Forgetful they may some-
times be; ungrateful they are not.
= Lovingly as Agrippina bore home to
Rome the ashes of Germanicus. SO tender
y and honorably America bore back to
sweden the earthly remains of John
Ericsson, that the la nd which was his
cradle might also be his grave.
And that grand act of international
courtesy and appreciation, carried out by
the American warship Baltimore"
cemented the century old friendship be-
tween America and Sweden, and bound
two great and kindred nations still more
closely together in the bonds of peace and
good will.
Americans from the Atlantic to the
Pacific are all proud of our new Navy.
We are proud of it's officers and men; and
we are proudest of them as the conserva
tors of the peace and honor of America
among the nations.
Mr.. Thomas's concluding words were
received with long applause.
Judge VIM. L. Putnam, of the Circuit
Court of Appeals, was introduced to re-
spond for the law, and very cordially re-
cived. He said that so far as the judi
ciary were concerned there was no more
pleasant task than the awarding Of prize
money to the navy. daughter and ap-
plause.) But in these days the chief Office
of the Judiciary in this connection was
the getting of m inors out Of the navy by
the writ of habeas corpus. Laughter.)
Mr.. Putnam then went on to describe
humorously the protected condition of the
city now as compared with that during
the Venezuelan difficulty. He spoke of
the army and navy as the strongest
friends and surest supporters to the courts
in time of trouble. (Applause.)
"Our system of government the best
thought of all the ages was the topic
given to Hon. Joseph W. Symonds, who
was received with applause. He spoke of
the present occasion as a golden mile
store in the history of Portland. 1t was
pleasant to greet the Governor of the
state, and the Admiral of the fleet and
his officers. The table was never spread in
a New England municipality without a
place of honor to the officers of the ma
tion. While we glory in the individual
ity of the state we cherish. the imper
ial unity and strength of the nation. We
believed In strength in the state, but we
must be one to help our friends, one to
face our foes.
After speaking of the relations of the
navy, the state and the nation, Judge
Symonds closed with this sentiment:
1.-THE State and the Nation, Maine and
right; a long lingering; late departure;
and pleasant memories" cloud ap-
plause.)