Evening star., 1897-01-15
The c STITUTION N
Proposition to Move the Old Battle Frigate
to This City.
Mr.. Fitnxerald's Speech In Support OF
the Resolutions offered in
the House.

The House yesterday adopted a resolution
calling upon the Secretary of the Navy for
an estimate of the amount of money that
would be required to move the old battle
frigate Constitution to the navy yard at
Washington. to be used as a naval museum.
In support of the resolution Mr. Fitzgerald
of Massachusetts, made a speech, in the
course of which he said:
I'm connection with the resolution
present petition of the Massachusetts
Historical Society that Congress may take
some action with regard to the preserva-
tion of the frigate Constitution, which now
lies at the Portsmouth navy yard and is in
such a condition as to be in danger Of
sinking at any time.
LAS every member of this House knows,
there Is no vessel in the American navy
that possesses the history and the record
that the Constitution possesses. 1t is my
proud privilege to represent in Congress
the district in which is located the wharf
where this famous old frigate was built
ana launched. In grateful memory of her
untarnished record it has been called Con-
stitution wharf AS boy have the pleas
antest recollections of the happy days
spent at the wharf where the Constitution
was built over century ago, and when
stand here pleading for the preservation of
Old Ironsdes my deepest sympathies are
moved. The achievements of the heroic
sons of Massachusetts with her have pro-
duced within my breast. as they must
within the breast Of every American c:ti-
zen, feelings of the deepest reverence for
the historic ship.
why should it be necessary to call the
attention of the government to its duty
with regard to the preservation of the Con-
Stltution, whose great victory in the naval
engagement with the Guerriere in the dark
days of the war of 1872 brought hope and
encouragement to our people and placed
the United States among the first-class
powers OF the world?
Why this shame of neglect toward an
historic relic that typifies the heroism of
our fathers and is an inspiration to sue
csedings generations?
Nelson's flagship Victory is carefully
perpetuated by Great Britain. and in such
great reverence is she held that English
men respectfully remove their hats when
ever they pass. Who shall say that the
dear old Constitution, with her unbroken
lire of victories unparalleled in the history
of the world, is not worthy Of like respect
from grateful republic?
I'm 1922 when the destruction of the
Constitution was ordered, the stirring lyric
poem of Oliver Wendall Holmes saved her
our country, and L think it proper that
those inspiring words should be recalled at
this time, when, through neglect, like
fate seems to be in store for her:
OLD n,ONSIDES.
Ay, tear her tatterei ensign down!
Long has it waved on high,
And many an eye las danced to
That banner in the sky
Beneath II rung the battle shout,
And hurst the cannon's roar;
The meteor of the ocean air
Shall sweep tie clouds no more.
Her deck, red with heroes blood,
Where knclt the vanquished foe.
When winds were hurryine Ger the food,
Aud waves white below.
No more shall feel the yicior's tread,
Or know the conquered knee;
The harpies OF the shore shall pluck
The eagle of the sea,
Oh, better that her shattered hulk
Should sink beneath the wave;
Her thunders shook the mighty deep,
And there should be her grave.
Nail to the mast her holy flag,
Set every threadbare sail,
And give her TO the god Of storms,
The lightning and the gale.
"Massacl rsetts asks that this grand old
ship be perpetuated, and she relinqushcs
Of the state, near where she was built
and manned, that she may be placed in
Washington, here to serve as a national
monument of the triumpns of the American
seamen during the war of 1872. Such has
ever been the trre cnivalTous spirit of
Massachusetts,.
Through the care and labor of her own
historical society she preserves the revered
relics of the revolutionary times and of
her illustrious sons; and she feels that
she has the right to insist that the ma
tional government shall no longer be un-
mindful of its duty to the flower of the
American navy, the Constitution"