Evening journal., 1897-11-24
1T is SAFE ON BOARD
[contInued From FIrst Page.I

lON@~N@--~~>-
purpose of making war. On the con-
trary our business is to make peace for
our country. To give her security at
home and respect abroad. / believe
that the great American people are for
peace. ] believe that they will sacrifice
everything save honor to maintain 1t.
But in the last twenty-five years we
have made such tremendous strides
that to-day America stands in the fore
front of the nations OF the earth, and
standing there certain duties become
ecessary-duties both national and
International, and as such we must full
fill those duties. We cannot eyade them.
To fulfill them it is necessary TO have a
naval power. Arbitration is a very
good thing, but when war comes it is
the boom Of the modern guns that de-
termines the issue. (Applause.)
Now, my good friends, one and all,
It has been said here that the sailor has
no home. That is true. Entering our
country's service in early boyhood,
there to spend our lives soon after
leaving the hearthsUone, we go drifting
by ourselves. We begin to weaken,
then to break the ties binding us to
loved ones at home. AS those ties
break our hearts become changed, and
some times the Thought comes to us in
the language of John Howard Payne
there is no place like home but we
have no home. The heart-strings then
cease craving for home and twine
themselves about our beloved country
as our first our great our only love.
cApplause.)
"Recognizing the position we are
10, L. 1t,I. Isr nd
tackled, or about to be, we of the navy
realize that upon our shoulders musi
fall the brunt of the conflict Every
time there is a strong tension in our I'M
ternatiCnal affairs we feel the weight
of this responsibility. II is a mighty
ingrowing OF the heaft-strings you whc
live on the shore cannot understand
We know best, and we know full vel
that we are not strong enough to-day
IN point OF naval force to save our be
loved land from the tread of the in
vader.
Once upon a time in Syracuse Their,
arose a wise man and he made Z
speech. He said that their city wa.
about to be attacked by the republic o
Athens. Another wise man said: What
Attack us, with all our resources
Where they have one resource, we hav'
thousands. Such talk has been heaIS
OF recent years in the halls of Congress
In less than three months the forces o
Athens were at the gates of Syracuse
and on her knees she was suing 70
peace and but for treachery in her en-
emy's camp complete destruction woul'
have been the result of the naval su
premacy of the Athenians.
"Shall we as a nation be luiled int
false security by a man who tells u
that we are too strong, and our ne
sources too great for anybody to dar
attack us? But rather should not W
be guided by the wise man who hand
ed down the maxim that to be prepare
for war is the most effectual way O
preserving the peace. A warship can
not be builded, or Officers and me
trained in a few months. 1t take
years. We must remember that il
highly important that we recogniz
that we are not strong enough [
hold our own in any attack which ma
come TO us.
There are business men here, and
want TO treat this as a business matte
pure and simple. That the direct rati
OF the navy OF a country is the ratio {
the merchant marine. "A few years ag
we were mistress of the sea. Wher
are we now? Nobody knows. Whe
we look upon our mother cOuI
try we find her the mistres
of the sea, and also holding the fir
place in the merchant marine The
come France, Germany Russia, and eve
little Italy in recent years by the NJ
building of her navy has increased h'
merchant marine. If, then, siIs, "
would be wise; If we be safe at home,
We would assume that supremacy ov,
the sea that we once had, il we are
occupy that position we once held as
naval power among the nations of u
earth, If We would fulfill our duties, ol
fleet should be greatly strengthens
and it should be done quickly. The
is, sirs, much yet to be done by Col
gress, and we look for quick and liber
action that all may be well for our b
lowed land
Nov, in conclusion, may / reque
all here to visit the Wilmington, al
those who may come after you, as yy
will be very welcome, and rest assur,
that in all time, in war and in peas
wherever the ship which bears yO
name shall take us we shall think
your great, noble and generous city
(Applause.)
PRAlSEWORTHY DECORATIONS
Market street was a beautiful sight