The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-02-22
pEsnRUcmoN. or -. / III MAINE.
Synopsis OF a Sermon on the Catas-
Q trophe by DIR. Ray.

Synopsis OF Sermon on the Catas-
. trophe by DR.. Ray.
The text used was Math.. 2&, A, "Be
Ye Also Ready" ETC.
Dr. Ray said: My hearers: The ca
tast:ophc of last wednesday has in 1t
lessons to your nation and to you rs
an individual. Our country must wake
up to the necessity of improving it's
navy. l hope, for the sake Of humanity
and peace. 1t will turn out TINT the
AMMUNITION of the battleshlp was an
u3cident, nlot the touch OF Spanish
hatred. But in either case 1t ought to
make our nation consider the wisdom
OF putting less money in 4 single ship.
rive millions of money and 500 lives
destroyed by single torpedo or the eX-
plosion Of coal bunker or by sponta-
neous combustion is what we should
study TO avoid. We do not need many
great battleships, but we do need many
ironclads, costing, say. 100000, for coast
defense. Some years ago, an empty
coal bunker In the Atlanta exploded
with great violence. In 1885 the United
States man-of-war laying then at Gil
braltar was totally wrecked by the eX-
plosion of her magazine. The British
ship Doterel, lying at anchor in the
Straits Of Magellan, in 1887, was swept
from the face of the seas with almost
all her crew by explosion.
In recent years the Cincinnati has
been obliged 10 flood her magazines
more than once to prevent destruction.
The same Is true of the cruiser Boston.
The destruction of this splendid ship,
whether by accident Of spontaneous
combustion or design, is an object les
son for the nation. 1t teaches us that
we must so improve our navy that such
loss will not destroy the naval ball
70 = ~ 20
need many first-cIass smaller craft for
the defense of our sea coast and for
aggressive warfare which may be forced
upon us In the growth of the nation and
extension of its commerce by the neccs-
sity of q foreign policy. The proposition
to parcel out China and other countries
OF the Orient necessitates the develop
ment of foreign policy. and will ulti-
mate In the construction of the Mica
rauga canal. ! believe there is to be
great activity in the Portsmouth Navy
Yard In the next decade.
l am opposed to war with Spain. or
course, we cannot take all the insults
she offers. but l would deprecate war
with her In many of her ports It IL
thought unwise to set the American flag
on our own vessels BECAUSE of the
hatred of Spanish people to our nation.
Yet 100000 people ought not to be
oiNipuSo 10 uSHi li,UUU,UUU, WnOm we
think 10 be cowardly. We ought to
recognize the beligerancy OF the Cubans
at once, if that will contribute TO break
the inhumanity of Spain; but we don't
want war with Spain If we can help It,
we don't want war anyway. 1t is a dire
necessity We don't want Cuba. We
don't need Cuba. We will have an
elephant on our hands when we under
take to manage Cuba. The Castilan-
her best blood is treache!ous, and there
can be no homogenity with our people.
The grades of society being SO numer-
Gus in Cuba, and the law of caste 20
strong, that there must be constant
conflicts and uphcavals. The octoroons,
the quadroons, the mulattoea, and the
pure negro, many Of whom wear only
Dagging for dress, all enter into the
composition of this mongrel society We
cannot annex, because they would be
only a constant source OF trouble. If
we help them to independence, which
IL the only hopeful solution, this island
may be like the fertile island of Hayti-
IN perpetual state of revoution-and
become unthrifty and vilueless to com
merce. If we have war with Spain. the
independence of Cuba and Porto Rico
is inevitable.
The lesson to our nation In this dread
explosion IL TO make ready along the
lines OF the navy.
Dr.. Ray spoke solemnly to the people
on the uncertainty of life and its brew
ity, and in graphic language pictured
the explosion of the battleship in which
hundreds of sleeping men were
launched into the ocean OF eternity, and
made n strong application to young
men, urging that they so live in purity
or life that whether wake or asleep they
may be ready to die