Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-03-16
GOVERNOR" LONG.
Now Secretary of the Navy-Favors
Peace but Prepared for War.

Peace but Prepared for War.
Since the close of the rebellion the
member OF the Presidents cabinet known
as the secretary of the navy has never
been a conspicuous, though always an
important figure. But recent events in
connection with the situation in Cuba
have brought into the public gaze not
only the office, but also the distinguished
man who occupies it-John d. Long, OF
Massac husetts.
Maine born-and therefore well born
he early in life gave signs of future great
ness. He taught school, studied law,
went into politics in Massachusetts. In
the state legislature he quickly became
speaker. He was elected ieutenant-gov-
ernor, then governor, and was twice re-
elected. A few years later his constitu
ents sent him to Congress. President
Mckinley made him secretary OF the
navy.
From the beginning OF his career until
to-day he has never sought office; the
office has always sought him.
There is no more safe, careful, prudent
man connected with our government"
says a writer in the Baltimore Herald,
ethan John ID. Long. He is a repu blican
in politics, but patriot in sentiment.
All his life he has been promoter OF
peace, a counselor against hastness, a
defender OF whatsoever is right and Just,
but absolutely intlexible in the mante-
nance of justice.
You might imagine that the present
strain incidental to the loss OF the
Maine and the incidental stress OF pub
lie opinion, would have tendency to
rattle man occupying the position of
secretary OF the navy. 1t might rattle
some men, but it will never rattle John
d. Long.
amid all this uproar and excitement,
when hot headed people are striving to
find some sort OF excuse to lay the respon-
-ihility for the wreeking of the vessel
upon secret enemies; when everybody Is
perpiexed and unable to understand why
it should happen that one OF our vessels
OF WAT is blown up Immediately follow
ing he retirement OF Minister de Lone;
when the feverish incinations OF bellig-
erent citizens are having their influence.
and people are becoming unreasonable
and prone to criticise our officials for not
doing this or that or something else, Mr..
Long is rs calm and unmoved as IL noth-
ing had happened, and is pursuing his in
vestigations according to the strict Gus
tom prevailing IN the naval service,
through and by which the blame for tie
loss of the Maine viii be laid just
" here it belongs.
The American people can rest perfectly
secure in the conviction that no influence
can he brought to bear upon JOhu -.
Long which can, for an instant, sWerve
him from his duty to the American peo-
pie II the Maine WIS lost through an
accident within herself, that Will he the
report that the navy department viii
issue. II 1t was the fault o. any body tie
VIII be punished. It ii WIS due to outside
treachery the people VIII I've truly and
plainly told 30.
- have known John ID, Tong ever since
| was boy. He Is the soul of honor;
one OF those men who are SO brave they
dare face tue truth, dare speak, dare
live IN it. knew him when he Was an
obscure young man studying law. He
was upright, fearless, guided by princi-
pie, ambitious, but not iuordiuately so.
He sspired To shine In politics, but the
man dot sn't live who ever had the te-
merity to ask John ID. Long his price.
"ln personal appearance Secretary Long
i short, chunky and rotund. In frame
he resem tiles t he peculiar idea OF Napoleon
more than President Mckinley does /
Ii head i, pheuomenally large, his face T
bread. fun, Pheasant of expression, and /
lie hrs a wonderfully agreeable, per-ua
S}Ne, -Smpat hetlc voice. His manner Is +
hat OF man entirely master of himself /
and no matter how ilIustrious the com
pany or how dlstinguished tn. surround !
ing-. Mr.. Long invariably holds up his (
end and impresses every one with unaf
fected greatness.
"lhls Is time trying TO mans char (
acter. But it wont try Secretary Longs. (
He Is just as much in the dark to the +
cause of the disaster to the Maine as (
any one, and has jumped at no conclu-
sons. He believes neither one theory nor
the other. He waits. There Is proper
methodlcal manner whereby to arrive at +
the origin OF the dreadful calamity, and +
that manner Secretary Long j. pursuing.
not because he is Secretary Long alto
gether, but because that is John D.
Longs way OF doing everything.
at is extremely fortunate That such a
man is at the head of The navy depart
ment. Anybody can be secretary hen
all is quiet, and everything is plain and
easy sailing; but 1t takes tried, trust
worthy aud responsible mind to exercise
without excitement, the official functions
certain to lead to the unknown, and
which may lead to the unexpected
"ln this trying hour the people will
have a chance to judge and learn hat
manner of man Is al the head of that
branch of our service upon which great
reliance would have to he placed in any
critical time, aud it Will be found that
John ID. Long will measure up to all that
is expected and required OF him. and will
have n headful of brains and heartful of
nerve TO spare, for he is one of the safest
statesmen the administrative branch of
our government contains"
HoW'- This?