The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1898-04-07
AN ELOQUENT RESPONSE.

occasion OF the launching OF the bat
tle>hip Kentucky. the following
eloquent response was made by Gov
Bradley. of the Blue Grass State.
whose daughter christened the vessel:
(WHICH Kentucky? Is it the
Kentucky whose people with one ac-
claim return thanks to the distin-
guished Secretary of the Navy for the
splendid compliment paid them to-
day, and to the builders of the ship
for their kind and generous courtesy
and hospitality?
lis it the Kentucky whose name is
written indelibly upon every chapter
of the Nations history since her ad-
mission into the sisterhoOd of States?
lis it the Kentucky whose brave,
bold pioneers rescued wilderness
from the savage and made it blossom
as the rose?
is it the Kentucky, the eloquence
of whose Clay. Crittendon. Marshall
and Breckenridge shook the halls OF
Congress and stirred the hearts OF the
people on the hustings?
is it the Kentucky of waving blue
grass, of crystal stream. blended
mountain top and sky, of chivalrous
men and beautiful women?
lis it the Kentucky whose gallant
soldiers have ever been found in the
| forefront of battle. whose seamen
have won fame upon the ocean and
| christened heather lands with their
precious blood?
us it the Kentucky whose great
heart beats with sympathy for the
| oppressed of every land, and whose
sons hope and pray for recognition
of the independence of suffering and
| starving Cuba, such as will send a
thrill of Joy to the hearts of the strug-
Cling patriots and shake the palace at
Madrid9
| ..Of this Kentucky can not fitting
" speak in the short time allotted.
But it is the other Kentucky that
calls for speech and poetry and song,
that Kentucky which today gives its
first kiss to the sea.
| ..There is no better ship; there
could be no better name.
.When, fully manned and equipped,
she starts on her mission, we will all
exclaim: God bless Kentucky on
the land, God speed and protect Ken
lucky on the sea-
mo ship has ever been christened
as it has been. Not according to the
custom of pirate Vikings clad with
the skins of wild beasts, but with
sparkling water from the spring which
uuenched the infant thirst of him
who gave freedom to a race and
saved our country from destruction.
.sAnd when the great ship ma estic'
ally moves to the glorious destiny
which is in store for it, it will be sane
titled by the prayers Of more Chris
tian women than all others that have
ever moved on the face of the waters
..Whether under calm and cloudless
skies or struggling with tempest anC
wave, whether it be peace or war
there shall hover over it, not the
spirit of alcohol, which has destroyed
so many lives, desolated so many
homes and caused the shedding of Sc
much blood and so many tears; bu
the spirit of Kentucky's noblest son
the grandest man in all the tide o
time, symbolized by Gods gift t.
man, that which causes the earth tt
yield its fruits and harvests, which
cleanses and purities, which quenche
the thirst of the living and relieve:
the parched lips of the wounded anl
dying.
Purity and patriotism have toda.
been blended in the christening Of thu
ship, which, l predict, will win more
fame, gather more laurels and accom-
plish more good than any that ha
ever swept the seas.
And, in parting with the majestic
vessel, kentuckians with one voice
eXclaim:
I'm spite of rock and tempest roar,
In spite of false lights on the shore,
Sail on, nor fear to breast the sea;
Our hearts, our hopes, are all with thee
, Our hearts, our hopes, our prayers, on
tears,
Our faith triumphant DER our fears.
Are all with thee-are all with thee