The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-10-04


Manila gave you rank with the most dis
tlnguished naval heroes Of all times. Nor
was your merit most In the brilliant vic
tory which you achieved IN a battle
fought with the utmost eallantry and
skill waged without error and crowned
with overwhelming success. It was still
more in the nerve with which you sailed
from Hong Kong to Manila hsrbor; In
the Hpirit Of your conception Of attack In
your high commanding confIdence as
leader who had weighed every risk and
prepared for every emergency and who
also had that unfaltsring determination
TO win and that utter freedom from the
thought or possibility of swerving from
his purpose, which are tho very assurance
Il victory. No captain ever facet a
mo or .clalistst than when that morning
bearing the fate ana the honor of your
country In your haId, thousands Of nIilss
from home with every foreign port In
the world shut to you, nothing between
you and annihilation, but the thin sheath
ing OF your ships. your cannon and your
devoted officers ane men, you moved upon
the enemy's batteries on shors an d on sea
with unfiinching faith and nerve, and
before the sun was halfway up In the
heavens had silenced the guns Of the fee,
sunk the hostile fleet, demonstrated the
supremacy Of the American sea power
and transferred to the United States an
empire Of the islands Of the Pacific. Lat
er by your. display Of large powers OF ad-
ministratlon by your poise and prudence,
and by Jour great discretion, not only
In act, but also In word which is almost
more important. you proved yourself a
great representative citizen OF the Unit
ed States Ms wen az now its great naval
hero. The lustre of the American navy
was gloriously bright before and you have
added to 1t new lustre. And yet many
of our great country men feel that IN the
time to come 1t DO our still greater hon.
or that you struck the first blow under
the providence Of God In the enrranchise-
ment Of those beautiful islands which
make the great empire OF the sea; In re-
lieving them from the bondage and OPP
preston of centuries and In putting them
on their way, underline protecting shield
Of Jour oountry's guidance to take their
place in the civilization, the srts. the
industries, the liberties ard all the good
~ nations Of the world, SC. that genera
tions hence your name shall be alhouse-
hold word, enshrined in their history and
in their hearts. Clouds and darkness may
linger about them now but the shining
outcome is as sure tas.the rising OF the
sun. Whatever the passing tribnlationa
and difficulties Of the present moment
they Will In due time soon and surely,
give way to the dawn of a glorious new
day--a day not Of any mere selfish imperi-
al dominion of one people over another.
but of the imperial, moral and physical
growth and expansion OF all the peoples,
whatever their racs or language or color,
who have come under the shelter of the
broad shield of the United States of Anne
RIGA.
"By authorizing the presentation of
this sword TO you as the mark Of Its APP
proval,youf country has rstognizsd there
fore not only the great, rich fru :,
which, even before returning from your
victory, you have poured into her lap,
but also her own responsibility to di
charge the great trust which Is thus
put upon her and fulfil the destiny CT
her own growth and OF the empire that is
now her charge. 1t is new demand uC-
on all the resources Of her conscience. wis
dom and courage. Ii is O work In the
speedy aud beneiicient contamination Of
which she IS entitled to cordial help,
sympathy and uplifting Of all her 9th
zens, not the faint-hearted doubts and
teasing oAvils of any of them. 1t Ia
work on which she has entered In the in.
terest of early peace In these new lands.
their stable government, the establish
ment in them OF law and order, the seoul
rity of life and property and the Ameri-
can standards Of prosperity and home.
Let those who fear remember that though
her children, guided by you took the
wings of the morning and dwelt in the
uttermost parts of the sea. even there the
hand of our fathers God shall lead them
and His right hand shall hold them. In
this work. In view Of the great part you
1aNC tHhcA AZ viz SaN9SA hoNCtOPACat
OF her sovereignty. your full knowledge
Of the situation and the just hold you
have on the hearts OF all her people, she
looks for your continued servios and lis
tens for your counsel in the high hope and
purpose that the triumph of her peace
shall be even greater than her triumph
In war.
sit Is my good fortune under the
terms Of the enactment of Congress to
have the honor of presenting to you this
beautiful sword. II during the many
coming years, which trust will be yours.
of useful service to your country. 1t shall
remain sheathed In peace, as God grant
1t may, that fact win perhaps be due
more than TO anything else the thorough
ness with which you have already done
Its work.
"I congratulate you on your return
sl