Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-01

mayor Utbhu Ulb spNtNhs RiVNN'''Hb WV Wv
loving cup. The mayor said:
THE true dignity OF manhood can never
be oyerestimated in the study of the infu-
ences which build up or preserve a state.
Hero worship, II 1t be merely manifesto
tion of full recognition and appreciation
OF such manhood In the individual leaders
performance Of duty to state, either In war
or peace, is most commendable. 1t holds UP
his high standard to be emulated by the liv-
ing as we'll as the unborn millions to be. To
such a hero death itself bows, for he lives
in memory all the time. In this spirit |
shall not hesitate in this presence TO freely
express Americas estimate of your charac-
ter and achievements. The nation would
gladly have its dominion extended over the
face of the globe in order that admiring mil
lions Of additional fellow citizens might be
here today to pay homage to you and well
come you back.
Your countrymen are interested in ana
know every detail of your life. Your joys
and your sorrows are theirs They have
traced your ancestry and your character and
deeds from the cradle rocked by fond
mother to the Olympit, rocked by the rolling
waves of the mighty deep. They listen with
delight to the story of the fighting Deweys
bravely doing their duty in every war OF
their country for $50 years; of your pointing
out, when mere child, to your father the
pictures in the clouds of ships and battles in
cluding the battle of Lake Erie and the form
Of Perry saving his country's flag from the
disabled ships; of the devotional impress
stamped upon your character by a loving
mother; of your struggle with the school
master, which taught the necessity or
discipline in the affairs of life; of your in
herted love for children and music; of your
later bright and varied boyhood, mingled
with the mischievous but never with the
malicious; of your deferential respect for
those Of your mothers sex; of the romance
OF your courtship and happy marriage; of
your service under Admiral Farragut in the
gulf squadron as the executive officer of the
Mississippi when you plunged into shot and
shell through the armor of the confederate
ram Manassas Of the sturdy and fearless
manner In which you defended your ship
against the guns of Port Hudson and the
quiet and orderly manner in which you
abandoned it when it sank, calling for special
commendation Of your superors in their
port; of the circumstances that between
wars, Farragut for forty eight years and you
Tor thirty seven years, devoted yourselves
to the study Of your professions, and both
at the end Of long peace were found fully
equipped and ready to give their country
splendid service and to raise themselves to
the highest plane Of fame and renown."
Romance of sea warfare.
The romance Of sea warfare has charmed
and enchanted the Imagination Of man as no
other theme has ever done, arousing in him
the sentiment Of patriotism and inspiring the
poet with songs Of his country and it's heroes
This has always been so, whether in the
times when Neptune with trident rode the
| sea in shell-shaped boat drawn by dolphins
or when the vikings rode the North Main,
carrying all before them, or when the sea
kings with the modern navy were stationed
upon the ocean to guard and protect the
equal rights OF civilized governments and
their commerce upon the highway of the sea-
stragglers.
THE world stood enthralled and then
broke out in loud huzzas which can never
be slenced when the electric sparks flashed
out the news over the globe that on the 1st
Of May, 1885, your fleet had destroyed in
Manila bay the Spanish navy, silencing the
forts and taking the Philippine islands, thus
stripping the east of every vestige of Span
ish domination. Spain was that moment
conquered. The Pacific ocean was that in
| stant cleared of hostile forces, leaving to the
remainder of our naval and land forces the
task of sweeping clean the Atlantic ocean
and its islands of the depressed, half fam
ished and scattered bands of Spanish
the coolly-ordered intermission for breakfast
"This all was accomplished in naval
battle of less than seven hours, including
the cooly- ordered intermission for beakfast
Not an American killed, but 200 Spaniards
laid low, 700 wounded, the Spanish navy de-
stroyed and an empire lost to it forever.
History records no achievement of such su-
perb completeness as the battle in Manila
bay.
This demonstration is no mere tribute to
personal friend fellow citizen. 1t Is
single and deserved recognition of the debt
due the public servant who has proved him
self grandly and efficiently faithful to his
country's welfare and honor. You are called
man of destiny. You are-but it is the
destiny of merit and worth-the conscientious
obedience Of duty of one skilled in art and
judgment.
Proud of Its Sailor Men.
"Our republic has no reason to fear COM
parison of its sea fighting with those of other
nations The birth of the republic gave to
1t Paul Jones, the war for the freedom of
ocean highways gave it Perry and the war
for its moral and physical integrity gave it
Farragut. 1t points with pride to any of
this trinity and says to all nations, match
him If you can. The war against Spain,
waged for common humanity's sake in be-
half of its island nelghbors, gave it Dewey,
who can safely be proclaimed chief among
the naval heroes Of the world.
"From your entry to your departure from
Manila bay you were history maker and IL
the old style prevailed Of naming the period
after him who bore the most illustrious
name Of any living man, this would be
known as the Dewey age. Solitary in the
grandeur of your achievements, you are
lifted above all those who have gone before
you.
''To the mayor has been assigned the per-
sonally pleasant duty of presenting to you
in the name Of the City of New York, the
metropolis Of our country, this loving cup, IA
keepsake to remind you from time to time of
its love for you and its special pride in your
deeds of valor which 1t believes will for
ages to come insure full respect of all
nations and people for our starry flag,
whether flung to the breeze over the man
| of-war or over the ship Of commerce"
When the mayor had concluded Admiral
Dewey began to reply by saying:
Dewey ModestIy Replies.
''It would be quite impossible for me- Mr.