The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-03-23
THE CRUISER RALEIGH.
Wilmington Will Insist That it Come t,
that Port.

The Chamber of Commerce at vii.
mington will adopt vigorous methods to
ensure the coming of the cruiser Raleigh
to that port to present TO the city of
Raleigh q cannon, ceremony which II
has been reported may occur at Norfolk.
AT a meeting of the Chamber held yes
terday TUESDAY afternoon, says the
Star, the matter was freely discussed
and a motion adopted providing that Il
committee be appointed to act jointly
with President Chadbourn and with rep
resentatives Of other commercial organi-
cations of the city in bringing to bear
such influences upon the authorities a
Washington as will cause the Raleigh
to be ordered to this port. The CON-
mittee consists Of Mr.. w. III. Sprllnr.
Commander George l.. Morton. Col
Walker TAYLOR and Lieut.. II. Fl. Me-
Ilhenny.
The Washington Post. however in
sists that the cruiser be sent to New
York that the whole of the American
people may have an opportunity ID give
it the ovation its part in the fight at MAJ
4 Mia deserves. The Post yesterday SAYS
editorialy
One of the ships which entered Ma
Mia harbor with Dewey on that immortal
Sunday morning. nearly a year ago. IS
now on its way home to be put Dat Of
commission, docked and repaired. Tie
Raleigh steamed through the Strait; Of
Gibraltar within the past two or three
days, en- route to Norfolk. After long
and arduous service. thousands of miles
from home; after playing a brilliant part
in the most brilliant naval engagement
of modern times. the Raleigh is now ap-
preaching American shores, the first Of
Dewey's ships to come back to us.
1T is not unnatural, under the Cir
cumstances that the American people
should wish to pay the tribute of thelr
admiration to this representative of the
finest fieet-measured by the standard of
achevement-iha ever sailed under orr
flag: and it is perfectly logical that lDe
port of New York should have been So
lected as the scene of the proposed oya-
tion. The metropolis, we understand. is
anxious to improve the opportunity, and,
since all the conditions commend that
point as the most available in every way
it is to he hoped that the Navy Depart
ment viii sanction the arrangement. 1t
will delay the Raleigh only two or three
days at most. and it will give to Il very
great number of our citizens an occasion
of patriotic pride and fervent demonstra.
ton. Indeed, there is even another real
son why a tremendous popular tribute
should be encouraged in this case. fnr
the Raleigh stands for an episode with
out blemish. marred by no mean and
SHAMEFUL bickerings-an episode which
the whole country halls with gratitude
and as to which no two men can dis
agree. Not a word of scandal or acri-
mony has been bred of that glorious
event No questions or controversies
have arisen. Dewey did what he went
to do: never hating on the threshold If
his work: never uttering one cry for
help. and never Withholding from his
coadjutors and subordinates the need
of a generous and chivalric recognition.
We turn to that episode with relief and
with enthusiasm. In the contemplation
of its splendor, we forget the untowarll
and malign chapter of Santiago. and we
recover our belief in American yalor. lie
votion, and generosity.
1--WE unite Our petitions with those of
New York. We ask the Navy Depart
ment to give us an opportunity of har-
monious jubilation.
he Norfolk papers are equally as anN
ious to have the cruiser come there.
1t is but natural that the people of the
city of Raleigh should witness with great
pride and qualification this tremendous
popular tribute to the cruiser named for
this city and representing the finest feet
ahoat.