Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-10-04

bearing the fate and the honor OF your
country in your hand, thousands OF
miles from home, with every foreign
port III The world shut to YOU, nothing
between YOU and humiliation but the
thin SheathinE of your ships, your cam
non anu your devoted officers and men,,
you moved upon the eneny's batteries
on sh4re and on sea With unflnching
faitn and nerve, and before the sun
was half way up the heavens had ST.
icnced the guns of the foe, sunk the
hostile ileet, demonstrated the suprem-
acy Of the American sea-power and
transferred to the United States an
empire OF the Islands OF the Pacific.
Later by your display. of large powers
OF edministrati on, by your poise and
prudence, and by your great discretion.
not only in fact, but also In word,
which Is almost more important, you
proved yourself q great representative
citizen of the United States. as we'll as.
now. it's great naval hero.
A STAR ADDED.
The luster OF the American navy was
gloriously bright before. and you have
added to 1t n new luster. Its constal-
iation of stars was glorious before. and
you have added to 1t another star Of the
first magnitude. And Set,- many OF
your grateful countrymen feel that. in
the time to come. it may be your still
gre'ter honor that you struck the first
dow, under the providence of God. in
the Acknowledgement of those beautiful
Islands which make that great en-
pre- of the sea; in relieving them from
the bondage and oppression of centu-
rieS. and i'll putting them on their way,
under the protecting shield of your
country's guidance, to take their place
III the ton, the arts, the liber-
ties, The industries and all good things
OF the most enlightened and happy ma
lions of the world, SO that generations
nence your name shall be to them q
household word. enshrined in their his
| tory and In their hearts. Clouds and
darkness may linger about them now
but the shining outcome is as sure .as
the rising of the sun. Whatever the
passing tribulAtionS 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
or any mere selfish imperial dominion
| of one people over another, but of the
imperial moral and physical growth
and expansion of all the peoples
| Whatever their race or language or
! color, who are under the shelter of
| the broad shield of the Unfed States
| of America.
by authorizing the presentation OF
| this sword to YOU as the mark OF her
| approval your country has recognized,
therefore. not only the great rich fruits
| which, even before returning from your
| victory. you have poured into her lap,
but also her own responsibility to dis
| charge the great trust which is thus
put upon her and fulfill the destiny OF
| her own growth and of the empire that
| is now her charge. 1t Is q new de-
| mand upon all the resources OF her
conscience wisdom and courage. 1t is
work in the speedy and beneficient
| consumma ton of which she Is entitled
to the cordial help. sympathy and up
| lift of all her cttizens-not the faint
hearted doubts and teasing cavils of
any OF them. 1t is 4 work on which
she has entered upon In the early peace
IN these new lands; their stable gov
crnncnt. the establishment in them of
law and order, the security OF life and
property. and the American standards
OF prosperity and home. Let those who
| Tear remember that though her chill
dren, guided by you. took the wings
OF the morning and dwell in the utter
most parts of the sea, even there the
hand or our fathers Odd shall lead
thcm and His right hand shall hold
them. In this work, in view Of the
great part You have taken in the sud-
den development 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 service and listens for
Your counsel in the high hope and pur-
pose that the triumph of her peace
shall be even greater than her triumph
| in war.
MUTUAL PRIDE AND HAPPINESS.
1T 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 L trust will
be yours. of useful service to your coun-
| try il shall remain shcathed in peace,
! rs God grant it may, that fact will
| perhaps be due more than to anything
| else to the thoroughness with which
| Won have .llrnalV done work pnp-
| graduate YOU on your return across
the sea in full health Of mind and body
to receive it here: here In the national
| capital: here on these consccrated
| steps where Lincoln stood: here, stand
1 ing between the statue of the first Pres
| ideut OF the United States and him
who is its living President to-day; here
| in this beautiful city adorned with the
| statues of its statesmen and heroes.
| the number incomplete until your own
| Is added; here. amid this throng of
citizens, who are only n type of the
millions aud millions more who are
| all animated by the same spirit OF af-
| fectionate and grateful welcome
| cannot doubt that it is one of the
| prondest days of your life. and 1 know
that IL is one of the happiest in the
| heart oc each one of your fellow coun-
| trymen, wherever they are. whether on
| the continent or on the far-off islands
| of the sea.
| Now, following the authorization Of
| Congress. I present this sword of honor
| which hold in my hand--my hand!--
| rather let it go to you through the
| hand of one who In his youth also peril
ed his life and fought for his country
| in battle. and who to-day is the COM
mander-!n-chief OF all our armies and
navies, the President OF the United
| Stat