St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1899-11-04

war were Christians, Foote and Far
ragut. Had the Christian religion been
q cowardly thing they would have had
nothing to do with it. In its faith they
lived and died. In Brooklyn navy yard
Admiral Foote held prayer meetings
and conducted a revival on the receiv-
ing ship North Carolina and on Sab
baths, far out at sea, following the chap
lain with religious exhortaticn. In
early life, aboard the sloop OF war
Natchez, impressed by the words OF
Christian sailor, he gave his spare time
for two weeks to the Bible and at the
end of that declared openly: Hence
forth, under all circumstances. i Will
act for God" His last words while dy-
ing at the Astor house, New York, were:
81 thank God for all His goodness to
me. He has been very good to me-"
When he entered Heaven, he did
not have to run blockade, for it was
amid the cheers of a great welcome.
The other Christian admiral will be hon.
ored on earth until the day when the
fires from above shall lick up the wa
tiers from beneath and there shall be
no more sea.
Oh, while old oceans breast
Bears white sail
And Gods soft stars to rest
Guide through the gale,
Men will Him ne'er forget.
Old heart of oak
Farragut. Farragut-
Thunderbolt strokel
According to his own statement, Far.
ragut was very loose in his morals in
early manhood and practiced all kinds
of sin. One day he was called into the
cabin of his father, who was shipmas-
ter. His father said: David, what are
you going to be, anyhow" He an
swered: II am going to follow tho
sea-" '.Follow the sea-" said his father,
"and be kicked about the world and
die in foreign hospital?" NO." said
David, II am going to command, like
YOU" NO." said the father; "a boy
of your habits will never command any
thing" And his father burst into tears
and lsft the cabin. From that day David
Farrlgut started on a new life.
We hail with thanks the new gem
Grafton of naval heroes, those of the
year 1898. We are too near their mar
velous deeds to fully appreciate them.
A century from now poetry and sculp-
ture and painting and history will do
them better justice than we can do
them now. A defeat at Manila would
have been an infinite disaster. Foreign
nations not over-fond of our Americas
institutions would have joined the
other side, and the war SO many months
past would have been raging still, and
perhaps hundred thousand graves
would have opened to take down our
slain soldiers and sailors. 1t took this
country three years to get over the dis
aster at Bull Run at the opening of the
civil war. How many years it would
have required to recover from defeat
at Manila in the opening of the Span
ish war cannot say. God averted the
calamity by giving triumph to our navy
under Admiral Dewey, whose coming
up through the Narrows of New York
harbor day before yesterday was greet
ed by the nation whose welcoming
cheers will not cease to resound until
tomorrow, and next day in the capital
Of the nation the jeweled sword voted
by congress shall be presented amid
booming cannonade and embannered
hosts.
Especially let the country boys OF
America join in these greetings to the
Seturned heroes of Manila. 1t is their
work. The chief character in all the
scene is the once country lad, George
Dewey. Let the Vermonters come down
and find him older, but the same mod
est, unassuming, almost bashful person
that they went to school with and with
whom they sported on the playground.
The honors of all the world cannot
spoil him. A few weeks ago at ban
quet in England some of the titled
noblemen were affronted because our
American minister plenipotentiary as
sociated the name of Dewey with that
of Lord Nelson. As well might we be
affronted because the name of Nelson
is associated with that of our most re-
nowned admiral. The one man in all
the coming ages will stand as high as
the other. So this day, sympathizing
with all the festivities and celebrations
of the past week and with all the fes-
tiyities and celebrations to come this
week, let us anew thank God and those
heroes of the American navy who have
done such great things for our beloved
land. Come aboard the old ship Zion,
ye sailors and soldiers, whether still in
the active service or honorably dis
charged and at home having resumed
citizenship. And We men of the past.
your last battle on the seas fought. take
from me, in Gods name, salutation and
good cheer. For the few remaining
fights with sin and death and hell make
ready. Strip your vessel for the fray.
Hang the sheet chains over the side.
Send down the topgallant masts- Bar
ricade the wheel. Rig in the flying jib
boom. Steer straight for the shining
shore, and hear the shout of the great
Commander of earth and Heaven a.
He cries from the shrouds: ITO hin:
that overcometh will / give to eat of
the tree of life which is in the midst OF
the paradise Of Coo Hosanna. Ho-
Saunal