The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-05-09
TUE sEu1.WEEKl5 MESSEN6ER: UEsDAY. Ma 8, 1879.

gen,ation to Captain Coghlan for the
cruiser and in doing so. spoke as foi-
lows:
Captain Coghlan and officers OF the
United States cruiser Raleigh, II De
half of this assembled company ana
especially 81 our generous hostess anu
these other fair ladies. 10 whose nos
pitable and patriotic prOmptings We are
Indebted for this opportunity OF meet
ing you, 1 bid you welcome 70 0hs
waters Of the Cape Fear region 81
North Carolina
"This visit OF your renowned ship We
will now ado to the memoir OF the
many notable and inspiring veins
which have happened on their shoEes'
Here first was made open and arm
ed resistance to royal oppression III Ine
cause of American independence. Dc
meath the waters OF this haTpoE "IeeP
ism depradators, who, just 100 years
400 -roiIld nave made our Anglo-Saxon
forefathers pay them tribute; ana no"
We welcome home this proud snip ana
gallant crew but yesterday, We may
saw. in the forefront or tndl coHllct
which has wrested from SPAN the last
remnants OF the most magnificent anu
the worst governed cOlOnlal empire the
world has ever seen.
cry gratifying - -
DINA. that the ship named IN n OF
cur capital city, after that great sailor,
soldier. scholar and statesman. wal
fer Raleigh. should ave done its part
so well under your able we
thank YOU. one and all, captain, Off
GERS. men and boys, and welcome you
to our hearts and nome.
When the news OF the victory IN
Manila bay on the 1st Of May, fe9S,
was flashed around the world, the an
swering shouts OF freemen everywhere
proclaimed that the shackles had fall
en- from the stands of the seas where,
henceforth, individual liberty was to
succeed a~ntiquated tyranny.
Say and think as differently as We
may Of so-called imperialism and ex-
pansion policies, there is out one opin-
ion as to the conduct Of that noble ad-
miral and his brave fleet on that mo-
! mentOus day.
Sailing boldly into a magnihciently
protected harbor. which he had every
right 10 believe a brave and alert ad-
versary had made we'll nigh impregna-
bic. he crushed his enemy, and Won
from fortune the fame that only comes
to those h dare to do.
All honor to the name Of Dewey
gallant gentleman, able captain,
dauntless statesman. He opened n
closed most glOriously this latest drama
in the worlds great contest for free
dom.
''And you, the first returned of his
companions to your native shores, can
imagine, from the welcome that has
been accorded you, what a grateful
people will do when he returns, and
we'll believe that
When Dewey comes sailing across
the bar
The guns will loudly peal.
He began the war, he ended the war,
And he never missed a meal.
Most appropriate was it that in that
epoch making battle the name of Raj
eigh should have been so cOnspicu-
Ously displayed; he who, more than 800
years ago, began to war upon that
Spanish cruelty, bigotry n oppression
which has now, by men Of his own
race, been brought so near its end in
these last days of the nineteenth CEN
fury.
His infamous execution, prompted,
doubtless, by the hatred of the Span
ish king, seems now fully avenged, n
proud should you be that, under your
guidance, his patronymic should have
been the only one of all the long line
of Spain's hereditary foes to faunt it's
memories in the eyes of the last de-
leIlu6IS VI liz oll(C 1Ol lIIlooOlO sea
W
The nemesis of history has been vim
Dictated by your prowess. 1t was, in
truth, a brilliant deed. No fact nor fic-
ton chronicles one more satlsfylngly
successful, and we may we'll believe
that such spirits as Raleigh, Hawkins,
Drake and Amyas Leigh would, nave
( glorified in the opportunity to share
your hOnOrS.
But to US of North Carolina the
part borne by you ship appeals with
special force. The name Of Raleigh is
linked Will our history. He, first of
| all the followers of those who sent
prows westward in search Of that land
from which you AVE just returned,
sent out his colonies to our shores, and
! opened the way for the liberty and civ
ilizationswe enjoy here today.
Our state has fittingly commemor-
ated his name; the country, in this lat
ter day, has given it to your keeping,
and We may we'll believe our naval he
roes will never let its lustre fade.
In recognition Of our services, Cap
tain, and in c~ommemoration of this
visit of your ship to our waters, at the
suggestion Of Mrs. James Sprunt, some
| of III friends, and mostly of thai sex
ever quickest to reward valor, desire
to present the cruiser Raleigh with this
| testimonial bearing the inscription:
Presented by a Few Friends in Will
mington, North Carolina,
To the United States Cruiser Raleigh.
To Commemorate her arrival in
Cape Fear Waters
With the trophy from Manila,
May, 1899.
I Into your custody, gentlemen, I give
II. Add it to the equipment of your