The record-union., 1899-04-14
THE SUPREME MOMENT.
INCIDENT IN THE CAREER OF
ADMIRAL SCHLEY.
How He Renewed His Allegiance
to the Flag of His
Country.

Away back in the year 1859, during
the administration of Mr.. Buchanan,
an Embassy from the Japanese Era-
p1re visited this country to return
visit made by the squadron under CONF
modore M G. Perry a number of years
before.
Their visit of ceremony being at all
end, our Government determined TO
send this Embassy back in natlonai
warship, and as the frigate Niagara
was at that time the largest, as wen
as one of the most formidable war yes
sells afoat, she was selected by the
Navy Department for this mission and
sailed early in July, 1860, for Japan
with the Embassy on board.
1t was the privilege of the writer TO
have served on board the Niagara DUR
ing this cruise, and she left our shores
just after the principal conventions had
nominated their candidates for the
Presidency.
As our way out to the China station
was made mainly under sail, notWltn-
standing the ship had been equipped
with auxiliary machinery OF conSlder-
able power voyages to and from that
distant station, as Well as the trans
mission of mail matter, consumed the
best part of a year going ana coming
Letters were several months old when
they reached us, and our sweethearts
and wives We're fortunate if answers
came back to them in a year. 1t mus
be remembered that there were no sue
cessful submarine cables engirdling the
earth as now, SO that letters and pa
pers were looked for most eagerly in
that far-off land.
~. live 1tx-axv a
or enjoy the advantages and comforts
of constant home association in TINS
blessed land of liberty it is not easy
to comprehend how weary the heart
grows in waiting three long. long years
before returning from what seems to
us almost banishment, honorable, it IS
true, and yet more difficult to under
stand how the affairs of ones patriot
ism are kept burning and how the love
of country and it's flag may live ana
grow in hearts that are obliged by the
circumstances to pass most of their
lives away and outside the dearest as
sociations of education and friendship.
Tt is this exile-thiS having to per-
form the duties that are beyond the
public observation and to some extent
outside the public sympathy, often III
the most pestilential regions OF the
globe. where we stand guard over the
commercial rights of our countrymen,
or on the remote frontiers of clVlllza-
ton. where we stand for the great
power of right and protection to those
dorniciled there-that makes our coun-
try SO grand to us and our respect for
its flag so profound.
The flag, too, has personality to US.
1t presents the majesty of our Govern-
ment of the people and their great pow
er. AS the symbol of freedoms nome
it excites enthusiasm wherever it is
shown abroad, and in the hearts of It's
freemen defenders there is felt love
and admiraties. for what it represents
that is apt 20 b. overlooked by those
who live wherf- these privileges are not
so esteemed a1 by nose of us who, ac-
customed to long service abroad, are
able to compare these advantages with
those of other countries, where much
of our lives have to be passed.
The Niagara reached Japan in the
late fall and proceeded to Yeddo, as
then known, but as Toxic in this day
Our presence was most welcome and
our reception by the Government OF
Japan was just as cordial and just as