The Republican journal., 1899-08-24
The Texas at Belfast.

ne exaS at Belfast.
The visit of the warship Texas to Bel
fast last week was an event long to be re-
membered. The Texas came earlier and
remained longer than was expected; but
did not come too early or remain too long.
Her departure left void in the harbor,
on shore, and in our hearts, that cannot
well be filled. Belfast surrendered at
discretion to one of the destroyers of
Cervera's fleet, without the discharge of
gun, and laid willing tribute at the feet of
Capt. Sigsbee and his officers. The fact
that Capt. Sigsbee had commanded the
Maine, even to those who did not recall
his noble conduct at the time of her des-
truction in Havana harbor, and in the
trying events which followed, had en-
deared him to our people. The general
sentiment is well illustrated by the follow
ing incident: A woman had gone to North
port hoping for an opportunity to shake
hands with Capt. Sigsbee. She did not
care to 60 on board the Texas; she felt no
interest in any of the festivities. Fortune
favored her, and she returned home hap
Ply.
The weather was simply perfect. Every
day a northwest wind blew, just strong
enough to ripple the surface of the harbor
and temper the heat of the sun. There
was no swell to bother the small boats in
landing passengers alongside the Texas,
and the yachts had leading breeze up
and down the harbor. Many saw a
modern warship for the first time, and
will not soon forget the wonders of her in
ternal construction and of her armament.
To-day everybody in Belfast will throw
up oheir hats for a new navy. We have
che best men in the world to command
and man a navy; and we want to put them
ahoat in the best ships in the world, with
Old Glory at the masthead. This recalls
the fact that the new Maine, to be a
finer ship than the one whose bones lie
in the poisonous mud of Havana harbor,
is now in process of construction. Who
is to be her commander? If there is any
rule OF precedent which bars Capt. Sigs-
bee from this we'll learned honor the Maine
delegation in Congress will best serve
their constituents if they break the pos
sible bonds Of red tape so that the captain
of the old Maine may be the captain of
the new Maine.
The entertainment of our naval visitors
was necessarily informal and on a modest
scale. We have neither the means nor
the facilities for such grand affairs as are
chronicled at New York and Newport
But we gave of the best we had, and
wished it were more. And if our guests
enjoyed their brief sojourn here, they
may rest assured that we enjoyed it in
greater degree.
There was one incident of the visit
which should attract attention. Upon
the same platform at Northport were
Capt. Sigsbee, commander of the Maine
at the time of her destruction, an event
which had more to do than aught else
with bringing on the war with Spain; and
Senator VIM. P. Frye, member of the
Peace Commission, and a true American
in every fibre of his being. In sight of
the hearers of Senator Frye's spirited
and patriotic address lay the noble ship
Texas, not long since the target for Span
ish shot and shell. The place was one
that for half century has been devoted
to religious observauces; the audience
was made up of the best of our people;
and it hardly need be said that the orator
was worthy of his audience and of the oc-
cGsion.