Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-09-11
Commodore Tattnalrs Historic Phrase.

|
Blood is thicker than water" Truly
a historic phrase. but how many real
! ize its significance today. when COL
| umns upon columns are printed about
| the portentous events in progress in
| the far East? How many are aware
that il was uttered at a time crucial
| in the history Of the civilized world
How many know that ii was given
birth ana undying vigor by an Ameri-
can naval officer? Ana how many a-e
acquainted With the flCt that i'll WAS
uttered almost upon the very spot upon
which the drama Of civilization versus
retrogression is unfolding before the
universe, with John BuIi ana Brother
jonathan side by side ana shoulder Ill
shoulder in opposing the Vaccinations
Of Russia, with the intriguing empress
doWager as the shield of the lanl-ray-
enous bear?
Blood is thicker than Mater" With
these words Commodore Josiah TAFT
nall Unfurled the Stars and Stripes on
the River Pgi-Ho on July -, 1854. and
went with his crew of American sea-
men 10 engage in victorious cn-opera-
ton with British gunboats under IRE
from chinese forts BY this deed. I'M
ueItaken III violation Of the laws OF
neutrality. but later upheld by uuani-
nous opinion in the United state S.
Capt. TattnaU gave To the English
speaking races on the face of the globe
an event indelibly written in the pages
Of time. No political opp1rtunisy was
he-simp!y bluff American sailor who
did his duty as he saw ii and left It III
the future to Justify him should justi-
hcation prove necessary.
Blood is thicker than water" vcrn
the epoch-making words Nc Commodore
Tattnall 70 Junior officer in hi
squadron before he Obeyed the exh0rta-
ton -n his oft-quoted maxim. F'or
many hours. standing upon the deck
n the chartered steamer Ioey-Wan-
steamer M courtesy, merely preten-
ti'ua hinese junk-'ommod"re TAFT
ha-l h'd watched the ahuquat'i hut
III l'i 'HoltSS 'IIeCilNe guns Ih lHe
NHlileSo lortS ntich destructive hir
upon lil' hfitiSh EuhboatS. racing ln-
pduehlIy ~ ana IRE "n the deck q tn
loey-N an hot An event farther up PIP
the RIVER Pel-tip missed ms observing
eye. M IehEth ne could stand u no
longer jJleTIAI ms memorable words
rs CAV lhe Sl-hdI I'r ac'Ioh. ana IN"
response was nearly ana Whole souItd-
" me rowing 20 me hagShlp OF the
BRUSH h"uila. the boat IN which ne
was Was struck by "A shell, killing the
coNSWaln ana severely Woundlng Lieu
tenant stephen Decatur Trenchard-
Cndaunted, Commodore Tattnall only
gave tn" signal for more speed. Board
ing the flagship Of the British fleet, he
pressed to the front with his crew and
helped To conquer the Chinese. And
all this off of Fort Taku. practically
thestorm center If the present disturb
anccs in the Oriont-disturhance in
which his words are being given living
exemplitcation.
.Blood il thicker than water" Turn
over Thu nares ,f time ana what 40
MI Americans fnd rs proof2 Hark
back tn thu tr.ubIous times Of little
more tb3n Ava wears apo when baneyo-
Ient Uncle sam took thu oppressed
Cuhans under his nrotectinn strong
ANN Nnrfb1nd Snafn knowing thu
uuirstuoSs If hpr cause ana aware I'll
bar fnn1s- heart wv ber inabi1fty .uc-
cassfuIly tn uDboII tt turned to
rI,uuarrIi.l1 Eurppn for helm III tha
rrotpctinl liz tha richest pap7 rar7lfr-
irr HI bar shattered crown Com,nan
ranor- usuaIIv fYr mare reliable tb9n
oficial continuation wv disclaimers
savs sha r,und y willing audience IN a1I
canitaIs br,t on4 jealousy III WV.
United states vas rampant ana y
concerted movement for intervention.
possibly armed. was ali but completed.
What checked it first. then prevented
iro "Rr3od Is thicker than water"
The unfolding attitude of The court
III ST Janas nrov4i an insuperable Oh
starIa n M success Of SDanish HI
ion. o,.I r-,,ror,..,, i.aIo,1ev "tIand.
M ?, said craat Hritain IN tho clam
orous continent ~ they must febt
let them fight it out with ne inter
ference on your part" on your"
And there was none.