Evening star., 1900-09-18
Portsmouth, New : Hampshire, 8 Do
mates Plateato Battle Ship.
SPEECHES By EMINENT \ MEN
Secretary Long and Ex-Secretary
Herbert Speaksfor Navy. =
MEMORABLE OCCASION

many months and which includes the pre-
sentation Of commemorative tablets to the
new battle ships Kearsarge and Alabama,
the presence of present and former Secre-
taries OF the Navy, the governor of Alabama
and other distinguished guests, opened with
prospects which were far from pleasant.
After very tempestuous night. during
which 1t rained heavily and a strong north
west gale blew, the sky this morning was
cloudy and dull and rain was falling. At
meeting of the committee having the cele-
bration in charge 1t was decided that the
formal presentation exercises should be
postponed until 3 oclock.
The decorations in the city did not suf-
fer much from the rain and wind, and after
few repairs the buildings and arches
looked beautiful as before. -
John d: Long, Secretary Of the Navy, and
former Secretary Hilary A. Herbert were
the principal speakers.
Secretary Longs Address.
Secretary Long said: deem it an honor
that 1t falls to my lot, in behalf of the
navy Of the United States-navy and United
States were never more glorious than now
to receive from the state of New Hampshire
this Its beautiful and significant gift to the
battle ship kearsarge, named for one of it's
noblest mountains and recalling it's name
but one only of many contributions which
the granite state has made to the Union
and to it's defense and perpetuity. From
her rugged and patriotic soil came the great
defender of the Constitution who pro-
nounced and largely insured the indssolu-
biiity of the Union and it's Identification with
liberty now and forever and wherever it's
flag floats. whether within its original bor-
ders or in its broadening expansion over the
shores and islands of the sea How many
other New Hampshire names of patriot
statesmen spring to the lips. To carry that
flag when that Union was imperied New
Hampshire contributed the best blood of
her sons, inspired by the same patriotism.
Today New Hampshire emphasizes the ce-
menting OF that Union not merely in the
bonds of a national sovereignty enforced by
the strong arm, but in the stronger bonds
or the reunited hearts of all sections. low
ingly incorporated under one flag inspired
by one national loyalty, fellow-citZens of
one republic.
Emblem Speaks for Itself.
Words fail to express the full meaning
of this emblem, which New Hampshire to-
day places on theE Edecki' of the Kearsarge
But 1t speaks for Itself as no human tongue
can speak. 1t breatheS the full, outfiowing
life of our common country and of all that
our country means1justtce,- honor, freedom
education. equal rights, claw, order, home
church, school, public spirit, private virtue.
personal and official integrity, honest and
savings. no high Or low, no rich or poor, no
north or south or east or west but one
common brotherhood under the flag. 1t is
a beautiful designAnorth and south clasp
ing hands under the wings of the American
eagle-handclaSp that nothing can break ]
can suggest but one Improvement in it, not
possible as q matter of art, ut-entirely so
as a matter of fact. ahd that is that in
stead of two Figures there should be but
one. as there is In, fact but one one figure
embodying' in Itself the perfected union of
all sections of tie land. of both north and
south, with their varying characteristics
temperament and tradition but one In the
supreme essence of a common. nationality.
III l may speak, as it has been assigned
me to do. more especially for the noble
ship on which this emblem is to stand, may
L not say that she is worthy of the gift
alike in herself and type Of the navy
OF which she is so magnificent a represen-
tatlve? No better battle ship floats No
better navy, in ship or man, rides the
ocean. Its ships. it's officers and crews are
the pride Of the republic. They have earned
and won its admiration and confidence by
the ultimate test of battles, which they
have made synonymous with victory.
Function in Peace, Teo.
But their function IS not that Of war
alone, glorious as is their record there; but
more Of peace. The very appointments of
the Kearsarge, its massive and multitude
nous engines, it's provision for the COM
forts and needs of daily living. and the re-
production In it's mighty belly of the in
dustries OF whole American community.
are significant of its conformity to the uses
of peaceful people. Its officers are not
despots, but trustees for good order. scien-
lists engaged in making plain the paths of
the sea and opening the channels of COM
merce. and representatives of the national
culture. intelligence and patriotism. It's
men are not slaves, but free men educa ted
in good morals. supplied with good books,
trained In honorable service; citizens carry
ing the honor of the flag In their proud
hands. The navy will have achieved it's
highest distinction not even when 1t has
won its most glorious battle of shot and
esty of it's representation OF the republic,
it shall have insured the maintenance
throughout it's jurisdiction. of law and or
der, and so of peace. May We not then re-
gard this emblem as that of the hand
clasp, not merely Of our own north and
south. but of all the sections of the world,
Of all the sweet sisters of all lands, in one
universal union for the civilization, the
happiness and the freedom of mankind?
Ex-Secretary Herbert's Speech.
Mr.. Herbert said in part: MY fellow
countrymen-How wonderful is the march
of history since $780, Think of it
for moment An effort by eleven states
to form an Independent confederacy: the
bloodiest war that ever shook continent
a ship of the new confederacy, called the
Alabama, destroying millions of United
States commerce, denounced in the heat of
war as a pirate: that commerce destroyer
gCipg down in heroic battle to the bottom
of the sea. off the coast of France, before
the guns OF the brave kearsarge, floating
the old flag, just as the new government
was shortly to go down before the armies
and fleets of the old Union; the sudden
close of the mighty conflict: the sincere
submission of the .vanquished; mutual ad-
miration between the. soldiers who had
fought Zach other that political animosi-
ties. following in the wake of war, could
not extinguish; the process of reconstruc-
ton: the slow cpd painful rehabilitation
OF the late confederate states into the old
Union: the final fraternization first of the
soldiers and sailors and then of the peo-
pies of the two sections; the calling of an
ex-confederate soldier to command the
navy of the restored 'Union; the ordering
by that ex-confederate of the Kearsarge
to the waters of Central America to- main
tain the rights of Awerican merchants;
the melancholy wreck of the old shin on
Ecuador reef: the Congress of the United
States at the suggestion of that ex-con-
federate, authorizing the building and the
raining of this splendid vessel on the.deck
of which we now stand for the old Kear-
sarge; then, while these two ships, the new
kearsarge and the new Alabama were still
on the stocks. another war; this time a for
eign war; the President of the United