The Washington times., 1901-12-29

| cheers for the Commonwealth of Mis-
| souri,, for the President. for the army
and navy, also for the sponsor, and the
| gallant ship. The responses made the
echoes ring across the bay.
Tonsts nt the Banquet.
At the banquet at the Hotel Chamber
lin President Orcutt, of the shipbuildng
company, presided. and more than 1000
persons partook of the feast in honor of
the battleship. The following toasts were
responded to at the banquet at the
Cham6erlln: The President" Secretary
Hitchcock: Missouri" Senator Cockrell; ;
Virginia" Governor Tyler; The Navy"
Secretary Long; The Sponsor" Lieuten-
ant Governor Lee. Of Missouri: 1903" c.
Il Spencer. of ST. Louis; Events Of the
Day. Col. ]. /. Martin.
Mr.. Longs Address.
In the course of his remarks Secretary
Long said:
Il have been interested in the circular
siEned bv many eminent citizens. my le-
losed friend. f. L. Hale, at the head. in
which they regret TIE estimate of S1J0, ,OG0.
o0O for the increase OF the navy
The size Of the navy. if there is TO be
navy at ALL is question like The tariff--of
adjustment rather than If principle
Nor is it true. as suggested in the cir
cular. that a great navy necessarily in
flames the fighting spirit and leads TO
war. If my recollection serves me right.
while Great Britain has mad troubles in
Egypt and Africa and elsewhere. she has
had no conflict on sea for many years.
and yet1her navy has been twice as large
as that Of any Power. The recent in
crease in our navy did not induce the war
with Spain. which. as things we're. seems
TO have been inevitable.
Might Have Prevented War.
"On the other hand IL is more than
likely that If in the beginning of 1898 we
had even as large navy as we have
now. certainly as large one as now
proposed. there would have been no war
with Spain, and that country would have
come to terms. as she was very near
coming, without battle. At that time,
however. II was the general Impression
among foreign Powers, and probably in
Spain. that her navy would blow us out
of the water.
our commerce has greatly increased in
volume and area. and our American marine
is likely TO follow suit. II there is 10 be
navy at all 1t should be commensurate
mards. We are TIE richest nation Of the
world. with larger income than any other
Good Business Sense.
IF. then. the size OF our navy should
correspond to our national and lnterna-
tionai size. and If VIC have the cash on
hand. it would seem the simplest good
business sense. the simplest good business
care OF our own interests, to increase the
r-'v' and whether this shall cost $50 00O.-
COO. or S75.000,e goo, or sl00 coo. 600. It is not
-. ..>ldNaEance TO cut our garment ac-
cordnE to our cloth, especially as last year
t"cre as no appropriation for such an in
crease"
The other Speeches
Secretary Hitchcock expressed the re-
grcts Of the President at being. unable to
attend. but gave assurances that his heart
rent forth with the battleship into what !
ever port she may carry the American |
Hag
Senator Coclrell's remarks we're in |
he- vein. and a recital OF the glories |
of Missouri.
40 Tyler spoke for Virginia. be-
ginning with a series CT anscdotes and +!
1ied with a very glowing and pa /
triouc tribute TO the Old Dominion.