The Springfield herald., 1901-05-24

nails of the American navy.
"Nor can we forget for n moment
that 1t was your skill and genius that
made the Oregon. The hours of anx-
ious waiting will never be known
when the Oregon started to join the
feet at Santiago. Days and days we
heard not one word from her. But we
had confidence in the stout ship you
had builded, and we had confidence in
that gallant officer, Captain Clark,
who commanded it. shall never for
get the early morning when Captain
Clark telegraphed from the Florida
shore:
1.-The Oregon is here and needs no
repairs and is ready for action.
'.And she went and performed mag
nificent service for the country.
want to thank you men of the Union
Iron Works for your assistance in the
defense of our common country. l
want to thank you for having builded
ships that have maintained the honor
of the United States and added new
glory to the navy of the United
States.
II don't want ship in the American
navy built this year to be any better
than the Ohio. 1 say that to you
among ourselves. I say 1t to you work
men who are going to build her, for
l have great deal of pride in the old
state.
II have great deal of pride in the
name, but proud as l am Of my native
state, l am thousand times more
proud of the nation that is over all the
states, supreme and sovereign and
glorious in its mission of good will
and liberty to all mankind.
"What we want is to build more
ships. We ought to have good COM
mercial line from here to the Philip
pines, made in the Union Iron Works.
built by American workingmen and
manned by American sailors and car
rying the American flag.
I'VE have overcome distance. We
not only want n commercial line. but
we want cable from here to the Phil
ippines.
I'VE want it to be an American
cable, that cannot be cut by any power
in the world. They say trade follows
the flag. The telegraph must follow
trade.
MY fellow citizens, we have great
problems before us. We never had
more important ones. We have eX-
panded. Do you want to contract?
1t is not a question of whether we
will acquire the Philippines or Porto
Rico, or Guam, or Wake island, or
Hawaii. or Tutuila. We have ac-
Quired them; they are ours. The ques-
ton is, shall we give them up? Gen
eral cry of "No.D And from one end
Of this country to the other comes
answer. They are ours not to sub
jugate, but to emancipate; not to rule
in the power of might, but to take to
the distant people the principles of
liberty, and freedom of conscience and
of opportunity that are enjoyed by the
people of the United States.
"Our flag never goes anywhere eX-
cept it carries blessings. Our flag
never oppressed anybody, but it has
given freedom to every people over
whom it has floated.
Having said this much, only want
to thank you all for this cordial well
come. l am glad again to meet the
workingmen of my country. All my
public life has been devoted in effort
to giving the workingmen the best
opportunity, the best chance for good
wages and steady employment.
"When labor is well employed, the
employed there is contentment and
happiness in the homes of the labor
ing men.
LET me say that shall carry this
beautiful souvenir of the employees of
the Union Iron Works with me and it
shall abide with me so long as l live,
and shall be passed along to those Of
my family that shall follow me as one
of the dearest token 1 have ever re-
ceived from my fellow countrymen.'
The ceremonies connected with the
launching were simple. There was no
speech-making. Mrs. Ida Eckert Law
renee of Ohio read an original poem.
At 12:22lA. two and one-half minutes
before the tide was at its highest, the
time set for its launching, there sud
denly shot up into the face of the in
dicator "Ready."
Miss Barber pressed the button. The
last block fell away At the same time
Miss Helen Deshles, n young lady Of
seventeen. in light gown, with her
hair braided down her back in school
girl fashion, let go of the bottle of
champagne suspended at the side OF
the bow by a red, white and blue rib
bon, and as 1t crashed against the
side she uttered the words, Il christen
thee Ohio"
Released from its bonds the heavy
hull of 1900 tons of steel went
ploughing through the thick grease of
it's cradle. Slowly. at first, then faster
and faster, she slid down the ways,
taking the flood mnjestically and pill
ing up the water in great waves be-
fore her. The band crashed, whistles
blew and the multitude shouted.
No ship ever given to the navy has
taken her initial plunge into the sea
under more favorable auspices, or in
the presence of more distinguished
company.
The trip back to the city was al
most repetition Of the journey to the
yard. There was the same wild dem
onstration from sea and shore.
Across the Continent