The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1902-01-02
BATTLESHIP MISSOURI
Successfully Launched at Newport
News-An Address by Sec
rotary Long.

Newport News, Va, Dec. 3o.-The
battleship Missouri was launched at
the ship yard here Saturday at 11:12
o'clock. Fully $4,000 people, it is es-
timated, saw the big defender go over
board. The launching passed off with
out hitch, and none prettier or more
successful was ever accomplished here.
Miss Marion Cockrell, daughter of Sem
ator f. NJ. Cockre!l, of Missouri, was
sponsor for the ship, and she performed
the duty assigned her with the tradi-
tional bottle of champagne, using a
bottle of Missouri product for the pur-
pose. The number of distinguished
guests gathered around the sponsor on
the christening platform was larger
than ever seen here.
Secretary Long, of the navy depart
ment, delivered the speech of the oc-
casion and spoke in part as follows:
st have been interested in the circular
signed by many eminent citizens, my be-
loved friend e. Z. Hale at the head, in
which they regret the estimate of 100000
COO for the increase of the navy. The size
of the navy, If there is to be navy at all,
is a question like the tariff-of adjustment
rather than of principle. OF course, II Is
rather a taking thing to say as a matter
of theory, as this circular says, that $780,
100000 for the navy means a tax of six dol
lars on every family in the United States.
And yet, on the other hand, as a matter
of practical fact, If that sum is spent there
is probably not a family in the United
States whose future income could be shown
to be six dollars less, and there are good
many families whose income would be
six dollars more, and still more families
whose income would be many times six
dollars less II 1t were not spent 1t is
also rather a taking thing to say that $780,
100000 could be better spent for education
or charity. And yet, on the other hand,
500 100000 spent in the employment of labor
is the very best use to which II can be put.
cit is not true as suggested in the cir
cular that great navy necessarily in
flames the fighting spirit and leads to war.
If my recollection serves me right, while
Great Britain has had troubles in Egypt
and Africa, elsewhere she has nad no con-
filct on sea for many years, and yet her
navy has been twice as large as that of
any other power. The recent increase in
our navy did not induce the war with
Spain, which, as things were, seems to
have been inevitable. On the other hand,
1t is more than likely that If in the begin
ming Of 1898 we had even as large a navy
as we nave 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, how
ever, it was the general impression among
foreign powers, and probably in Spain, that
her navy would blow us out of the water.
Our world relations have expanded vast
ly in the last three years in territorial ex-
tent and vastly more in international ex-
tent. 1t has not been an extension upon
the continent, but upon the ocean itself
and the Islands of the sea in both hemis-
pheres. Our commerce has greatly In
creased in volume and area and our Amer
lean marine is likely to follow suit; as
on land, so on ocean, as you extend your
commerce so you must expand your po-
lice force. If there is to be a navy at all
1t should be commensurate with all these
extended relations and demands.
Il will not pursue the topic further, but
United States naval vessel carrying our
flag into the ports and harbors of the
world is something more than a fighting
machine. 1t means relations with those
ports; 1t means an awakening and lively
respect there for our country; 1t means
recognition Of the out-reach of our civili-
zation, commerce and influence; 1t means
just what would be meant II fine rep
resentative of New York or Boston, car
rying her prestige, exploiting her inter-
ests. were In every other city OF the union