The Washington times., 1902-03-08
John Paul Jones a Perfect
Naval Commander.
COL. WATTERS0N'S TRIBUTE.
Naval Academy Scene of Brilliant Gath
ering-Detailed Account of the Great
Commanders Life-The Speaker an
Editor and Soldier.


(Ky) Courier-Journal.' delivered an in
teresting lecture to the naval cadets in
the Naval Academy Chapel tonight. His
subject was John Paul Jones'" the
greatest seafghting captain of the age.
The visitor was entertained at the resi-
dence of Superintendent Wainwright.
the lecture was attended by n number of
the Naval Academy officers and their
wives.
MI Watterscn's Address.
In his exordium Mr.. Watterson declared
that for more than century no name in
history had been subjected to misim-
preston, at once so gross and so general
as that of this world-renowned hero. In
the minds eye of the casual reader he
was a wondrous seafighter. indeed, but
seafghter of but questionable credentials.
Even friendly historians speak of him as
the daring corsair,' unfriendly historians
as a freebooter outright. Half pirate.
half patriot is the grudging epigram al
lowed him by neutral pens, having no mo-
tive for malevolence or misrepresentation
in a word it is told that he was the mer-
est adventurer, who played brilliant
but unimportant part in the drama of the
American Revolution, who lived the life
of rover and died neglected in a fer
vign land. What wonder that the novel
writer's and the pIaymakers-upon such
iaundiced historic warrant-have wrought
havoc with his name and fame, have done
his very glory to death, in their absurd ro-
pances and empty theatricals.
His Career an Open Book
yet" continued Mr.. Watterson, was
the career OF this Bayard of the Ocean,
this Wizard of the Briny Deep, as open
as an open book. He was the trusted
friend of Washington and Franklin and
jefferson. His genius blew the breath of
life into the sea dreams of the young Re-
public, his words and deeds gave inspiration
to the dawning sea power of the New
World. Although by grace of his own
Government for a little while Russian
Admiral and by that of the French King
u chevalier of France, he held but one
commission, that of the United States of
America; and when he died the ranking
officer OF the American Navy, in the
splendor OF a ripening manhood, far and
away the most famous sea captain Of the
age-rich as riches went those days in
this worlds goods-the French Legisla
tive Assembly, then in session, stood
whilst the resolution to attend his fu-
neral was being passed. Gouyerneur
Morris. the American Minister, who had
witnessed mis- will but few hours be-
fore his sudden and unexpected death,
was so overcome by the tidings that he
took 10 his bed.
Three weeks later there came to his
address, in Paris. direct from the hand
of Washington, orders to take in charge
pur complicated interests in European
waters-particularly with respect to the
Barbary pirates-and had he lived
week longer he would have been made
admiral of France, with power completely
TO overhaul and reorganize the French
navy. There was what would even now
be called a considerable bank account to
his credit, for this canny Scotch laddie
had been equally thrifty and daring and
left a goodly property to the two sisters
who survived him. Seven or eight years
after his death it is related that Ma
poleon. stung by the phenomenal exploits
of Nelson. exclaimed, 'Berthier how old
was Paul Jones when he died?' Berthier
answered, I think he was about forty
five, sire Mon Dieu" exclaimed the Cor
sican; if Paul Jones were alive now
France would have an admiral!'" ."
Neglect of American Navy.
Speaking Of the navy of the United
States, MIR. Watterson declared that "for
all its achievement, it has been much
neglected. Had Decatur lived he might
have been President. Stockton and Stuart
were now and then considered as possible
dark horses Chorse Marines one might
say, though that is but a bubble of
words, for Presidential nominations. As
! recall it, Dewey threw the Presidency
away; though that may be but matter
of preference and pride OF opinion; and |
SIN not here to enter upon discussion of
political possibilities. ! am here to speak
of the navy and it's heroes, particularly OF
John Paul Jones, who laid the foundation
of that navy and set an example TO those
heroes. the historic progenitor of Law
renee and Porter. and Farragut and Dew
ey. as the Duchess de Chartres, the
mother of Louis Philippe, styled him the
untitled King of the Sea-
There is abundant proof" continued
Mr. Watterson that he was cordially
received and stood with the best whilst
he pursued the sylvan idyl he had planned
for himself handsome young fellow,
fresh from 4 life of adventure, with land
and slaves and money. is not held at
arms length by provincial society, how
ever exclusive. Paul Jones became some
thing more than a local fayorite-a social
lion-and soon found occasion to signal
,ze himself
The Hero's High Spirit.
Already the times were out of joint.
The storm of revolution and war was
sbout to break Being at ball in Nor
folk. which was attended by some sprigs
of his Maiesty's navy belonging to n
sloop then riding at anchor in Hampton
Roads. an event occurred which greatly
endeared Paul Jones at least to the ladies
thereabout. ! shall relate this in the
words of the young fire eater himself
In a letter to his friend, Joseph Hewes
later on chairman Of the marine commit
tee and signer OF the Declaration OF In
dependence. written the day after the
event, he says:
The insolence Of these young officers,
when they had gotten some
what in their cups. was in.olerablct and
there could be no doubt that they repre-
Scented the feeling Of the service general
". As you may hear imperfect versions
OF an affair brought on by the insolence
of one of them. / viii take the liberty |
of relating it, In the course OF a de- |
bate. somewhat heated concerning the |
state Of affairs, n lieutenant OF the sloop |