Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-07-08
THE SPANISH GUN.
Installation Services Conducted
Speech by Major Samuel Mahon.

Mr. Manning, in a few we'll chosen
words, introduced Major Samuel Ma.
hon, who had been chosen by the com.
mittee in charge Of affairs as the most
lifting one to deliver the address in
connection with the installation of the
Spanish canon which has been present.
ed to the city of Ottumwa by the Unit.
ed States government, through Con-
hon spoke in part as follows:
Mr.. Chairman, friends, and fellow
citizens. No filter occasion than this,
the birthday of this republic and of the
renewal of liberty could be selected for
the dedication and installation of this
trophy, this memento of American
bravery and patriotism. Four years
ago was memorable day, not only in
the history of the navy of the United
States but in the history of the pro.
gress of civilization in the western
continent.
Captured at Santiago, July 8,
1898, is the brief and impressive in
scription on the tablet which adorns
that captured trophy. 1t has gone in
noble company. 1t was one of the
pivot guns of the Maria Theresa, the
| flag ship of the proud Admiral Cervera
of the Spanish navy She was guard
ed by Spanish dons, petted and cared
for by the Castilian nobility, but she
was never in better company than to.
day in the assemblage of free Ameri
can citizens, the sovereigns of their
own government.
This trophy of ours sailed to Amer.
N 1,r,yry nyf1, l. =
the ships of the Armada before it. Its
purpose was to rivet more closely than
ever the chains of oppression and slav.
cry upon a people that was reaching
toward the light of liberty. This, our
trophy, found briny grave on the
rock-bound coast of southern Cuba. To
day you see it in all it's grim reality
just as it was hauled up out of the
sea-without polish and without var
nish.
our chairman has just said that he
hopes we will never become a military
people. Here | differ with him.
remember the words of Washington
who said In time of peace prepare fol
war; Our liberty has come up through
sacrhce, was watered with blood and
tears. Where in the history of civil
ization has it been wrought out ex
cept by pain and blood and suffering
Let me remind you of an old adage
Eternal viligance is the price of lib
erty. Need We go farther back thar
the days of 1861 and 1865, for the les
son? No sooner was this countr,
locked in the throes of civil strife
than the European nations sought 8
place on the American continent
Those were strong hints that were Civ
en- then to Louis Napoleon to get out.
Had it not been for the vigilance al
that time European monarchial gov
eminent would have been feature O.
America today.
This trophy does not stand for muir
der, nor for violence, nor lawlessness
Perish the thought To me it stands
for bravery and patriotism, for the
sacrifice of the soldiers of the repub
lie in behalf of their government Il
has been the nope and the savior O.
the government in the western hemis
phere and by Gods grace we will ex
tend the privileges and teach the vel
low peoples of the Orient the enioy
ment of it. What is liberty worth i
1t not worth giving to others.
81 install this gun in the name of the
city of Ottumwa / dedicate it to tn,
bravery, the sacrifice, and the sufferins
of the American sailors and soldier!
in defense of their liberty. l am op
4 posed to oppression and cruelty ant
the sword of the American soldier ha.
never been drawn except against thos,
principles.
Il dedicate its crushed and battered
shield to the man behind the gun
who stood on the deck of the American
vessel and fired the shot-not the ad
miral, not the captain of the ship, bu
the private in the navy that sighted
the guns that swept the Spanish ship
out of existence.
/ Il want to acknowledge to John f
Lacey, the tried and true representa-
tive in congress of the Sixth distric