Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1905-01-30
MD. MONDAY. JANUARY 30. 1905

opened TO you splendid career in
which there is the opportunity grant
ed only to few TO win deathlesS
fame for themselves by standing for
their country's honor at some time of
high peril On the one hand the
country has a right TO expect self-sac-
rificing service from you and you
have right TO ask support and inter
est from your country's representa-
tives And right here, Governor War
field. / wish TO thank you for the in
terest which you have shown 10 these
young graduates by receiving them at
the State Mansion. 1t Is we'll for
them that they should know that the
head of the great State of Maryland
recognizes that while much is expect
ed OF them, much also should be given
them in appreciation and training.
There are good many baseless
alarms that worthy people feel from
time to time and other less worthy
people make out they feel. OF all the
foolish and baseless alarms the one
founded on the apprehension of too
great an interest in military.things is
the most foolish and baseless This
nation or no other nation in recent
times was ever in less danger of an
Indeed, our danger is the exact re-
verse, there is a danger that we do not
act with sufficient foresight in these
matters. l should be sorry to see this
nation assume the position of one un-
able to withstand the shock Of war
should it ever be necessary. as l hope
it will not be for us to meet that
shock.
''If this country believes in the
Monroe Doctrine, if it believes in re-
tanning the Philippines, if it believes
in not only building but policing the
Isthmian Canal, if it wishes to do
duty towards the worlds civilization
and law and order, then it must be the
Just man armed, it must see that il
can make good. We must build ships
and build guns and train the men to
manage the ships and shoot the guns.
To Illustrate. we have lately signed
arbitration treaties with many of the
great powers and we hope that we
have arranged for the settlement of
some of the questions that might Head
to war and have taken q step, not a
long step, but step in the right di-
rection. But the adoption of these
treaties will not abolish war, for we
are still some years short of the mil
lenium. Treaties will amount to little
unless going hand in hand with the
steady upbuilding of the Army and
Navy.
"Now / have said as much as / will
to the public and will say word or
two to you boys here. A very pleas
ant duty which will have is to pre-
sent sword given by the graduates
of the Naval Academy of the class of
1871 to the midshipman who does the
best work in gunnery. This thing is of
immense Importance. as 1t reminds
you that you must devote yourselves
to preparing for that possible supreme
day when not only your own honor,
but that of your country depends on
how we'll you have done your work
here. Never forget that a page of
glory and honor or of dark shame and
ruin may one day be written by any
one of you and it will indeed be Bit
ter shame to you if you have failed to
devote yourselves with whole heart
to the work of preparation. Remem-
ber that it is only the shots that hat
that count. This has been the history
of every naval engagement for the
last twenty years. Courage has been
met by courage and it has been those
NIlO DCbb lilClA Sill pc uuu
train their guns who have come forth
victorious. Sometimes it might hap
pen where other things may be nearly
equal that courage will win the day,
but it is more likely and you must ex-
pect it that the possible foeman will
possess courage as you do and victory
must be won by the careful training
and preparedness.
No nfhnr 9 nn1Inh
to country and flag, no other young
men may have so great part to play
in your country's honor and service.
| know you will play your part with
courage. l do not praise that, for it
is expected of you, and dark indeed
would be the shame if you did not ex-
hibit it in its highest form when nee
essary, but you will, / am sure, rise to
all occasions as they come and ever
hold before you the loyal deeds Of the
men of your service who have gone
before you.
After the address the presentation
took place. President Roosevelt ex-
planned as he presented the sword to
Midshipman Royal +. IngeTsoll that
it had been given by the class of 1871,
Naval Academy, to the midshipman Of
the graduating class who showed the
greatest efficiency in gunnery and
ordnance, both practical and theoreti-
cal. He added that he took great
pleasure in presenting the sword to the
boy who shot best. Midshipman In
gersoll is a son of Captain Royal r.
Ingersoll, United States Navy. He
was appointed from Indiana. The next
presentations were medals for the
three best showings in great gun prac-
tice. They were won in order by Mid
shipman Edward q. Hargis, of Ken
tucky, and Ormond l.. Cox, of Rix
Mills, Ohio, and Alvah b. Court, of
Texas. Those who won honors with
small arms were in order William S.
McClintic, of Virginia; Theodore @.
ElIyson, of Virginia, and Halford K.
Greenslee, of Illinois.
The diplomas were then presented
to the graduates, the first seven being
handed out in order of scholastic
merit and the remainder as they were
ia ken up by chance. The receiving
of every diploma was the signal for
great applause from the midshipmen
and others, some of course, such as
honor man, notable athletes and the
brigade officers, coming in for the
greatest share. AS the captain of each
of the twelve companies received
their diplomas the men who had been
| under them during the year tried to