The sun., 1905-01-31

great nations, unless wa are willing TO
I build the ships to build the guns and TO
tram the men who are TO manage the ships
and handle the guns, II the need arises
Il should be ashamed 10 see this nation
! play the part Of wealSling But ! would
rather see II play that part frankly than
/ see 1t boaht what 1t wac and then 80 handle
/ itself that II any one questioned the boast
! we should have 10 retreat from the position
/ we assumed because we lacked tho power
/ to make our words good.
Il earnestly hope that our foreign policy
shall be continued absoll. ,y without re-
| gard TO change of administration, to change
of party, along the lines Of treating every
| foreign nation with all possible respect, of
avoiding all provocation for war. for trouble
of any kind. Of taking every step possible
to minimize the chance OF trouble occurring,
and at the same time Of taking every step
possible to see TO II that IL by any chance
trouble does occur we do not come out
second best Applause.
Just at this moment, 10 illustrate what
] mean, wa have negotiated certain arbi-
tration treaties with the great foreign
Powers | most earnestly hope that those
arbitration treaties Will become part of
tho supreme law OF the land. Every friend
OF peace will join heartily in seeing that
those arbitration treaties do become part
OF the supreme law of the land. By adopt
ing them we will have taken a step, not
very long step, but undoubtedly a step.
In the direction nt minimizing the chance
for any trouble that might result In war;
we will have, il measurable degree, pro-
vided for a method Of settling inter-
national disputes other than that Of war
ms regards certain subjects. and as regards
the particular nations with whom these
treaties are negotiated. We can test the
sincerity OF those people. devoted To peace
/ largely by seeing whether this people does
in effective fashion, desire to have those
treaties ratified, 10 have hose treaties
adopted.
Il have proceeded upon the assumption
that this nation was sincere when II said
that IL desired peace, that all proper steps
to provide against the likelihood of war
ought to be taken. and these arbitration
treaties represent precisely those steps.
But the adoption OF those treaties by them
selves would not bring peace Wa are
good many years short of the millennium
yet and for the present and the immediate
future we can rest assured that the word
of man who il suspected OF desiring peace
because he il afraid OF war Will count for
but little. What we desire is to have IL
evident that this nation seeks peace not
because il is afraid. but because it believes
in the eternal and immutable laws of justice
and of right living lApplause.
Therefore hand in hand with the negotn-
tion of treaties Of that character, hand in
hand with the effort TO put our foieiRn re-
lations with every nation on better foot
ing must 20 the steady upbuilding OF the
army and the navy--above all, Of the navy
- 70 that our national honor may be sure
uf an adequate safeguard should our ma
tional honor ever be actively menRced.
lAnplausa.l
Il want TO cav word 10 you boys here
in particular | am about to have the
good fortune TO present sword 70 the best
gunner. and certain medals, also FOR gun
merry The sword is given by the class Of ~,
given annually. so Us 10 put u premium
pom marksmanship, and Cup', Brownson,
] would like through you to thank the
members of that cass for the patriotic
service they have done in making such
gift The one thing that you graduates
here, and all of the others in this school.
must remember j. that you ought to bend
your entire energies 70 fitting yourselves,
as you can only be fitted by the most care
ful training in advance, for the possible
-nlpreme dav when upon your SUCCESS or your
failure will depend not only whether your
own lives will be crowned with triumph or
blasted with ruin but whether the nation
will or will not write n page OF glory or
page OF shame on her history.
There is not one OF you but who il derelict
in this duty to the whole nation If he fails
10 prepare himself with all the strength
that within him lies TO do his duty should
the occasion arise. and one OF your great
duties is to see that shots hit. Applause
Tho result l. going to largely depend upon
whether you or your adversary hits, | eN-
pect You to be brave. ] rather take that
for granted. II is not that you are 10 be
commended much for bravery. You would
be condemned forever II you lacked II.
If YOU lacked courage in the highest form,
physical and moral. the courage that will
a-eulue responsibility. no less than tho
courage that without a thought Will face
death. That we have a right TO expect from
every one of you, aud ! say that you ara
less to be commended for having II than
TO be condemned for failure 10 have 1t.
but IN adcluon you nave got to pref are
yourselves in advance. Every naval action
that has taken place within the inst twenty
wears in which our own ships have been
engaged or in which any foreign ships have
been engaged, has shown a. rule that
the defeated party has suffered not from
lack Of courage, Tut because II could not
make the hest use OF ita weapons or had
not been given the night weapons Occa-
sionally. OF course. if the victor happened
TO be matched against people who did not
show courage. the courage counted. But
want every one here TO proceed upon the
assumption that any foe he may meet Will
have the courage.
-Of course you have got % show the
highest degree Of courage yourself pr you
Will be beaten anyhow and you VIII deserve
to be. but in addition 70 th9t. v.i'' uuet
prepare yourselves by careful trHl'luG 50
that you may make the best possible Use OF
the delicate and formidable mechanism Of
modern warship The reason that you
are trained here, the reason that you are
put through this academy, the reason That
your training goes on in the service, is that
without the training no man can hope 70 do
the work that IA set before you 20 DO.
NO other body of men Of your age In
our country owes 80 much 70 the United
States, TO the flag that symbolizes this
nation, as you do No other body Of young
men has on the average so great chanoe
as each OF you have TO lead life OF honor
TO himslf and Of benefit TO the country nj
large. Deep will be your shame II you
fail to rise level to your opportunities and
duties, and great will be the honor that |
know YOU will win, because | know that
Judging YOU by those who have gone before
you in the service, you will rise level 70
your opportunities and keep untarnished
the proud fame Of the American officer"
Applause.
Several naval attaches connected with
the foreign legations in Washington sat
near the President during his speech and
Gov. Warfield of Maryland occupied a seat
on the platform. The President. after his
speech presented. on behalf Of the class Of
II sword 10 Midshipman Ingersoll Of the
outgoing class for excellence in marksman-
ship The presentation Of several medals
and prizes and OF the diplomas followed
After these simple exercises the President
and his party went 10 the house Of Capt.
Brownson where luncheon was served
At o'clock the President left Anna polls
in a special train for Philadelphia. Secre-
taries Morton and Taft did not accont any
him.