The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-31
MlDDIES GIVEN
THEIR DIPLOMAS
Continued from First Page.)

CONTINUED from First Page.)
policy shall be continued absolutely
without regard to change of administra-
ton, to change of party along the lines
OF treating every foreign nation with all
possible respect, of avoiding all provoca-
ton for war for trouble of any kind,
of taking every step possible to mini
mize the chance of trouble occurring;
and at the same time of taking every
step possible to see to it that if by any
chance trouble does occur we do not re-
main second best. (Applause)
Negotiate Arbitration Treaties.
Just at this moment, to illustrate
what l mean, we have negotiated GER
tain arbitration treaties with the great
foreign powers 1 most earnestly hope
that those arbitration treaties Will be-
come part of the supreme law of the
land Every friend of peace will join
heartily In seeing that those arbitration
treaties do become part of the supreme
laws of the land. By adopting them we
have taken a step, not very long step,
but undoubtedly a step in the right di-
rection of minimizing the chance for
any trouble that might arise in war.
1--WE can test the sincerity of those peo-
pie devoted to peace largely by seeing
whether other people do ineffective fashion
and desire to have those treaties ratified,
to have those treaties adopted. l have
proceeded on the assumption that this
nation was sincere when it said that 1t
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
themselves would not bring peace.
Millennium Is Not Yet.
1--WE are a good many years short of
the millennium yet, and for the present
and the immediate future we can rest
assured that the word of the man who
is suspected of desiring peace because he
is afraid of war will count for but little.
What we desire is to have 1t evident that
this nation seeks peace, not because it
is afraid, but because 1t believes in the
eternal and immutable> laws OF justice
and of right-living. (Applause). There
fore, hand in hand, with the negotiation
of treaties of that character, hand in
hand with the effort to put our foreign
relations with every nation on a better
footing, must go to the steady upbuild-
ing of the army and navy, above all the
navy, see that our national honor may be
sure OF an adequate safeguard should
our national honor ever be actively mem
aced. (Applause.)
ne one tnlHS tudL you graduates Hti .
and all of the others in this school must
remember is that you ought to bend your
entire energies to fitting yourselves as
you can only be fitted by the most care
full training In advance for a possible SUI
preme day when upon your success or
your failure will depend not only whether
your own lives will be crowned with tri-
umph or blasted with ruin, but whether
the nation will or will not write page
OF glory a page of shame on her his
tory.
There is not one of you who is not
derelict in his duty to the whole nation
If he fails to prepare himself with all the
strength that in him lies to do his duty.
should the occasion arise; and one of your
great duties is to see that shots hit. (Ap-
plause.) The result is going to largely
depend upon whether you or your adver-
sary hits. I expect you to be brave. 1
rather take that for granted. 1t is not
that you are to be commended much for
bravery. You would be condemned for
ever If you lacked it, II you lacked it in
the highest form. courage. physical and
moral, the courage that will assume re-
sponsibility, no less than the courage that
without thought will face death.
mo other body Of young men has on
the average as great chance as each of
you has to lead life of honor to himself
and for the benefit of the country at
large. Deep will be our shame If you
fail to ris to the level of your oppor-
tunities and duties, and great will be
the honor l know you will win, because
1 know that, judging you by those who
have gone before you in Inc service, and
you will rise to the level of your oppor-
tunities and keep untarnished the proud
fame of the American officer" ZAP
plause)
Presents the Prizes.
At the conclusion of his address the
President presented. to the seven midship-
men successful the sword and medals
wen for proficiency in theoretical and
practical gunnery.
Midshipman Royal e. Ingersoll of In
diana received the handsome sword pre-
e-ted by the class OF 1871 for proficiency
in this branch. In presenting the arm
to the midshipman, President Roosevelt
said:
Il am very glad to give this sword to
the man who's shots hit.
Midshipmen Edward G. Hargis Of VIM
chester, Ky; Albah B. Court of Hous-
ton, Tex; Ormond L. Cox of Rix Mills,
O.: Hartford L. Greenelle, Lindon, Ills. ;
William s. McClintic of Port Lewis, Va. !;
Theodore G. Ellyson, Richmond. Va,
each received a medal for proficiency in
the same branch of the studies. The seven
star members of the class headed by
Hugo Frankenberger OF Charleston, w.
Va, were then handed their diplomas
in the order in which they stood as
leaders of their class. After this. the
diplomas were drawn at random. Fol-
lowing the delivery of the diplomas which
NJ. Roosevelt accompanied with hand
shake and a pleasant word for each mid