Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-04-25
PRESIDENTS EULoGY
Continued from Page One.)


and being unable to bring her guns to
bear, the ship was surrendered; but
when Smiths father old Commodore
Joe Smith, who was on duty at Wash
ington, saw by the dispatches from
Fort Monroe that the Congress had
hoisted the white nag. he said quietly.
Then Joe's dead" Surely no father
could wish to feel a prouder certainty
of his boys behavior than the old COM
modore showed lie possessed when he
thus spoke; and no naval officer could
hope to win finer epitaph.
We have met today TO do honor to
the mighty dead. Remember that our
words of admira ton are btft as sound
ing brass and tinkling cymbals If We
do not by steady preparation and by
the cultivation of soul and mind and
body mt ourselves SO that i'll tiihe OF
need we shall be prepared TO emulate
their deeds. Let every midshipman
who passes through this Institution
remember as he looks upon the tomb
Of John Paul Jones, that while no
courage can atone for the lack
Of that efficiency which comes
only through careful preparation in ad-
vance, through careful training of the
men, and careful fitting out of the en-
gines of war, yet that none of these
things can avail unless in the moment
of crisis the heart rises level with the
crisis. The navy whose captains will
not surrender are sure in the long run
to whip the navy whose captains will
surrended, unless the inequality Of
skill or force is prodigious. The cour-
age which never yields cannot take the
place of the possession of good ships
and good weapons and the ability skill
fully to use these ships and these wea-
pons; but it's presence will often atone
for many other shortcomings, and if
with it are combined the other mill
tary qualities. the fortunate owner be-
comes literally invincible.
THE Marseilles" was then rendered
by the Oratorio Society and the secre-
tary of the navy announced the French
ambassador.
Ambassador Jusserand said:
THE pious action and unconquerable
energy Of a son Of America, one who
served her in war as a general. in peacn
as an ambassador. has brought back to
these shores the ashes OF the famous
sailor who first made known to the world
that the new ration just born beyond the
seas was meant to be a great nation
great on land and great on sea. In his
search for the sacred relics of John Paul
Jones. General Porter had no help but
his patriotism; but for a good citizen, this
| is help enough.
THE burial which is now awarded to
| the naval hero is such as ne deserved and
| IL the CT of ~. 10
| life, as the life of many other defenders
| of American Independence. offers this
| characteristic trait that the French ele-
nlent is in some way or ether mixed with
| it. 1t is difficult to name Washington
| without remembering Lafayette, and to
name Franklin without thinking of his
role in Paris. 1t is the same with Paul
| Jones, and at this day when supreme hon
ors are rendered to his memory, when the
| chief of the state has praised him in
words, the value of which is immensely
| enhanced by the character and personal
fome Of the orator. it is fitting circum-
| stances that French sailors who crossed
| the ocean for this purpose be now seen
| mounting guard around his body"
! The address of the ambassador was
| followed by Handlers around About
| the Starry Throne" sung by the Ora
! torio Society.
| Introducing Gen. Horace Porter of
| New York, Sec. Bonaparte said:
| For more than a century the NOR
| tai remains of our first great sailor lay
! in an unknown grave, lost to his coun-
try and the world. The generosity and
patriotism of a distinguished gentle
| man has freed us from this national
reproach. l introduce to you Gen. Hor-
ace Porter"
Gen. Porter reviewed the career of
| Admiral Jones and described the dis
covery and final identification of his
body.
Gen. Porter was followed by Gov.
Warffield OF Maryland at the conclu-
sicn Of whose address the audience
arose and remained standing while
body bearers. selected from among
the petty officers Of the United States
and French warships, lifted the caslSet
and bore it from the armory. Just out
side it was placed upon a truck drawn
by long lines of sailors and the process
sion moved slowly toward Bancroft
Hall, the Naval Academy Band playing
the dead march from saul" When the
casket had been placed beneath the
stairway. where 1t is to rest under
constant guard, Chaplain Clark said a
brief prayer and the ceremonies We're
at an end.
| THANKS TO FRANCE