Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1906-04-24
ROOSEVELT EXTOLS
AMERICAS ALLY
Continued from Page /.

who live within these walls, will find
IN the career of the man whose life
We this day celebrate, not merely a
subject for admiration and respect,
but an object lesson to be taken into
their innermost hearts. Every officer
in our navy should know by heart the
deeds of John Paul Jones. Every of
ficer in our navy should feel in each
fibre of his being the eager desire to
emulate the energy, the professional
capacity, the indomitable determine
ton and dauntless scorn of death
which marked John Paul Jones above
all his fellows.
The history Of our navy, like the
history of our nation, only extends ov-
er a period Of a century and a quar-
ter, yet we already have many mem
cries of pride to thrill us as we read
and hear Of what has been done by
our fighting men Of the sea, from Per-
ry and Macdonaugh to Farragut and
Dewey. These memories include bril-
liant victories, and also, now and then,
defeats only less honorable than the
victories themselves, but the only de
feats to which this praise can be Civ
en- are those where, against heavy odds
men have stood to the death in hope
less battle. 1t is well for every Amer
lean officer to remember that while a
surrender may or may not be defen-
sible, the man who refuses to surren-
der never need make a defense. The
one fact must always be explain
ed; the other needs no explanation.
Moreover, he who would win glory
and honor for the nation and for him
self, must not too closely count the
odds; if he does, he will never see
a day such as that when Gushing sank
the Albemarle.
In his fight with the Seraphis Jones'
ship was so badly mauled that his OPP
ponent hailed him, saying elias your
ship struck" To which, Jones an
swered, 81 have not yet begun to
fight" The spirit which inspired that
answer upbore the man who gave it
and the crew which served under him
through the fury Of the battle, which
finally ended in their triumph. 1t
was the same spirit which marked the
commanders of the Cumberland and
the Congress, when they met an equal
ly glorious, though less fortunate fate
The Cumberland sank, her flag flying,
and her guns firing with her decks
awash, while, when summoned to sur
render, Morris replied, "Never! III
sink alongside !" and made his words
good. Immediately after the Cumber-
land was sunk the Congress was at
tackled, and her commander, Lieuten-
ant Joe Smith, was killed. After
fighting until she was helpless and be-
ing unable to bring her guns to bear,
the ship was surrendered; but when
Smiths father, old Commodore Joe
Smith, who was on duty at Washing
ton, saw the dispatches from Fort
Monroe that the Congress had hoisted
the white flag, he said quietly, "Ther
Joe's dead" Surely no father could
wish to feel a prouder certainty of his
boys behavior than the old commo.
dore showed he possessed when he
thus spoke; and no naval officer coulc
hope to win a finer epitaph.
We have met today to do honor tC
the mighty dead. Remember thai
our words of admiration are but as
sounding brass and tinkling cymbal'
if we do not by steady preparation
and by the cultivation of soul anC
mind and body fit ourselves so tina
in time 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 Paul Jones, tina
while no courage can atone for thu
lack of that efficiency which comes
only through careful preparation II
advance through careful training o.
the men, and careful fitting out Of
the engines of war, yet that none o.
these things can avail unless IN thu
moment of crisis the heart rises leve
with the crisis. The navy whos'
captains will not surrender are SUR
in the long run to whip the navy
whose captains will surrender unles.
the inequality of skill or force Il
prodigious. The courage which neve.
Yields can not take the place of TIL
possession of good ships and gooc
weapons and the ability skillfully t.
use these ships and these weapons
hut nc nrasoncp will often atone TO