The Washington herald., 1906-12-16
PLEADS FOR Big NAVY
Gov. Swanson Makes Force
ful Speech on Subject.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
In Presenting silver Service to Bat
tie Ship, Executive Points out Ne
cessity for Effective Sea Power.
Presentation Also Made 10 BnttIe
ship Tennessee in Hampton Roads.

Richmond. Va. Dec. 15.-Gov. Swanson
and a party of distinguished State off,
cials to-day attended the presentation Of
a silver service given by the State to the
battle ship Virginia in Hampton Roads.
Gov. Swanson made the principal ad-
dress, to which the ships captain re-
sponded. The service cost the State
$500. and was made in Philadelphia.
At the same hour, and just a short dis
tance away. Gov Coke, Of Tennessee,
who headed a delegation Of 200 from that
State. presented a 5000 silver service to
the battle ship Tennessee.
when Dewey "CaIIed" Won DIeterich.
Gov. Swanson. in the course of his ad-
dress, said:
THE people of Virginia would consider
that 1 had but half performed my duty
upon this occasion If should fail TO give
expression to their profound admiration
of the navy for its conspicuous record
The first flag that ever Haunted over an
American man-Of-waT was hoisted by the
heroic hands of John Paul Jones and 1t
bore the device Of a pine tree and rat
tIesnake, with the motto, Don't tread on
me- a warning which from that day no
one has dared 20 dlsobey without receiy-
ing deadly stroke.
1T was we'll that Admiral von Diet
erich, who commanded the German feet
at Manila. and who interfered in every
way with our plans and rights, needed
this warning when told by Dewey that
he must desist, and that If he wanted war
with the United States he could have 1t
IN five minutes. Calm, resolute courage
and wisdom have ever characterized the
conduct of our naval officers in the most
trying and critical situations.
Language is inadequate to convey the
debt Of obligation and gratitude due the
navy. In times Of peace it surveys and
charts the trackless deeps- maps and
marks the dangers in the routes OF COM
merce. makes researches for science and
learning, stands as sentinels on the out
posts of civilization. opens up for COM
nlerce new and hostile countries, and in
every part Of the world by its activity
and courage it redresses American wrongs
and asserts American rights: it is the
best guardian of the interests of this
great commercial people
Need for Effective Navy.
TO be able to defend all our large IN
terests and rights to perform our part
of the worlds work. requires large and
efficient navy. All our conflicts and wars
Of the future will either be upon the
seas or in foreign countries. No nation
is strong enough or foolish enough TO in
wade our territory. Our future battles
viii be either for defense or supremacy
on the seas Our national greatness and
glory are inseparably interviewer with
the future Of our navy. In modern civili-
cation, with its complexities of trade and
commerce, that nation will be paramount
in the world and arbiter Of its destinies
which is supreme on the sea Naval
supremacy ultimately means national
pre-eminence and triumph
our past history has shown Us the ne
cessity for a splendid navy and how many
difficulties and disasters we have aveTted
by our naval successes. Tie demand fer
a great navy in the future Will far tran
scend any which existed in the past. The
United States has ceased 10 be an isolated
and provincial nation. It has become a
world power, and must accept and per-
form its work, duty. and responsibility.
Our foreign commerce. our exports of
mineral. manufactured. and agricultural
products far exceed those of any other ma
ton. BY tradition, by home, and by self
interest we are compelled to maintain at
al hazards the Monroe doctrine. and to
extend our protecting arms to the nations
of the western hemisphere.
we have possessions and large COM
merciaI interests in the Orient which re-
Qufre constant care and protection. our
national honor, prosperity, and power are
dependent upon our carefully guarding
these varied interests and successfully do
ing our destined work.