The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-02-13
Secretary BOnapartt Makes the
 Presentations
GLOOM OVER THE CEREMONY
Conditions at the Naval Academy Af- fected the Traditional Gaiety of the Whole Weeks
 Festivities.

Annapolis. Md, February 12-The ca reer of the class of 1906 at the Naval academy was brought to it's close ofti- eally in the magnificent new armory to- day. when Secretary of the Navy Charles J. Bonaparte delivered to 101 members of the class their coveted diplomas in the presence of fully 2500 persons. In the large crowd were the families and friends of the graduates from all over the coun- try. and while not marked with the joy ousness of similar occasions In the past the scene was an impressive and beau tiful one.
 The official party entered the armory by the southeast door and proceeded to the platform at the opposite end of the long room, while the two battalions of midshipmen drawn up on each side to form a long aisle presented arms and the band played a fanfare.
 The speech of the Secretary did not refer in any way to the present condi- tons at the academy, which however, have materially affected the traditional gaiety of the occasion and cast dam per over the whole weeks ceremonies. His address immediately followed the opening prayer by Chaplain H. II. Clark, U. S. N. Secretary Bonaparte said;
 Secretary Bonaparte Speaks.
 ''Midshipmen of the Graduating Class Today ends your childhood; during the past years of your life you have been growing into men; the days to begin to- morrow will show into what manner of men you have grown.
 The academy has done for you what it could In the time given it; the navy department would have gladly given 1t six months for it's work had there been SIX months more to give, for l at least hold a full coirse none toe long for all 1t has to do But the academy exists for the navy; the navy exists for the na- tion and the imperative needs of the navy, the vital interests of the nation demand that you now take up the bur dens of your professional life. If you have gained all you could and should have gained from the training here given you 1t will be well for your country and well for you. If the months spent here have been ill-spent none can tell how much of loss and sorrow this may mean to many and mostly surely of all, to your selves.
 ''Y oung men, you have chosen military life. The full significance of that choice, if now felt by you, I hope and be- lieve it is so far as your youth permits, is by no means recognized by all of your fellow countrymen. The rights to life. liberty and the pursuit of happiness are declared on well nigh the highest merely human authority known to Americans to be foremost and inalienable; yet you have alienated the rights. You have given your lives your freedom of speech and action, your opportunities to seek happiness so far as happiness depends on aught without yourselves, into the keeping of other men, chosen not by you, but by your country's laws. For nine out of every ten young Americans, standing as you stand here, at the threshold of their life's work, success in life means success In money-maldng; the pursuit of happiness means the pursuit of your wealth. Your profession holds out no money prizes. Unless enriched by mere accident, you must look forward to dying poor men and leaving your children little beyond claim to "a nations gratitude.
 Give Up Personal Rights.
 'EVen the most elementary of what are called natural rights the rights to pro- tect ones self from bodily injury. inhict- ed by lawless violence. you have surren- dered. Were you Or your comrades of the sister service called upon to quell in- suit, you or they would take passively missiles and blows no less than curses, until you heard the word of command And for the protection of your reputation, something of far greater value 10 men Of your education and surroundings than per sonal safety, you must again trust the equity and the vigilance of your superors; ar equity and a vigilance which. I hope, I... lately published statements to the effect that here and at West Point the country gave away an education. What think of such statements if would not accord with the restraints of official position for me to say.
 My young friends. you have made this gift, and if you have made it from the heart and without reserve. you have done well. If you leave here meaning to be true sailors and not fake sailors, to be as faithful servants of your country, and not mere pensioners on the pretext of ser vice, you have chosen no less wisely than worthily Here and there in this immense land may be found an enemy to our navy: q few men who hate the nations great ness and who hate the navy as the sign and safeguard of that greatness; a few men whose view of everything is propor- toned to the little breadth of the crown and who give their time to petty picker inss about petty things on this subject as they might and do on any other But for these men. the American people has little esteem and with their talk and their aims 1t has little sympathy"
 Awards Diplomas to Stars.
 At the conclusion of his remarks. the Secretary received the diploma of Mid shipman Allen Chantry from Lieutenant Commander Magruder who drew 1t from the pile of sheepskins on the table in front of him. The other star members who headed the class then received theirs ir the order in which they stood in the final examination. The diplomas of other graduates were then drawn at random, and as each youth stepped forward and received his reward and a hand-clasp from the Secretary, there was a round of applause
 The handsome sword given each year by the class of 1876 to the midshipnsn hold ing the best record in the department of practical and theoretical ordnance and grnnery was presented to the man who earned 1t. This year he was Midshipman W. A. Glassford of Seattle. Wash. and