Los Angeles herald., 1907-05-31

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ried the whole garrison and returned
with every ship of the fleet loaded to
the waters edge with powder and guns
for Washington's army.
THAT was in the days of the revolu-
ton. Hundreds of similar instances
could be mentioned, but l will pass ON
to later period.
"In the war of the rebellion, when the
foundation of the republic was crumb-
ling, when chance and fate combined TO
wreck the fortune of the boys in plue,
when the country was sinking beneath
the treacherous waters of civil discord,
when England stood ready with greedy
hands to snap the quivering cord OF the
dying union, and Napoleon Ill was
boldly planting the standard of royalty
in the soil of Mexico, preparing for the
establishment of a new empire OF the
west at the foot of the American eagle
the navy again come to our rescue,
this time in the form of vessel tHe
like of which had never before peen
known in naval history.
"It is thus that the navy has ever
played it's part in times of military war,
while its purely naval achievements are
so rich in retrospect and so matchless IN
COMPARISON Will IilooO VI c1i'J
power known to history that time lor-
bids a repetition of them here.
at is enough for me to say, as was
said NV the greatest orator that ever
touched this bank and shoal Oh tilne
that when the will of man denes rear
when the heart applauds the pralil'
when duty throws the gauntlet down 10
fate, when honor scorns to compromise
with death, heroes are born
Men of Navy Heroes
"rhe men of the American navy were
heroes: their will defied fear, they Threw
the gauntlet down to fate, their noEor
scorned to compromise with death: Ihey
fought for liberty, they fought for us.
Their battles were sermons and their
victories Judgment of divine Provl-
dence. Thel fought for justice, the
only God; for liberty, the only goddess.
Their memory is sacred, their country
grateful. This is enough for them.
'Tis all they want, 'tis more than they
required. They sleep in their nameless
graves. under the waters they mace
free each in his coral bed wrapped in
his mantle of glory. Tears cannoI
sweeten nor time soften their eternal
repose Earth may run red with otner
wars: they are at rest. Posterlty VIII
do as we do, drop a flower of gratltuoe
on the whispering waves and leave
these heroes to their silent rest.
"But there is another and more in
viting side to this question 1t is the
achievements of our navy in times or
peace, matter to which l thlnk ms
tory has not been altogether faltnlul'
"How many and what wars nave peen
averted. or what fatal and unhappy
destinv has been avoided by the keen
Intelligence, rare diplomatic knowledge
and far seeing statemanship OF our
naval comrades and naval men, VIII
never be known until some one snail
have done that which ought to have
been done long ago-publish book on
the achievements of our navy in times
of peace-a task l hope Will soon De
undertaken by competent hand'
1.-THE officers and men of our naVal
service are not infrequently entrusted
with the most delicate and important
diplomatic commissions, and in no IN
stance of recorded history have they
failed to discharge them with honor 10
themselves and credit to the nation that
empowered them.
"There are many instances of these,
but 1 will mention only two.
Decatur's Mission
"In the war with the Barbary states
Stephen Decatur, man only thlrty-odd
years of age, was clothed by this gov
ernment with full power to make ana
to conclude a treaty of peace and amlty
with the dey of Algiers, one OF the
warning monarchs. This commission ne
executed in manner worthy the great
est diplomat, and at later period or
time we have the remarkable incident
of Commodor Perry concluding his
Justly famous convention with the
august ruler of the imperial empire or
japan, diplomatic achievement with
out parallel in the history of this
country.
"These are incidents in the history of
our navy worthy the consideration or
thoughtful men, for they are not only
important within themselves, but they
suggest better use for naval men and
naval maneuvers, a destiny to which l
hope all nations are now rapidly and IN
.evitably tending.
"Nor does my hope for the future
glory of the navy rest here. Peace, not
war, should be- and I believe is now, the
primary object of all navies and ma
tions alike, and strange as it may seem,
I believe that the true greatness and
final Immortality of our navy will only
appear when it's ability to preserve
rather than to make peace shall have
been demonstrated by it's diplomatic
power. This at least should be it's OBJ
iect. Each great ship, dressed in its
garD or SpOtleSS Wnlte SHOULD De an
earnest messenger of peace, an ambas-
sador extraordinary and minister pleni-
potentiary to the court of Neptune, as
it were.
"But to do this two things are neces-
sary-the navy must be increased and
the men better paid; nor will this be
an additional expense to the nation as
many suppose; on the contrary, it will
undoubtedly be saving in the long
run If any one doubts this let him
reflect upon two things: First that in
republics, such 30 ours, enemies are
only to be expeFted from without, not