New-York tribune., 1908-03-13
At N4GD4LENA BAY.
judgment

On each new stretch Of its unprecedented
cruise our peaceful war feet surpasses its own
former record the only existing record which
is 10 be taken into the comparison. On every
stretch from the very start II has done well.
On each ii has been subjected TO special con
ditions involving special perils and need Of spe-
ca vigilance. With every mile of progress,
moreover, the liability to mshap has Increased
with the wear and tear both of machinery and
of nerves, But now the fifth and longest
stretch has been accomplished in perfect form
and two DAYS ahead of schedule time. 1t is a
performance as cretlitabe TO the navy as it IS
gratifying TO the nation
At Magdalena Bay the ships nearer home
than at any time since their first run Yet tney
are in waters and off coast probably less IA
miIiar to Americans than any other i'll all their
voyage. and III spot which doubtless seems to
them more isolated and remote from the world
than any other which they have visited. The
whole OF Baja California exists TO most of us
only in name in remniscence Of q Bret
Harte romance. Magdalena Bay itself is
little inhabited spot. not only presenting strik
ing contrast 10 the Iec:nins million of Rio lie
Janeiro but seeming deserted even by the side
of Punta Arenas. Yet there will lac Il sufficient
population there TO prevent our men from feel
ing lonely, and we confident that during
h their stay under the Mexican flag our ships
and their companies viii be welcome and as
secure as they were under that Of any other
country whose guests they have been.
The stories of Mexico and the United States
have. been connected in 4 variety OF contradlc-
tory ways Time was when Mexico was the
seat of implacable animoSity against the young
American Republic, and then it became the OBJ
ject of treasonable ambitions and intrigues- 1t
set the honorable example of abOiShing human
slavery long before ourselves, and largely be
cause of that fact presently came into violent
conflict with this country. TO its own disaster
far more than 10 our credit 1t was grieyousy
spoliated. and then for years lapsed into little
better than chaos. and in consequence was re-
carded with contempt rather than with the
sympathy which might more fittingly have been
given to it. In great emergency, however, the
United States came to its rescue and freed it
from the menace of foreign conquest and en-
abled Juarez 10 found the structure of suhstan-
tial statehood which Diaz has so splendidy
continued To-day we believe there is entire
sympathy confidence and mutual esteem ne
tween the two nations, their commercial and
industrial relations are IF the closest kind. and
the unique spectacle has been presented Of
their cooperating as partners in the tuteage of
some of their minor and weaker nCIghb0rS.
Our feet has had q most prosperous run all
the way from Hampton Roads TO Magdalena
Bay. and it will doubtless have agreeable
and profitable visit there. 1t is very near
home from a geographical point Of view, and it
is equally near homo in point of the welcome
which il has received. ine hospitality which it
is enjoying and the security with which it will
be invested during its stay in Mexican waters.