The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-02-27
this naval display? we confess to our


inability to answer. President Roose-
yelt evidently wanted to test the trust
sworthiness Of the fleet and to impress
the great powers of the world with due
respect for our naval prowess. He
may have thought it advisable to give
the jingoes Of Japan an ocular proof
of the great strength Of the American
Navy, Of which any nation may feel
justly proud. There is no doubt but
the, most powerful nation on earth
would hesitate and resort to arbitra.
tion rather than face such a formidable
foe on the briny deep.
But this. demonstration of, our naval
force Is more conducive to peace than
to war, and it is fondly hoped that the
day In far distant when it will en-
counter any foreign fleet in battle
array. A strange feature Of the demon-
stration was that AZ Golfers accom-
panied the feet and carried the flags
Of foreign powers. At the first shot
fired between the American fleet and
that Of any nation, these Golfers would
vanish and leave our magnificent ships
helpless. Congress should lose no time
in providing Golfers Of our own, car
rying the Stars and Stripes, and dis
pense with the foreign boats as soon
as possible. In an emergency they
cannot be depended on.
It is unquestionably true that these
sixteen fighting ships cannot be sur
passed by any nation in the world,
and 1t is safe to assert that no better
fighting men than the American 1ars
can be found on Gods footstool. But
they did not go round the earth, seek
ing whom they may devour. Far
from it. They were on a peaceful
errand. and for part Of the time on
an errand of mercy, and rendered aid
to the unfortunate victims Of the Ital-
ian earthquake.
Never in the history Of the world
did SO powerful fleet in the pan6ply
Of war accomplish so long and difhcult
a voyage without meeting any mis-
haps. Never did any fleet receive such
ovations from strangers. In the far
off Australian cities, the officers and
crews of the American feet were the
recipients OF the warmest hospitality
This feet of battleships was revela-
ton to the world. It demonstrated. the
discipline, spirit, hardihood and re!ia-
bility of American seamen, establish
ed beyond cavil the ability of Anneri-
can naval officers to navigate ships
with mastery skill and to face the
gravest perils Of the deep. It is an
achievement at which the world we'll
may marvel and for which the officers
and men richly deserved the praise
bestowed on them by President Roose-
welt on their return home when he
|fsaid: s5 lf y. ~, s::,=:..s,4e.
You have been in the, northern and
the southern temispheres four times
you have crossed the line; you have
steamed through all the great oceans;
you have touched tho coast of every
continent. Ever your general course
has been westward, and now you come
back to the port from which you set
sail. This is the first battle fleet that
has ever circumnavigated the globe
Those who perform the feat again car
but follow in your footsteps. AS a
war machine the fleet comes back in
better shape than it went out. In
addition, you, the officers and men OF
this formidable fighting force, have
shown yourselves the best Of all posi-
BILE ambassadors and heralds Of peace
Wherever you have landed you have
borne. yourselves so as to make US al
home proud Of being your countrymen
You have shown that the best type OF
fighting man of the sea knows how tt
appear to the utmost possible advant
age when his business is to behave
himself on shore and to make a good
impression. in a foreign land. We are
proud of all the ships and all the men
In this whole fleet, and we welcome
you home to the country whose good
repute among nations has been raised
tby what you have DONE"
The Irish Standard has always beer
in favor Of an American navy superior
to that Of any other nation. We have
it now, and the world at large il
cognizant Of the fact. Great Britain
and Japan have no desire to test It's Of.
hciency. The lesson has been brought
home to them, that discretion is tn.
better part OF valor.r and that the best
policy for. them to pursue Is to keer
on amicable terms with the United
States.
! --------- 7----------- 81
Says Fr. Lambert In the N. 7. Free.
mans Journal. Why say 'Patrick's
Day." when one can with little extra
vocal effort say "saint Patricks Day.