The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-02-24

ADMIRAL srEKRf' has made such q
Journey, and had it been intended as
hostile demonstration 1t would have
been highly inappropriate to signalize
its return by big demonstration on
the birthday of Washington, for,
though mighty in battle when the
question of freedom was involved, he
was not Il man who sought bloody
strife for the sake Of conquest or for
the opportunities Of winning military
glory. When many Of the colonists
were eager for separation from the
mother country in the discussion pre-
liminary to the Revolution he held
back as long as possible. hoping that
a reconciliation was yet feasible.
When, during his second term rs pres
ident. some of his more impulsive
countrymen would have plunged the
young nation into war with England
or France he again held back and
saved the republic for the time being
from struggle which might have
been fatal 10 its existence, coming at
a time when II had not yet had op-
portunity to strengthen itself against
the enemies of the general govern
ment within and the foes of the whole
country without.
But the sentiments of Washingtons
farewell address, breathing peace and
amity with all nations. are not in an
tagonism 10 the mission of the fleet
which has been circling the globe,
for that was a peaceful mission.
Wherever 1t appeared friends rather
than enemies were made for the Amer
ican nation. The welcomes extended
the officers and men of the feet in
South American ports. in the orient. in
Australia and New Zealand strength
ened the bonds Of friendship already
existing between these countries and
our own. The services of our ships in
the Mediterranean in connection with
the italian earthquake disaster earned
the gratitude of the Italians and their
government. Everywhere that the
flagship Connecticut led her bravely
manned and splendidly equipped sister
warships the prospects for peace were
improved, strange as the statement
may seem. This was due not alone to
the expressions of pacific sentiment
which accompanied the setting forth
of the feet when 1t sailed from Hamp
ton Roads on that memorable 10th day
of December, 1907, but to the admira-
BILE tact and good sense displayed by
both officers and men wherever they
went ashore, often under circumstances
which were a temptation to conduct
which might have been discreditable
to their uniform and a cause Of i'll
feeling between the visitors and their
hosts. The cruise around the globe
was not only free from serious acci
dents to the ships, but was remarka-
bly, free also from incidents to be re-
GREETED, the chief exceptions to this
being the court martial and sentence
of Captain Edward +. Qualtrough Of
the Georgia for intoxication at a re-
ceptton in Morocco and the discipline
meted out to young Lieutenant Franck
T. Evans while the fleet was in orien-
plored on account of the young officer
being a son of the gallant admiral un-
der whom the feet was guided from
Hampton Roads to San Francisco, the
beloved "Fighting Bob Evans. In
both these cases there were circum-
stances which mitigated the offense,
but the stern discipline which must
be enforced in the navy prevented this
fact from saving the officers in ques-
ton from censure and loss of rank
Three rear admiras have command
ed the feet since its departure from
Hampton Roads-Evans, who was In
charge of 1t until the arrival in San
Francisco; Charles S. Thomas, who is
now dead, and Charles S. Sperry, who