The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-12-19

European race were struggling to set
tie the Western acknowledgements
the recital of which would comprise
the most thrilling stories Of adventure
and heroic deeds, as we'll as sickening
horrors, under the folds of five sepa-
rate flags.
1t was not an uncommon sight
during the war OF 1912 to 1914 when
Western Florida was colony of a
friendly power, to see the murderous
savages bring into yonder square in
front of Fort ST. George the scalps of
American men, women and children
impaled on sticks and there receive
the promised reward of five dollars
for each scalp offered by the officials
the United States, and these payments
were witnessed by the Spanish Of
f1ciaIs.
A Large Navy Required.
Now if we should ever permit our
navy to become so neglected as to be-
come ineffective we might expect a
repetition of Just such horrible scenes
that occurred here by the unwanton
attack of some ambitious and we'll
armed power.
We need more Floridas to make up
a fleet capable of enforcing the recog-
nized policy of our people for universal
peace and the settlement of interna-
tional disputes by arbitration without
sacrificing our national honor, and il
forced into war to be prepared to fight
to successful finish. And it is graft
flying to note that from the earliest
settlement up to the present time our
navy in carrying out that policy has,
by her heroic deeds and brilliant
achievements either in peace or war.
been equalled by few, and excelled by
none.
D.. 49, oons+aa+ ,>,orooo oF +bo
enemy who blockaded our inland COM
merce bordering on the gulf led to the
final sale and purchase of the Louis
lana Territory in 1903, and the F'loridas
in 1918, and in adding that vast en-
pire to our public domain, we secured
an area of territory reaching out to
the Pacific Ocean, to be followed later
on by the addition of the CALIFORNIA;
Our navy secured the defense of
sailors rights. Inundated the arrogant
tyrants of the Barbary States, eX-
tended our commerce in the Orient and
drove Spain from her last stronghold
on this continent, preserved the union
of states and paved the way by which
the confederation of states became
centralized into a great world power
seeking no territorial aggression, but
capable of debating an open door
policy in the Orient as well as a free
and uninterrupted commerce upon the
high seas either in peace or in war.
In accomplishing all this we have
never suffered a single defeat, but in
stead the pages of history are illuminec
by her heroic deeds and beneficial re-
suits that will forever be famous in
history and immortalized in poetry and
song.
Looking to the Future.
In the future as in the past the navy
will do her part in the expansion OF
commerce, equal rights to all, and ir
the proper enforcement of the open
door policy and in our PROSECUTING
system for the advancement of univer-
sal peace. But if fight we must, there
will be no hesitancy in obeying the
mandates of our countrymen.
The very philosophy of history
recognises these facts: that with q
population of peaceful and liberty
loving people, trained as such by cen
turtles of struggle, and reared upon q
soil that has been for ages the asylum
and home of the oppressed from every
cline, they will move on to still
higher plane of civilization until this
great republic of ours will become the
ideal nation and the hope of the world
Now, in conclusion, | feel assured
that this beautiful silver service viii
be useful more for the entertainment
of commissioners of peace than for the
members of a council of war, but what
ever may come, the navy of which the
Florida is an integral part will not
shirk her duty. 1 will therefore as the
representative of the department as
sumo the pleasure of turning over this
silver service to Captain Knapp, the
commanding officer of the Florida, who
is to be it's direct eustodian-and there
could be no better.
CAPT. KNAPP'S ACCEPTANCE.
Enunciating clearly every syllable Of
his speech, Captain Knapp, in COM
mand of the Florida, accepted the sill
yer service and the other gifts Of the
people and the love and patriotism ST
eloquently expressed. In accepting
the various gifts he said:
Your Excellency and Members of the
Florida Silver Service Committee:
After the remarks of Admiral Young
which so fully cover the grounds ir
his speech of acceptance for the navy
department, it remains for me to say
only a few words of thanks, apprecia-
ton and acceptance for the ship itselI
and for the officers and men who have
the honor to serve on board. / do no
dwell upon the beauty of the service
for that is too manifest to need fur
Their words, and it speaks for itself
But there is one thing connected witt
it that is very gratifying to us WHIT
are about to receive it, as | am sure
II must be TO you as representatives d
the donors. 1 refer to the fact thai
although provided in large measure
by gifts from individuals widely scat
tered throughout the state, 1t is also il
large part the gift of every man, WON
an and child in the state by reason o.
the appropriation made by the legis
lature in response to the special mes
sage that you, sir, sent to it on tha
subject. Coming thus it bears a mes
sage of interest in the ship and gooC
will to her personnel that cannot pos
sibly have a wider significance. Tha
state wide interest meets with a ship.
wide appreciation. On the part of thu
officers and men of the ship I thanl
you for this state wide interest ant
good will, and have the honor to &C
cept this silver service, the gift of al
the citizens OF Florida,
TO THE D. A. r.
Mrs. Maholey and Young Lad,
Sponsors Representing the Floride
Daughters of the American Revolu
ton:
In your gift to the Florida you hav.
provided a stand OF colors, the ma
tiOnal. to which every citizen owes al
legiance, a set of battalion color
which shall be peculiarly the propert,
of the Florida, and you have presented
a flag bearing the state seal which
represents your pride and a1legianc