Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-06-06
President Wilson SO
Declares to Naval
Graduates at
Annapolis
Prays There VIII Be No More
Fighting al Vera Cruz

Annapolis, Md, June 4-President
Wilson today told 154 graduates or
the Naval Academy many of whom
leave shortly for Mexican waters, that
the mission of the United States is one
of service to humanity, not of aggran-
dizment or conquest. He spoke at the
annual academy graduation exercises
and later delivered the diplomas to
the young midshipmen. He declared
the duty of the United States is to
serve the world.
Speaking of the Vera Cruz situa-
ton the President reverently declared
that Il pray God the boys there will
not have to fight any more" He said
that the real good they will do will
be their impression on the MeXicans.
They are not strutting and buster
ing" he went on. THE people of Vera
Cruz, who despised and hated Amer
leans, will think differently of them
when our boys leave"
The President was enthusiastically
cheered during his address.
President Wilson said in part
1T ought to be one of your thoughts
all the time that you are sample
Americans, not merely sample navy
men, not merely sample soldiers, but
sample Americans and that you have
the point of view of America with re-
gard to her navy and her army, that
she is using them as the instrument
of civilization, not as the instrument
of aggression. The idea of America is
to serve humanity and every time you
let the Stars and Stripes free to the
wind you ought to realize that that
is in itself a message; that you are
on an errand which other navies have
sometimes forgotten, not an errand OF
conquest, but an errand of service.
What do you think is the lasting
impression that those boys down at
Vera Cruz are going to leave They
have had to use some force; | pray
God it may not be necessary for htem
to use any more; but do you think that
the way they fought is going to be
the most lasting impression? Have
men not fought ever since the world
began? Is there anything new in u.s.
ing force? The new things in the world
are the things that are divorced from
force. The things that show the moral
cumpuisions of the human conscience,
those are the things by which we have
been building up civilizations, not by
force; and the lasting impression that
those boys are to leave, will be that
they exercised self-control."
Continuing the President said:
You must bear in mind that you
are the champions of what is right
and fair all round, no matter where
You are, and that it is for what is
right and fair for public welfare that
you are ready TO fight and not merely
or the drop of a hat or upon some
slight punctillo."
The President praised Admiral
Fletcher, saying he had been on duty
longer at Vera Cruz than the other
commanders and that he had the quail
tiles of statesman.
After the ceremonies, the President
watched the graduates go to their
quarters and hte former "plebes" run
to take possession of Lovers Lane"
He ate luncheon with Captain Full
lam and planned to leave for Wash
ington at . o'clock.
The President was welcomed here
by salutes from the battleships Ida
no. Missouri and Illinois and the sta
ton ship Reina Mercedes Capt, w.
f. Fullam, superintendent of the
academy Capt. w. G. Logan, COM
mandant, and Lieut.. Commander Chaun-
cey Shackford went out to the May
flower in a launch and brought the
President and Secretary of the Navy
Daniels ashore and took them direct
ly to the academy armory, where the
exercises were held. AS the Presiden-
tial party landed on the bank of the
Severn another salute doomed from a
shore battery.
A bad wind and rainstorm made the
going difficult for the Mayfiower
throughout the night.
The President left Annapolis at $3.50
P. NJ on board the Mayfiower for
Washington, expecting to arrive there
at 9 o'clock tomorrow morning.
AS the Mayfiower steamed out of
the Severn Presidential salute was
fired from shore