West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-05-27
We ASK ONLY WHAT We HAVE
RIGHT TO ASK FOR HUMANITY
We Want No Nations Property
We Want Nothing that We Can
not Get by Our Own Legitimate
Enterprise and by the Inspiration
OF Our Own Example


last week while in that city review
ing the feet:
Mr.. Mayor, Mr.. Secretary, Admiral
Fletcher and Gentlemen of the Fleet:
This is not an occasion upon which.
II seems to me, that it would be wise
for me TO make many remarks, but |
would deprive myself OF n great graf
ihcation If l did not express my pleas
ure in being here, my gratitude for
the splendid reception which has been
accorded me as the representative OF
the nation. and my profound interest
in the navy of the United States. That
is an interest with which | was an
parently born. for II began when | was
youngster and ripened with my
knowledge of the affairs and policies
of the United States.
II think il is natural. instructive
judgment of the people OF the United
States that they express their power
appropriately in an efficient navy. and
their interset is partly believe. be
cause that navy somehow is expect
ed TO express their character, not
within our own borders, where that
character is understood. but outside
our borders, where it is hoped we may
occasionally touch others with some
slight vision of what America stands
for
But before / speak OF the navy of
the United States, / want to take ad-
vantage OF the first public opportun-
ity have had to speak of the Secre-
tary of the Navy. to express my conf
dence and my admiration. and to saw
that he has my unqualified support.
Tor l have counselled with him i'm in
innate fashion. l know how sincere
ly he has il at heart that everything
that the navy does and handles should
be done and handled as the people of
the United States wish them handled
because efficiency is something
more than organization.
Efficiency runs into every we'll
considered detail OF personnel and
method. Efficiency runs to the ex-
tent of lifting the ideals of the ser
vice above every personal interest
So that when / speak my support of
the Secretary OF the Navy, / am mere
ly speaking my support OF what
know every true lover OF the navy
to desire and to purpose for the navy
of the United States is a body speciaI-
ly trusted with the ideals of America
| like to imagine in my thought this
ideal.
These quiet ships lying i'm the river
have no suggestion of bluster about
them no intimation OF aggression.
They are commanded by men thought
ful of the duty OF citizens as well as
the duty of ohice-s-men acquainted
with the traditions of the great ser
vice to which they belong g-men who
know by touch with the people of the
United States what sort OF purposes
they ought to entertain and what sort
of discretion they ought to exercise.
in order to use those engines of force
as engines to promote the interest OF
humanity.
For the interesting and inspiring
thing about America, gentlemen. is
that she asks nothing for herself ex-
cept what she has a right to ask for.
humanity itself We want no nations
property; we wish to question no ma
TONS honor; we wish TO stand selfish
Iy in the way OF the development OF
no nation; we want nothing that we
cannot get by our own legitimate on
tcrprise and by the inspiration of our
own example. and. standing for these
things, 1t is not pretension on our part
to say that we are privileged to stand
for what every nation would wish TO
stand for and speaking for those
things which all humanity must de-
sire.
When think Of the flag which
those ships carry, the only touch Of
color about them. the only thing that
moves as If il had settled spirit I'm
IL In their solid structure. II seems to
me see alternate strips Of parchment
upon which are written the rights Of
liberty and Justice and strips OF blood
split 10 vindicate those rights. and
then. IN the corner. prediction OF the
blue serene into which every nation
may swim which stands for those
great things.
"The mission Of America is the
only thing that sailor or soldier
should think about; he has nothing to
do with the formulation Of her policy:
he is TO support her policy. whatever
il is but he is to support her policy
I'm the spirit Of herself. and the
strength Of our policy IS that we. who
for the time being administer the af-
fairs Of this nation do not originate
her spirit; we attempt to embody Il:
we attempt 10 realize IL I'm action. we
are dominated by 10. we do not dictate
it
And so with every man tn arms
who serves the nation; he stands and
waits 10 do the thing which the nation
desires America sometimes seems.
perhaps to forget her programmes. or
rather ] would say that sometimes
those who represent her seem TO for
get her programmes. but the people
never forget them. Il is as startling as
It Is touching to see how whenever