Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1915-06-04
SEN. PENROSE'S ADDRESS
TO GRADUATES
1continued from Firgt Page.

Board of Visitors representing the
Senate and House of Representatives
of the Congress of the United States.
We have spent several days here and
have carefully examined the Naval
Academy so far as the limited time of
our visit has permitted. We have been
deeply and favorably impressed with
what we have seen. | think / voice
the sentiment of all the members of
our Board when say we realize that
the American Government has here an
institution maintained on the highest
standards and worthy in every way of
the great purposes for which it was
intended
/ shall not as a civilian speak to
you, in the few moments allowed me,
regarding the military or naval duties
concerning which you know more than
| can tell you. can remind you, how
ever. that as a body you are n your
way Representatives of the American
people. You hold an office of the first
Importance under our national govern
ment. IL can be truly said that you
are really as thoroughly representa-
tive of the nation at large as is the
American Congress. This representa-
tive character happens to be the acc-
dental result of the method of appoint
ment.
When the Naval Academy was found
ed the right TO make a nomination was
accorded each member of the House
of Representatives and of the Senate.
This has had the fortunate result of
causing our navy TO have in its per-
sonnel officers from every Congression-
al district in the Union. Had il not
been for this provision of law the
officers of the navy might have been
and, probably, would have been re.
cruited largely from the coast and
maritime sections of the country.
The Naval Academy fortunately has
been located at Annapolis. During
your long and arduous course here you
have had an environment suited in
every way to naval practice. Here is
town-one of the oldest in the Uni
ted States filled with many of the
best traditions OF American history.
Within the sound of my voice are many
points of patriotic inspiration made
famous during Colonial and Revolution
airy times.
A civilian must be familiar with
the conditions which have been inn
posed upon the American navy to rea-
lize the varied qualifications required
Of the American naval officer That
officer must be an engineer, navigator,
seaman and diplomatist- fine pro-
duct of our Twentieth Century Ameri-
can civilization. The officers and men
of the American navy always have
been the pioneers and protectors of
American commerce.
In our Civil War it was the naval
forces of the North which cut off the
Southern Confederacy from its means
of support by sea. If the Confeder-
ates States had had access to the ocean
and control of the Mississippi River
no armies of the North could probably,
have conquered the well supplied ar
mics of the South. In the Spanish
War the naval battles were the i'm
portant ones and determined the result.
As the relations of nations grow
worldwide in their scope, and as
conflicts nowadays extend half way
round the world, it is reasonable to
suppose that the navy in the future
will take even a more important part
than in the past in any contests that
m ay occur.
The American people are aroused
as never before to the Importance of
the navy.
We stand for peace but il must be
peace with honor, peace that means
preparedness for war, it war must come,
for defense and right. If we became
world power after the Spanish War
we certainly found ourselves in situa-
tion i'll prepred for such a great des-
tiny. We must live up to our respon-
sibilitties and make every effort to
secure for the American nation indus
trial, commercial and naval inde-
pendence of the rest of the world.
The preservation of the Monroe Doc
trine is particularly the reason why we
should have an adequate and powerful
navy.
You enter upon the scene in the full
vigor of early manhood in the most ex-
traordinary age that has been wit
messed in the history of civilization.
Brilliant as has been the achievements
in art and invention in the present
age. great as has been the contribution
of men and nations to the progress of
civilization in past ages. it will be ad-
mitted generally that these are likely
to be greatly surpassed in the near
future.
The Board of Visitors extend to you
their sincere greetings and the fervent
wish that each and all of you may have
a long, useful and distinguished career
in the noble profession to which you
have devoted yourselves.