The Strenuous Life 13 



that in the summer of 1898 it leaped to its proper 

 place as one of the most brilliant and formidable 

 fighting navies in the entire world. We rightly pay 

 all honor to the men controlling the navy at the time 

 it won these great deeds, honor to Secretary Long 

 and Admiral Dewey, to the captains who handled 

 the ships in action, to the daring lieutenants who 

 braved death in the smaller craft, and to the heads 

 of bureaus at Washington who saw that the ships 

 were so commanded, so armed, so equipped, so well 

 engined, as to ensure the best results. But let us 

 also keep ever in mind that all of this would not have 

 availed if it had not been for the wisdom of the men 

 who during the preceding fifteen years had built up 

 the navy. Keep in mind the Secretaries of the Navy 

 during those years; keep in mind the Senators and 

 Congressmen who by their votes gave the money 

 necessary to build and to armor the ships, to con 

 struct the great guns, and to train the crews; re 

 member also those who actually did build the ships, 

 the armor, and the guns ; and remember the admirals 

 and captains who handled battleship, cruiser, and 

 torpedo-boat on the high seas, alone and in squad 

 rons, developing the seamanship, the gunnery, and 

 the power of acting together, which their successors 

 utilized so gloriously at Manila and off Santiago. 

 And, gentlemen, remember the converse, too. Re 

 member that justice has two sides. Be just to those 



