And State Papers 33 



train them in character means to train them not 

 only to possess, as they must possess, the softer and 

 gentler virtues, but also the virile powers of a race 

 of vigorous men, the virtues of courage, of honesty 

 not merely the honesty that refrains from doing 

 wrong, but the honesty that wars aggressively for 

 the right the virtues of courage, honesty, and, 

 finally, hard common-sense. 



TO THE GRADUATING CLASS, NAVAL ACAD 

 EMY, ANNAPOLIS, MD., MAY 2, 1902 



Gentlemen of the Graduating Class: 



In receiving these diplomas you become men who 

 above almost any others of the entire Union are to 

 carry henceforth ever-present with you the sense of 

 responsibility which must come if you are worthy 

 of wearing the uniform ; which must come with the 

 knowledge that on some tremendous day it may de 

 pend upon your courage, your preparedness, your 

 skill in your profession, whether or not the nation 

 is again to write her name on the world's roll of 

 honor or is to know the black shame of defeat. We 

 all of us earnestly hope that the occasion for war 

 may not arise, but if it has to come then this nation 

 must win; and as Dr. Winston has pointed out, in 

 winning the prime factor must of necessity be the 

 United States Navy. If the navy fails us then we 

 are doomed to defeat. It should therefore be an ob 

 ject of prime importance for every patriotic Amer 

 ican to see that the navy is built up; and that it is 



