And State Papers 465 



ON BOARD THE OLYMPIA DURING THE RE- 

 VIEW OF THE FLEET, AUGUST 17, 1903 



AS President of the United States, I wish, on be- 

 half of the entire country, to greet you as rep- 

 resentatives of the officers and enlisted men of the 

 United States Navy. Every man aboard the Olym- 

 pia must feel that on him rests a double duty, to see 

 to it that the ship's name shall be for evermore a 

 symbol of victory and of glory to all the people of 

 our, country. Nothing pleases me more than to see 

 to-day for myself how high is the standard of the 

 enlisted men of the United States Navy. I do not 

 believe that our navy has ever been at a higher point 

 of efficiency. Month by month the already high 

 standard is being raised even higher. All alike share 

 in the duty, and share in the honor which comes if 

 the duty is well done. Whether the service is ren- 

 dered in the conning tower, or in the gun-turrets, or 

 in the engine-room, it matters not, so long as the ser- 

 vice itself is of the highest possible kind. This ship 

 commemorates forever the name of Admiral Dewey, 

 as the Hartford commemorates that of Admiral Far- 

 ragut. And I ask you all, as Americans proud of 

 your country, from the admiral down to the last en- 

 listed landsman, or the youngest apprentice, to ap- 

 preciate alike the high honor and heavy responsibility 

 of your positions. 



