580 Presidential Addresses 



best possible service out of them. The result was 

 seen in the short war with Spain, which was decided 

 with such rapidity because of the infinitely greater 

 preparedness of our navy than of the Spanish navy. 

 While awarding the fullest honor to the men who 

 actually commanded and manned the ships which 

 destroyed the Spanish sea forces in the Philippines 

 and in Cuba, we must not forget that an equal 

 meed of praise belongs to those without whom 

 neither blow could have been struck. The Congress- 

 men who voted years in advance the money to lay 

 down the ships, to build the guns, to buy the armor- 

 plate; the Department officials and the business men 

 and wage-workers who furnished what the Congress 

 had authorized; the Secretaries of the Navy who 

 asked for and expended the appropriations ; and final- 

 ly the officers who, in fair weather and foul, on actual 

 sea service, trained and disciplined the crews of the 

 ships when there was no war in sight all are en- 

 titled to a full share in the glory of Manila and San- 

 tiago, and the respect accorded by every true Amer- 

 ican to those who wrought such signal triumph for 

 our country. It was forethought and preparation 

 which secured us the overwhelming triumph of 

 1898. If we fail to show forethought and prepara- 

 tion now, there may come a time when disaster will 

 befall us instead of triumph; and should this time 

 come, the fault will rest primarily, not upon those 

 whom the accident of events puts in supreme com- 

 mand at the moment, but upon those who have 

 failed to prepare in advance. 



