Army, together with the decision of our representatives at 

 Washington, the outlines of our National home are to be 

 increased from what was the Nation of the past ; and the 

 near future will reveal to us, after deliberations, what 

 those limits are to be. 



The civilization of the world has been protected b}^ our 

 acts in war, and may the business interests of our people 

 be so enhanced thereby that the inevitable horrors that 

 must come with war shall be made good to the country. 



But to decide what shall be the limits of home, is in the 

 keeping, or soon may be, of several Boards of Commission- 

 ers, who shall define that future territory of these United 

 States. 



When the present uncertainty is done away with, and 

 we know what is ours to develop, govern, and protect, 

 with stable condition of business, to the good of all well 

 ordered men and women, we must also have decided upon 

 a form of influence, or power, by which stable conditions of 

 government and business shall be kept up during our 

 reformations, and which shall continue thereafter. 



We must have an enlarged and sufficient Navy, with the 

 means of repairing, docking, and keeping it in good order 

 within our own territory, which latter we are approaching, 

 and it must be the best for our uses that the world can 

 yield. We hear the highest words of deserved praise for 

 our Navy in the last war and its management, and must 

 see the profit to us of its increase. Its accomplishments, by 

 the aid of many boats converted to its use have been grand. 



But let us not forget that latter necessity in the emer- 

 gency that confronted us last spring; and may it be a spur 

 to provide against an unreasonable lack of Naval power at 

 some possible future emergency. May our ships all" be 

 converted from the ranks before the next occasion calls. 



The men of our Army also, both regular and volunteer, 

 have the heartfelt appreciation of our people for their 



