They are the nursery of seamen, more valuable and less costly
than the Naval School at Annapolis. They train the men who
are employed in them to get to be at home on the sea. They
are valuable for naval officers and for sailors. Whenever
there shall be a war with a naval power, they will be thrown
out of employ, and will seek service in our Navy. All the
English authorities, I believe, concur in this opinion. I
read in my speech a very interesting letter from Admiral Porter
who testified strongly to that effect.
While it is true that many of our common sailors engaged
in our cod and other fisheries are of foreign birth, it is
equally true that they, almost all of them, come to live in
this country, get naturalized and become ardent Americans.
This is true of the natives of the British Dominions. But
it is still more true of the Scandinavians, a hardy and adventurous
race, faithful and brave, who become full of the spirit of
American nationality.
Mr. Bayard who was, I think, inspired by a patriotic and
praiseworthy desire to establish more friendly relations
with Great Britain, seemed to me to give away the whole American
case, and to have been bamboozled by Joseph Chamberlain at
every point.
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