"In rendering thanks unto the Most High for the manifold blessings of the past year, consecrate themselves to a life of cleanliness, honor and wisdom, so that this nation may do its allotted work on th..."
"The custom has now become national and hallowed by immemorial usage."
"Our business prosperity has been great."
"The foes from whom we should pray to be delivered are our own passions, appetites, and follies; and against these there is always need that we should war."
"At any time some emergency may arise in which the safety of the entire ship will depend upon the vigilance, intelligence, and cool courage of some one man among you."
"The man who died this morning was an excellent seaman, who had done his duty faithfully, and who died in the performance of that duty."
"The result as I see it in this ship is a triumph not only of organization and discipline, but of the ready zeal with which each individual performs his allotted task."
"It is a privilege for any President to come aboard a squadron of American warships such as these."
"What must impress especially any observer is how essential it is that every individual on a ship like this should do his whole duty, and in any crisis more than his duty."
"The Cumberland sank with her flags flying and her guns firing while her decks were awash."
"Any man in the whole ship's company who does his full duty can claim as his own the honor and repute of the ship and has a right to feel a personal pride in all she does."
"Let each of you officers remember, in the event of war, that while a surrender may sometimes be justifiable, yet that surrender must always be explained, while it is never necessary to explain the fac..."