Products of the mine, rare and exceptional, have been added to the products of the field, until now the impression has been made upon my mind that if any want should be developed in the arts, possibly if any wants should be developed in statesmanship, or any vacancies in office [great laughter], we have here a safe reservoir that can be drawn upon ad libitum. [Laughter]. But, my friends, sweeter than all the incense of flowers, richer than all the products of mines, has been the gracious, unaffected, hearty kindness with which the people of California have everywhere received us. Without division, without dissent, a simple yet magnificent and enthusiastic American welcome. [Great applause.]
It is gratifying that it should be so. We may carry into our campaigns, to our conventions and congresses, discussions and divisions, but how grand it is that we are a people who bow reverently to the decision when it is rendered, and who will follow the flag always, everywhere, with absolute devotion of heart without asking what party may have given the leader in whose hands it is placed. [Enthusiastic cheering.]
I believe that we have come to a new epoch as a Nation. There are opening portals before us inviting us to enter—opening portals to trade and influence and prestige such as we have never seen before. [Great applause.] We will pursue the paths of peace; we are not a warlike Nation; all our instincts, all our history is in the lines of peace. Only intolerable aggression, only the peril of our institutions—of the flag—can thoroughly arouse us. [Great applause.] With capability for war on land and on sea unexcelled by any nation in the world, we are smitten with the love of peace. [Applause.] We would promote the peace of this hemisphere by placing judiciously some large guns about the Golden Gate [great and enthusiastic cheering]—simply for saluting purposes [laughter and cheers], and yet they should be of the best modern type. [Cheers.]
We should have on the sea some good vessels. We don't need as great a navy as some other people, but we do need a sufficient navy of first-class ships, simply to make sure that the peace of the hemisphere is preserved [cheers]; simply that we may not leave the great distant marts and harbors of commerce and our few citizens who may be domiciled there to feel lonesome for the sight of the American flag. [Cheers.]
We are making fine progress in the construction of the navy. The best English constructors have testified to the completeness and perfection of some of our latest ships. It is a source of great gratification to me that here in San Francisco the energy, enterprise, and courage of some of your citizens have constructed a plant capable of building the best modern ships. [Cries of "Good! good!" and cheers.]
I saw with delight the magnificent launch of one of these new vessels. I hope that you may so enlarge your capacities for construction that it will not be necessary to send any naval vessel around the Horn. We want merchant ships. [Cheers.] I believe we have come to a time when we should choose whether we will continue to be non-participants in the commerce of the world or will now vigorously, with the push and energy which our people have shown in other lines of enterprise, claim our share of the world's commerce. [Cheers.]
I will not enter into the discussion of methods of the Postal bill of the last session of Congress, which marks the beginning. Here in California, where for so long a time a postal service that did not pay its own way was maintained by the Government, where for other years the Government has maintained mail lines into your valleys, reaching out to every remote community, and paying out yearly a hundred times the revenue that was derived, it ought not to be difficult to persuade you that our ocean mail should not longer be the only service for which we refuse to expend even the revenues derived from it.
It is my belief that, under the operation of the law to which I have referred, we shall be able to stimulate ship-building, to secure some new lines of American steamships, and to increase the ports of call of all those now established. [Enthusiastic cheering.]
It will be my effort to do what may be done under the powers lodged in me by the law to open and increase trade with the countries of Central and South America. I hope it may not be long—I know it will not be long if we but unitedly pursue this great scheme—until one can take a sail in the bay of San Francisco and see some deep-water ships come in bearing our own flag. [Enthusiastic and continued cheering.]
During our excursion the other day I saw three great vessels come in; one carried the Hawaiian and two the English flag. I am a thorough believer in the construction of the Nicaragua Canal. You have pleased me so much that I would like a shorter water communication between my State and yours. [Cheers.] Influences and operations are now started that will complete, I am sure, this stately enterprise; but, my fellow-citizens and Mr. President, this is the fifth time this day that I have talked to gatherings of California friends, and we have so much taxed the hospitality of San Francisco in making our arrangements to make this city the centre of a whole week's sight-seeing that I do not want to add to your other burdens the infliction of longer speech. [Cries of "Go on!">[ Right royally have you welcomed us with all that is rich and prodigal in provision and display. With all graciousness and friendliness I leave my heart with you when I go. [Great and prolonged cheering.]