The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-02-25
ADDRESS.
OF REV. HoRATIo sTEBBINs,

OF REV. HORATIO STEBBINS,
Delivered before the Mayor. Aldermen. Common
Council. and Citizens Of Portland, in commemora-
ton Of the Birthday Of George Washington, Mon
Mr.. Mayor, Gentlemen of the Board Of Al
dermen and Common Council, and Citizens:
As the organ and spokesman of the munich
palty of Portland, II Is my first duty to re-
mind you that we owe devout gratitude and
Thanksgiving to Almighty God, that we have
acountryi A country which claims and en-
joys the undiminished love of great and
willing prople! That the foundations of Con-
stitutional liberty, laid with vow and prayer
by the fathers, are still firm! That the sons,
through that Divine Goodness which plants
the instincts of Constitutional Liberty in the
beeasts OF men, call upon mankind TO witness
their mistaken purpose that these foundations
shall not be moved!
1t Is my duty also to remind you that, by
the gracious favor Of Heaven, the spontaneous
enthusiasm Of the people has settled into the
steady glow Of unconquerable conviction -
That, amid the shock and din of war, Liberty
walks aQueen, her garments untouched by firel
That, amid the yicissitudes and shifting for
tune Of arms, the government has made
steady encroachments upon the insurgent
power, sure, irresistibly, as cooling iron
shrinks to its place! That the Rebellion, dur
ing the last autumn, lifting high its envenom-
ed head TO strike its fangs at Freedom as she
walked at home In northern cities, was dashed
back to the place where the serpent was
hatched! That now the area Of the insurrec-
ton is invested, and the delays of war are the
p'eage OF victory!
u Is my auty also In the same spirit to re-
mind YOU that we owe praise and gratitude to
God for the rich inheritance Of the names of
patriots, illustrious men, whose heroic forti-
tude, wisdom, patience, and benevolence, sus-
tained them through long and doubtful
suuege. ana ensoleo tnem AZ length 10 iound
T 1,e anp'e VI iioer.y WIN gates open 70 tne
Nurns' " nv 1ne SCUM, 70 lne East, ana the
a. ny pa.. wn'sn CIV VIC inne.it ia the mem
vIy " .ne greS. ana tne good, Is more than
IeIo'c, ~ = DisineI ~ comes 70 US In Won
.,.." s.u Ml aan,ns, Aho Gommanament, ana en-
snsa, ,.., ny aencrs, lhmoi,aisi cease not
Ty 1wInane in.eIeess'9n -, US, tneiI beloved II
.,l., a.se ~, oy Al noly memories ana tradi,
snns, W p'veeIse tnst whicn We nave received!
~ ae peIils aud triais OF tne past, oy the
"a ~. 81. asonles VI .ne present, oy the tnou-
~1u -" saous"nus mno sieeP IA their p,oouy
graves, oy tne hresioes throughout our land;
helne.s children s;t wse,;no anu hv WV waows ana
h.ppS sa.n 80. ~. epns, ~ lne unnuhl
mothers blessing or sisters pity, by the
giea1 ih.eress Q! humanity, Liberty, Law,
lsela'u,e' nengIon' oy aii tnings IN earth and
as noasem .ia. n,aAe lne siory ol human exist
sL - - ~ - rI:. 1 P1..iiso VI h's.ofy'
tncy urge anu ad'nonish us, driving out all un-
woItny tnoughts ana seinsh passions, to rise
70 the solemn dignity Oh the hour, and from
tne serene neights OF chastened patient con-
Wcuon, oenoid our iand Oh promise, and, upon
tne aitar wnere our fathers swore, swear
agash our 'eaity 70 the hepuonc!
liN ncse 'li'ngs' lnnerllahces OF the past, pos
SESSIONS o. ,ne present, ana hopes OF the fu-
'uac. a,e o' .ne great mercy Oh our GOD,
.Ioaay, tne thougnuui ana intelligent
American citizen in whose breast there are no
rahcors oi party spirit or personal jealousies,
turns win instructive loathing and disgust
nom the common places OF popular declama-
ton, the ribaid jest and low invective of the
the partizan. BY sure impulse Of noble senti-
ment within. by simplicity of purpose to know
ana DO MS duty, so help him God: conscious
tnat perilous times have come, that the sea is
tempestuous ana the night Is dark, he desires
70 take counsei oil the wise and the good. As
memory calls up the great ensamples of man
klno, ne ihstincuveiy rises to his feet WITH
necom'ng reverence uncovers his head, and
nseens as 70 voice from heaven. That voice
y Inc voice of George Washington! The
American citizen knows that voice as q
cniia knows his mothers by holy tie of kim
orea blood,
LIE OF nations it Is signal token of Divine ia
vor tnat such man was given to U.S. Even