Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1866-05-11
Gen. Chamberlain's Address.

Our space to-day does not admit of full
publication of this excellent address, and
we give below the closing paragraphs which
are really beautiful.
Those are not vague imageries ofrhetoric
they are pictures from life. They may
seem unmanly to you here, surrounded by
all that is bright and glad in peace and Sc
curity But hearts come strangely near on
the dreary picket line, or in the dismal biv-
ouac among the dead in the nights
between the battles. And more than one
such confession do remember from the
manifest souls that ever weut up from the
thekest of the slain. We do not understand
yet all the influences which entered into
the character of our heroes-all the powers
that We're leagued to redeem Our flag from
dishonor and the nation from death. Why
do We look back with half jealous admira-
ton at the women for whose beauty king
doms and empires have been tossed to the
winds when such as these with unseltsh
heroism have saved a nation by their love !:
Why do we marvel at the woman who drank
her pearls in wine to bewilder. by the mag
nieence Of her prodigality, the heart of
the great conqueror. when there are those
among us who have drank at one bitter
draught costlicr gems dissolved in tears?
| And that such as these should suffer while
the Nation rejoices-that such as these
slionld want while we are in plenty-that
such as those should decline while we flour
ish. No. we will not look atar for objects
of admiration OF honor, OF sympathy. of
charity. or if We do, it shall not be like those
worse than intidcls who provide not for
their own. We will indeednot forget those
that are atar on-the nations that sit in dark
ness and in the shadow Of death--the home
lac, Il h.,
| of our land. We will think nothing human
too far away for our kindly charities; but
this We will above all things do. Here we
fulfil duty, we acknowledg ge an obligation,
we pay the interest Of principal that new
er can be cancelled. Not as the cold pay
inent Of debt, rk some but unavoidable mot
as a gift to aggrandize the giver. but as the
thank-oiiering of gratitude--thc free. glad
gushing of sympathy-thc pledge of cher
lining remembrance, of untalterieg devO-
ton to a cause most dear.
| And we gather here the beautiful and the
strong; We bring our brightest and best
things. not with light thoughts aud mirthtul
vanity. but with earnest purpose OF DONG
what we can-poOr as the remembrance
must be-to stand in the place of husband
tarther.-And not without some reflex of
| good to ourselves for we are rewarded by
| the availing prayers of womanhood; we
| take the empty hands of little children i'll
our own and are strengthened and purified.
| These are TIE memorials that shall live
WHEN brass and marble shall have crumbled
into dust. Let us build our monuments not
/ OF peri>hable stuff. but rs those who plant
Il tree that shall grow and spread and bear
bloom and fruit i'll other times. Those who
will may raise monuments ofmarble to per-
| pcuatc the fame OiherOeS. Those who Will
maY build memorial halls 10 remind those
Who shall gather there in after times what
manhood could do and dare for right. and
what high examples of virtue and valor
haze gone before them But let us make
our offering to the cSel living soul. Let
us build our bemctactinns in the ever grow
ing heart. that they shall llyc and rise and
spread i'll blessing beyond our sight ,huYGE,,
the lien of man and beyond TIE toucl. of
time,
And to You generous friends, step for
ward from the ranks in the name of com
radcs here and else where, i'll behalf of
those NAMED of the nanecss hero, to give
this greeting, which seems to come from
shore made distant by IA sea Of tears, and
to pledge to you the over growing gratitude
of the living and the csascess beuedicton
OF the dead. - Portland Star.