The Portland daily press., 1866-04-25

by this token that you are not of those who
can see no good in the soldier of the Union
VINO took upon his own breast the blow struck
at the Nations, and look only TO our antag-
onlstS Tor examples of heroism-those over
magnanimous Christians, who are SO anxious
to love their enemies that they are willing to
hate their friends. l wish not to obtrude my
sentiments upon you, but l am sure l speak
yours IN saying that no man shall go before
me in appreciation of generous foe; nor in
recognition OF personal valor or virtue where
ever 1 meet tin the friendly rivalries of
peace or in the deadly front of battle. 1 can
gladly share my biscuit or my blanket with a
brave enemy whom after the feverish struggle,
midnight finds weary, cold and hungry pri-
sener in my hands. l recognize then the
brotherhood of man, and not merely the abb
stract right and wrong. But 1 have no pa
thence with the prejudice or the perversity
that will not accord justice to men who have
fought and fallen in behalfof us all, but must
go round by way of Fort Pillow, Anderson
vile, and Belle Isle, to find chivalry worthy
of its praise. snar
+ do not say our soldiers were all beyond
reproach as men, but that they did good ser
vice, and are none the worse for it, When l
think of all they endured. am amazed at the
strength of soul which they bore steadily to
the end, though called, like st. Paul, to minis
ter more than others to the cause they es-
poused. In labors more abundant, in prisons
more frequent, in deaths Oft; in journeying
often, ID perlls OF waters, in perils of robbers,
IN perlls by their own countrymen, in perils
by the heather, in perils in the city, in perils
in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils
among false brethren; in WEAKNESS and pain
fitness, in watchings often, in hunger and
thirst. in hastings often, in cold and nakedness.
And beside these things that are only that
which came upon them daily-the great duty
of overthrowing the enemies of their country,
When think of them, wonder what pa
thence, what strength, what manliness, what
heroic resolution of soul bore them through
those years of toll and anguish never to be
told! W aot ,cr .itd gQ8liR n.
You do not offer these tributes tonight, nv
generous friends, as a cold charity, but as re-
cognition of service done in cause which was
dear to us all, and still is dear. These soldiers
bore different part from yours, but the cause
was one, and neither you nor they shall be
ashamed to have served in it, Not that we
glory in having conquered but that we glory
in being right Better to fail in Just cause
than triumph in an evil one! But we will let
these widows and these orphans know,-and
let it mitigate their sorrow,-that those mar
bylo hdNC uOG pCi ioHCu LII Will, AIN not mere
to speak of human plans or policies-to en-
dorse this or that statesman; nor am of
those who believe that to any one man or set
OF men belongs all the wisdom and all the
worth. But am here to declare to these be-
reaved ones, in the presence of this assembly.
and amidst the great cloud of witnesses that
compass us about, that the cause in which we
have all borne part was righteous cause.
and therefore a triumphant cause. Whatever
of confusion may have attended its begin
ming, whatever OF human weakness may have
marked its progress, whatever of error may
have been mingled with all our motives and
efforts, its course was directed OF God, and if
from that mighty hand a higher work was civ
en- us than that we undertook; if conse-
quences have followed which we did not fore
see; if issues have arisen other than those
which first enlisted our sympathies ;-if the
decree has gone forth that out of this war for
the defence of the country, should come not
preservation merely but progress, not restora-
ton but resurrection, that what was sown
in weakness Should be raised in power--that
a nation should renew her strength like the
eagle, that race should rise "regenerate. ems
fanehised, disenthralled ;n-belieye me the
hand of no man or set of men can stay it,
Nations plunge into strife and know not why.
They reel and struggle amidst engulphing
seas and are tossed they know not whittier.
But when the storm is past and the clements
settle into place, 10, a step is taken in history
and IN Gods eternal plan
d All that vain man can do when he sees the
onward march of God is to follow. All that
weak man can do when he knows the plan of
Providence is to aid and not to hinder. For
ION whomsoeyer that stone shall fall it will
grind him to POWDER" Therefore say they
are triumphant, whether living or dead, that
have part in Just cause. an
But let us reyerently draw near unto those
to whom especially we dedicate this service of
gratitude. How is it that they need these
offerings, and what have they done to deserve
them ?
have not come here to magnify deeds of
arms, nor to exalt the merits OF any beyond
their due. l single out none for praise, none
for blame. 1t is not always those who are
most conspicuous in matter who are the
most efficient. Not always are those who die
at the stake the truest martyrs. So l do not
think it any S1perhuman merit to stand in
the ranks Of battle and to receive wounds
there. 1t is easier to have physical courage
than moral. 1t may be harder to send your
friend into danger than to go yourself; and to
languish in prison is doubtless a severer task
than to encounter the fortunes of the field.
A wound may be proof of peril, but it is
WA0AA5 w NSAiANhu ouSh PAoOi, eiIlu lOly W US
proud OF it The foremost hero in the charge
may escape unscathed, and the rifles sharp
detective may find out the coward in his hid
ing-place. 1t is part of soldiers duty, and
a part of manhood's pride, to take the chances
OF life and death, and bear the blow that can
not be averted. The torture of mangled
body is indeed bitter experience and stern
discipline, but it is not the worst. ~
Nor do think it 80 sad fate in itself even
to die in battle. That too like, all onr mortal
sorrows, has its aleviations and its mercies. I
have seen soldiers die-I have been among
thern-may say, of tbem-and know it is
not fearful thing to fall on a field of glorious
valor among the brave though torn with the
bolts of battle, and see the old flag go steadily
on amidst the Keeling lines-on through the
rolling smoke-on with cheer-on till it
waved in triumph above the batteries of the
foe, and with its proud waving braces the sim
ews Of the soul for flight Nor even when the
fortunes OF the field are adverse and the clos
ing senses catch but the rallying lines of the
lion-like retreat, or the defiant shout of I'M
conquerable souls-"all is lost but Honor Pr
Manhood asks no better death-bed than that,
nor is there any nearer Heaven.
Yes my friends there are greater sacrifices
than theirs greater than yours To contrib
ute freely of our goods to the defence of Che
country is indeed noble; to stand in the ranks
of her defenders, and brave danger and death
in her behalfis duty from which manhood
will not shrink, but to send forth the ioy and
stay of life, and to wait in dread the heavy
blow when even the words of prayer have no
power to avert; to bend in meek submission
when it comes, and then amidst the congratu-
lations of returning peace, to watch in vain for
the greeting that will come no more, and in ali
the bright days which hope can picture to have
that shadow across the threshold which no
power even in Heaven can lift, this is to give
indeed! Said mot well then that these have
done more than we all? The treasure YOU
have sonobly. given may be replaced, for L be-
lieve God will prosper the generous giver; and
the worn and wasted and wounded NAV re-
cover measure of their strength, or blessed
hv un11r cherishinn carn liro !, oil