The Portland daily press., 1870-08-05

scribed on this stone, gave their all for their
country, and they live more fully than
they ever did before. And could they speak to
us to-day, what would they say; would it not
be that we ought to enlarge the area of free
dom wider than ever before, and to forge no
more chains for the human miad. When
Gov. Washburn was telling the story of the
late war; it seemed like the relation of the story
of boy. Our nation nine years ago, seemed
to be tottering to its fall 100000 of slaves
were held in the land. We are now a heno-
geneous people, one in interest and in heart
And when the Governor was telling the story,
he left out very modestly the part he played in
it himself He managed SO econically in the
financial matters of the State, and he resisted
so successfully the attempted frauds upon the
State, that was forcibly reminded of his val
liable services. had some experience of him
in those days at Augusta, aud on one occasion
I saw him commit parcel of swindng bills
to the flames as he sat before the fire, instead of
writing Approved on them.
All Europe is now in arms; 1 200 600 are now
on the Rhine in hostile array, not for liberty
but for dynasty. He alluded in closing to
military education as suitable to be taught in
schools, and he spoke very highly of the Eigh
School Cadets of Portland, as showing as much
proficiency in military u.aneuvering as any
other company.
Capt. j. o. Winshp of Gorham, was next
presented.to the assembly. He well remem-
bered nine years ago last April, when the at
tack on Sumter was made, that there gath
cred in this very Town House, among others,
most of the very men who afterwards fell, and
whose names are here inscribed and from that
day to the close of the war, the people of Cor
ham were kept at a white heat of enthusiastic
patriotism. From the day when old Company
A, 9th Maine Regiment went FORTH till the old
flag waved over every inch of our American
territory, and the last soldier came home, the
earnest self sacrifice of the women of Gorham
was untlring and most devoted to aid the SOL
diers-
I remember one of those, who, like Florence
Nightingale, laboring among the. wards of the
Crimean Hospitals, so long and so faithfully;
so she in the wards of Armory Square Hospi
tai, Washington, by her untiring, selfish la
bors, soothed many fevered and dying SOL
dier's pillow. 1 alude to Miss Martha McLell-
an. Her name deserves to be inscribed upon
| this monument as much as that of any soldier,
and the poor dying soldier turned and kissed
her, even the shadow of Florence Nightingale
| SO many have blessed, that of this deceased
nurse, who so molly gave her service, and even
her life to the country.
| Col. Albert w. Bradbury, commander of the
| LIST Maine Battery, next was introduced. Four
| years ago, he said, it was my melancholy pleas
ure to be present at the dedication OF this
| = 4
lose its melancholy tinge and is now pure and
unalloyed. Then We thought only of the
dead, but now we perform reverently the pill
| grimage to these soldiers monuments, and we
have now entered into their abors. How much
we owe to these men! Whenever 1 stand near
such monument feel tugging at the heart
| and choking at the throat. How glorious
| it is to die for ones country! am reminded
| of the words of the old Burgundian soldier, as
| he leaned dying against an oak tree, while his
life blood flowed freely: "See, SIR, said he, "the
rich red blood-my life blood-red like our red
Burgundy this alone is worth dying for"
DR.. A. Keen next spoke, thanking the mill
tary for their presence and the pleasure they
conferred upon the citizens as we'll two years
| ago as now He thought institutions of learn
ing should enlighten the minds of the youth
especially on the subject of Peace, so as to pre-
vent al: war in the future. Little did think
nine years ago that l shonld ever behold a
scene like this. The feeling among all patri
otto men is ever to kneel down and kiss the
earth of soldiers grave.
At the conclusion of DIR. Keen's remarks, a
very touching aud beautiful ceremony was per
formed. Three ades-one, Mrs. Storer s.
Knight of Portland, dressed in black, with two
aids, Miss Ada Cary and Miss Abby Frost O.
Gorham, dressed in white-walked, to the soft,
sweet music of dirge, from the Town House
to the monument, and placed large and mos
elegant wreath upon the marble shaft; turning
around, they retraced their steps, with bowed
and solemn pace, the Blues in opel order rest
ing on their arms. The fine choir of the Con
gress Square church here sun. very fine
piece, The Requiem of Heroes" by Kotzsch
mars arrangement. The military then free
three volleys of musketry over the monument
and Rev. Joseph Colby, late chaplain of thu
18th Maine Regiment, pronounced the bene
dictrn.
The procession then reformed and marched
to the beautiful grove of Mr.. Rust. The peopl,
Of Gorham had extended an invitation to the
officers of the Blues, the Portland Band, tn
speakers OF the OCCASION the representatives O
the press, the chcir of Congress Square church
and few others, to dine at the Gorhan
House, kept so we'll by Mr. s. B. Brown. 4
most excellent dinner was served, and ate
that the tables were spread for the visitors VIII
, crowded the hotel. AS the rain had begun t
fall so fast that it made it unpleasant to re
main in the grove, the hall of the House wa
thrown open after dinner to music and dane
ing, as was also another hall in the vicinity
; and the crowd passed the time pleasantly dun
ing the afternoon.
The dwelling of Capt. J. I. Stevens was elat
, orately decorated with flags aud flowers, Q
was also one or two other houses. The town
people did everything to promote the happi
ness of the military and the visitors, bein
very liberal in their appropriations, and enel
getic in their efforts to make the picnic
$ success.
l Owing the rain, the review by Col. Hardin
r and staff had to be abandoned.
l The Committee of Arrangements were grea
e ly aided by the exertions of Roscoe G. Hare
d ing, Esq, aud others, who are ever foremost
J. promote the interests of Gorham.
: AT 6 O'Clock the company were escorted
: the ample front grounds of Hon. Toppan Rob
IL by Relief Engine Co., where the music ar
d movements of the dress parade were gor
a. through, in the presence of Mr.. Robe and h
r family, who were also saluted by the corps.
At o'clock the party returned to the cit,
well pleased with the days excursion.
IN ACCIDENT. Y esterday a small lad name
O. simpson, in attempting to run across CONNIE
lis cal street, ran under the wheels of a wage
as that was passing along. Two of his ribs we
70 broken and he was badly ioiured in Tho h,o