Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-06-17

farther we become removed from the
contest BY times fading years, the more
we shall appreciate the services Of those
who stood like wall Of fire between us
and impending destruction. Here LET me
briefly allude To our surviving comrades.
We are often shocked by the remarks from
individuals when the claims Of these men
arc presented. '.Iehy, they aoere paid for
their Ser'riceS!!l" Paid for their services,
what mean they? How could YOU pay a
man tor his service in such a WARP All,
fellow citizens, hadthese men no stronger
impeling power than Gold or Green Backs,
our flag would have ANONYMOUSLY gone
down before the advancing foe. What the
men underwent in the field. willncyer fully
be known. How many of them are yearly
falling now. rs result of disease con-
tracted there? They may appear well to
YOU, but it is extremely doubtful If one
out of every hundred can be found that is
entirely tree. physically, from results OF
army life. Have these men any claims
upon the government? is the question we
bring to-day; what were the pledges oil
1861 when some of our good but timid
people experienced awful Visions fearing
the next thing they would know. JEDI
Davis would absolutely appear IN their
midst with scalping knife and tomahawk
10 annihilate whole communities? Then
they said, "go fight the battles of your
Country, and If YOU tall we will forever
beautifully provide Tor your wife and
children; and ii YOU are SO fortunate as 10
return YOU shall bc remembered. In
many localities these pledges have been
kept with all good faith, but in others they
have been sadly neglected. Have We
any guarantee that we are never again to
be cursed by war? if not, how can the
government in peace, better strengthen
herself than by keeping good faith with
her defenders OF the paste
Comrades Of the Grand Army OF the
Republic. You have high and noble
mission to perform; your society needs
no words OF anime in way Of culogy to-day |
your chief aim is TO care for the widows
and orphans OF our late comrades. and 4
grander object you could not have. Let
scoffers speak of YOU rs they may, call
you a political organization or ought else
they may please; be not deferred from
YOUR high and honorable course by any
such trivial cause BE ever true. and your
reward will be sure. Your organization
has a foot hold in every State OF the
Union. and is constantly gaining ground
and strength Your labors are wide spread
and ardUoUs, bu, strong hands when
prompted aui impelled by stout and
determined hearts can break down all
barriers and overcome all obstacles.
There is a tie that uniteS you, known only
10 those who have endured the same pcrllS /
and dangers. and suffered the same
priya,iOnS Societies Of this nature are
no new thing; the history of the Old
World tells u OF the meeting together of
those who had been associates in war.
There are many reasons why this should
be 90. An uuaccouutlble affinity exists !
between these men, and as time rolls /,
away these eudvarmcntS viii only grow
stronger and stronger, until 10y the vast
inc hand Of time We shall all 90 hence to
Join our comrades gone on before. One
falling here and another there, will, ere
lone, thin the ranks. until in a few short
wears through deaths ever working
changes, the last survivor will have
fallen. when the soldiers of the war Of
1861. will only exist in the memory of
their couutrymen. MAY all our lives be
SO spent and all ON acts be such, that
when we are no more, friends with loving
heart, may yearly gather above our life
less clay in respect 10 our memory, and
gentle hands trim these beautiful garlands
FOR our graves.
Comrades. friends, one and all, let us
to-day. resolve to cherish the institutions
of this our own National land In the
language Of the Saiuted Lincoln. let Us
here "highly resolve that the dead shall
no; have died in vain, that the nation
shall under God, have new birth Of
freedom, and that the government of the
people, by the people, and for the people,
shall not perish from the earth"
We can truly boast OF the grandest
nation Of the world our proud old Banner
floats in every cline, and on every sea
~ the emblem OF Freedom and Liberty
forever; It's broad stripes and bright stars
are more beautiful than they were before
the late struggle. Proud old flag. may
God protect thy folds while nations on
earth endure.
In closing, let Us see what there is 10
prompt these yearly demonstrations
History has no where written upon It's
pages such mighty revolution as the
United States presents during the past
decade The war found her with four
millions Of human beings held in seryile
bondage, where they dared not to even
speak of liberty, but when the smoke
from the last battle curled Heavenward,
it left not bond-man in all the land
The results Of the war TO this nation are
still developing; the grand idea OF equal
rights to all men is already towering up
maiestically. not only in this country but