Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-06-18

BY Chaplain Barber. After another hymn
the orator Of day was introduced, Col. A.
P. Martin of Boston.
Col. Martin said that in obedience to Gus
tom, we have come here TO pay the htnng
tribute of strewing upon heroes graves the
types of eternal spring, and to lit the voice
Of praise as tribute to their worth. These
are no ordinary graves. Beneath thesc
mounds repose the PROSTATE forms OF men
who fought tor q noble cause. But lew Oh
these fell upon tn . field of battle. They are
to be honored none the hess for that; for
every man that went to battle took his life in
his hand, and they are to be held in grateful
remembrance, whether dying on the bloody
field or within the wa Is OF this quiet home.
The sentiments and thoughts to be expressed
on an occasion like this need no eloqu, mt
words. The very graves are eloquent, and
speak of the trials and the trunlphs OF the
noble past, speaking to all Of US OF the UNI
ldshness OF devotion 10 country. We are
here to-day, enjoying the delights Of peace,
on account of the sacrifices of our soldiers
and seamen. He spoke Of the appropriate
ness Of the decoration occurring On the ami
versaTy of the battle Of Bunker's Hill, and
contrasted the Present condition of ur coun-
try with the dark hours when our fathers
struck for liberty against II foreign foe. We
shall never grow weary of recouning the
Achievements of our patriotic soldiers. the
achievements of the science Of war and the
arts Of peace. The fertile fields of the great
West and South, inviting to honest toll, the
progress of all that makes Il free and pros
porous people, We owe t. the triumphs OF our
soldiers and sailors. Let us on this occasion
cherish the love tor the old tag that will con-
tinue to float in triumph when we have all
passed away, with not stripe furnished, and
with every star in its place.
The Grafton was delivered without notes,
and was warmly applauded by the soldiers.
Col. Martin in true soldier. While captaia
of Massachusetts, battery, he saved the
I'd Maine Infantry from terrible slaughter,
coming to the rescue with his battery in the
nick of time. For this gallantry, the regi-
ment presented him with beautiful sword.
On receiving it he took occasion to say that
he was proud that he was native of the
State of Maine.
A hymn was then sung and the henediction
pronounced by Rev. Mr.. Upjohn, after which
the company dispersed
Improvements are steadily going forward
at the Home, on the bindings and the large
farm. II is destined to be one Of the most
extensive institutions in the country, it is
already one of the best managed, under the
supervision of Gen. Tilton. Not only are
the dead soldiers remembered, but the living
are cared for kindly and receive the benefits
of beautiful and comfortable home.
The Decoration Services once again
EDITOR JouRSAL:-It appears by the Last
+1a ri int obi iS
not ye. fully satisfied in relation to the deco
ration ceremonies. His article OF last week
is however a decided improvement on that of
the previous week in relation to the matter,
although he scatters much of the loathsome
SLAYER Of personal abuse, instead Of argument,
and varies his charges from refusal to neg
lect as he may next soften them to mere
omission or an accident. He enters vigorous
ly upon his work, making medicine and law
alike tributary to his genius and gathers from
the nomenclature of disease in one and the
maxims of the other the choice materials
which he mixes for the intellectual feast to
which he invites his readers. Like the wise
Dogberry, he concludes his charges against
those who differ from him. or dare to dispute
him, by declaring them TO be Lying knaves.
Like that worthy, he is ''too cunning to he
understood" but will not fail to be written
down in his true character. Whether he
most deserves pity for his weakness, scorn
for his unnecessary abuse of his fellow clti-
zens, or contempt for his persistent arraign-
ments, without proof or semblance OF cause
or reason, his craven inslnuatons without
inquiry that flowers were withheld from sol
diers' graves to insult a church, people and
mourning friends, and for his supply of the
guilty motive of insult to the memory of the
dead soldiers from his own imagination, is
difficult to decide. Still, he has greatly
changed. AT first he characterized the mat
ter of which ne complained as a ''cruel neg
lect" 1.-THE feelings Of the Catholic church
had been outrag, by this "apparantly pur-
posely made OMISSION and "the honor OF
the city compromised by such ''uneXplained
and apparently invidious discrimination. -
Nop he says, THE parties responsible :or
this neglect, az We take it, are not the city
authorities" Then all this cruel and out
rageous proceedure twas under the immedi
ate charge and control of the Capital Guards"
Nor he says 'this organization, which is the
pride of our city, is not capable Of any act
of this character, and its members, we are
well satisfied, are in no wise responsible for
this neglect" As every member OF the com
mitee of arrangements was and now Is
member of the Capital Guards, he must adj
init, after weeks examination, most Gull
pable ignorance of the whole matter, or he
entirely exonerates the city authorities, the
Capital Guards, and the committee Of ar
rangements. Perhaps he did not mean this,
but it is proverbial that children tell the
truth, and other classes of persons may be
like them in this particular. sometimes by ac-
oident, if never by design. So that henceforih
his quarrel is individual and personal, and
we beg to suggest that it would be well tor
him at least to be sure of his facts, unless il is
MI nrnpQNurp Obliged.
case, in a single week to withdraw sweelin
charge against committee, company, and
whole city, made with SO much flourish OF
trumpets and so louda demand tor an answer
and only be able to say instead that,hc "par-
ties are responsible to whom they entrusted
this part OF the work" He pushes himself
forward as the especial champion of the "hon-
or of the city," and sounds abroad through
the columns of his paper, to be heard and read
Of all men wherever that paper goes, charge
against the very city whose honor he Is de-
hat ,hnrin mai q