Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-06-19

The graves of soldiers in the cemetery at
the Soldiers Home near this city, were deco
rated yesterday afternoon, under the auspices
Of the management of the institution and Cut
Ter Post. There was no procession, but the
line was formed at the cemetery, and all the
graves, l02 in number, were profusely deco
rated The music was furnished by the
Home Band, and appropriate hymns were
sung. The devotional services were con-
Quoted by Rev. Mr.. Beckwith of Augusta.
Quite number were present to witness the
exercises from this city, among them the
pupils of St. Catharine's Hall. The Grafton
at the stand was pronounced by Col. L. A.
Smith Of the Portland Press. 1t was a finely
written production-full of beautiful thoughts
and suggestions awakened by the day, and
was eloquently delivered. We give brief
abstract of the address:
Every day, along the busy ways of life, are
met the survivors ofthe late war, and We greet
them as comrades, who have returned from
the perils of the conflict to strive for them
selves in life's unceasing battle. The soldiers
upon whose graves we place young summers
disease and in whose empty sleeves, crutches
and battle scared forms recognize the
badges Of knighthood kings cannot confer
these have passed on beyond US who have
safely survived the perls of the field, and
entered their names on the holy roll of mar
tyrdom. Those soldiers who survived the
war have again become citizens, those who
died pending the issue have been translated
from the muster roll of mortals to that illus
trious roll of the immortals, who, in all ages,
have ennobled the race by their godke sacri-
fee, and won the yictor's crown by agony of
the martyrs cross; their heroism will be ad
mired and their martyrdom wept by the race.
Thus tens of thousands of the nations dead
that are scattered throughout the land, all
become one army, and their deeds of valor
and the victories they gained, are cur sacred
heritage. Many of those whose graves we
decorate were strangers to US, and wanderers,
many of them homeless ones, many from be-
yond the seas, some whose tongues had not
learned our speech, some to whom our flag
was the north star of deliverance. But lying
here, we know them all, and the benedictions
of redeemed republic fall upon them. All
the country's dead are ours to love and cher
ish, because they are the martyrs and saviors
of common fatherland. But it matters not
where our kindred may lie-whether they rest
from the strife of battle on the green banks of
the Potomac, or amidst the thunders which
rocked rugged Gettysburg-w whether they sank
to rest beneath its hillsides, or their blood
crimsoned and consecrated the emerald slopes
of Fredericksburg, or their names were lost
with their lives in the tangled jungles of the
wilderness, or their heroic souls went out ofthe
narrow river of life into the boundless sea of
eternity on hospital couches, or from the un-
utterable horrors of Andersonville the gates
of Paradise opened to their enraptured vision,
or lie under the arid plains or fowery ever
| glades of the further South, or gave up lifes
manly fight above the clouds of Lookout
Mountain, or sleep among the unknown in
the National cemeteries which consecrate the
historic battle fields of the South--they are no
longer our dead, but they belong to Humanity.
We are to-day inspired by the voices that
come from these hallowed graves, and live
again amid the scenes of the dreadful conflict.
The thrilling scenes of the conflict and the
victory that came at last were depicted in
most vivid manner by the orator.
There are those who tell US that our men
went to the war through mere love of adven-
ture, or were allured by tempting bounties,
and that the great mass of them had no idea
of the principle involved. This must come