Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-05-31
"There Is no death, what seems 60 Is transition
This life Of mortal breath
Is but . suburb of the life elysiap,
Whose portals we call death.

|
| "And though at times, impetuous with emotion
And anguish long suppressed,
The swelling heart hcaves moaning Ike the ocean
That cannot be at rest;
1--WE will be patient, and assuagc The feeling,
We may not wholly stay;
BY silence sanctifying, not conceapg
The grief that must have way"
Some there are Of our comrades whose bodies
| lie in southern SOIL and whose graves we cannot
this day decorate. From many q well-fought field,
| side by side with southern foemen who were mar
tyrs to the unhallowed ambition of rebel traitors
from scores of cemeteries where the patriot dead
have been gathered by grateful people; from
rebel prison pens where cruelty and starvation sent
thousands of victims to untimey graves, and from.
the depths of ocean whose bosom received the tenn
pesttossed mariner, the Angel of the Resurrection
shall summon these absent ones to that final re-
view where we all shall meet at the universal roll
call Of the nations. Let us individually act well
our part as particpators in these important events
OF our national history, and labor earnestly and
conscentiousy to perpetuate the blessings Of uni
versal liberty and peace, not only for the present
generation but tor all coming time; and may the
memories Of this hour serve as q perpetual bene-
dlction, inspiring with that undying patriotism
and devotion to the best interests of our common
country which characterized the lives and deeds of
those OF our departed comrades whom we now de-
light to honor.
OTHER ADDRESSES.
MIR. La11acheur, the new pastor OF the Metho-
dist church, next ntI oduced, and said that he
was stranger in the city, but was not stranger
to the evils of slavery that caused the war, or ig
norant Of the sacrifice Of blood and treasure that
had been made by the country to exterminate it.
lie had found all over the land monuments erect
ed TO the noble and brave who had fallen upon
the field of battle. This is creditable to the PEG
pie, and shows the gratitude they feel. 1t had
been said that slavery was good because it was
old. The same could be said Of sin, that was the
oldest institution upon the face Of the earth.
Noah got drunk and slavery was entailed upon
his children; therefore slavery is the outgrowth
OF rum. We have strangled the child-slavery;
now let US murder The parent--rum. But with
the passing away of slavery, our duty to the South
is not done. We should educate the freedmen
and seek to repair the injuries done during the
long years of oppression He had heard little
boy say, just now, that his fathers name was on
the other side Of the monument. That was a
pround thing to claim. He trusted the time would
come when all parts of the nation should be united
indeed under the glorious stars and stripes.
Rev. Mr.. Peckham of the Free Baptist church,
said it was pleasure well a duty to gather
here and look into each others faces, and have
our hearts fired anew with patriotic devotion. If
one would appreciate our country, he should travel
IN other lands rent asunder by distraction, then
would he return more than ever in love with his
own country and its blessed institutions. lie hop
ed this day would always be commemorated.
Ahe addresses OF MAYOR RoWell, Mayor Lower
and the reverend gentlemen were listened to with
the closest attention.
After the benedction, the ex-soldiers present
formed in line, and proceeded to decorate the
graves Of their fallen comrades, while the band
played some of its most beautiful and appropriate
pieces. There were some 80 or 40 graves. There
were flowers, wreaths and flags in abundance, the
ladies Of the Classical School making liberal
donation. The procession then reformed, and
marched back to the city, where it disbanded'
The exercises throughout were interesting and
very impressive, and were participated in by some
two thousand persons. We noticed flags display
ed from several of the residences in town along
the route Of the nrorcssion