The Portland daily press., 1875-06-01
THE EVENING.

| Dy the IOSG CndpldiH MAUI Hoau 'A'ioN~
Capt. William Spauldng of Charlestown
Mass, as the orator of the evening. Capt
Spaulding had prepared his address with grea
care, not being obliged to refer to his note
during the hour of delivery. From beginning
TO end he held the closest attention of hi
audience. We are unable to print the whole O.
the address, but make the following copiou'
extracts, which speak for themselves:
GRAFTON OF CAPT. sPAULDNG.
After brief introductory, the speaker pro
| ceeded as follows:
Little did we then anticipate, we'll perhaps
| for us was it that we could not fOretell the
| length aud severity of the conflict, the treasure
it would cost, and the lives that must be sac,
| rifced before rebellion should be crushed and
peace secured, but such was the spirit of our
people, so thoroughly were they aroused to the
| importance of the struggle begun, that no wins
| perngs of danger, no prophecies of suffering
| and of sacrifices, could have served to move
| them one step from the straight path OF duty,
| or caused them to hesitate one moment in their
determination to continue the contest 50 long
| as a rebel should remain in arms or any por-
| ton of the people refuse submission to the gov
| eminent and obedience to the same. We en-
| tered upon a struggle which was to determine
| the strength, the power of conference, age, the
| very existence os government holding its au :
| thority at the will of the people, and relying
| upon their patriotism for its support and pres
| ovation. A struggle which held in issue the
success or failure of free representative govern
ment. AS nation. we had made remarkable
progress through long years of peace, had come
| triumphant and strengthened from contests
with foreign enemies, but it was now 70 De de-
| termined whether we could succe ssfullY with.
stand internal strife, could we bear the test OF
secession, of an organized attempt OF ceyan
states in the Union to destroy that Union?
Was our representative system powerless Tor
its own defense? Was there enough OF patriot
ism in our people to carry the country trl-
umphantIy through such contest? Right no.
bly, was the answer given; the courage, the pa
triotism, thd loyal devotion of the men OF the
North proved to the world beyond all doubt or
question that free government IS forever safe
in the hands of a'free and intelligent people.
From our farms and workshops, from the halls
of learning and the marts of trade, from the
priced homes and the dear ones whose tender
love had ever surrounded them, from all that
frightened and blessed their lives, our com,
rades went forth to encounter the danger and
toll, privation and sufferings, if need be, even
death itself, that a government OF the people
might be preserved, that liberty protected by
law might not perish from the earth Ihey
were no hireling soldIery, no TOOLS Oh desPotic
power no soldiers of fortune seeking but their
own advancement; they were of the nobiest,
the purest, the best in the land. Prompted by
a sense of duty, animated with love OF coun-
try with an energy that did not tire, courage
thai failed not, faith that never waVereu.
devotion all but sublime, counting no service
too severe, no sacrifice too great, conscious OF
the Justice of their cause, and seeking peace
only through victory complete and final they
toiled, they fought, they conquered. Dark IN
deed were the clouds on our national horizon,
fearful the storm that had burst upon us, but
through the self denying herosm OF these
NV comrades, and men like these, our
armament was spanned with the bright RAIN,
bow of victory, bringing peace and Joy ana
comfort to long and severely tried people.
When our REGIMENTS left for the front to
them was given the old starry flag, charged
were they to guard it faithfully, uphold it hon
oraby, fight for it bravely. if need be die for it
willingly and proudly was it by them carried
on all the great battle fields of the war, ottimes
horne on to victory, sometimes beaten back in
dofeat, but never trailed in dishonor nor sur
rendered in disgrace and now, purified by the
fire and smoke of more than hundred battle
fields. SCARED and faded and worn, their sllken
folds emblazoned with the RECORDS Oh g'oIlous
deeds have they been returned to us, speaking
in the eloquent language of their silence, OF the
courage and devotion of the volunteer soldiers
of the country.
We would here call up memories OF their ser
vice, gladly do we pay our tribute TO the LVlng
and the dead. proudly do we read the record
our comrades made; how patiently they toiled,
how brayely they fought in the swamps OF the
Chicahominy, defeated but never dlsnearteneu
nor dshonored they fell back from Bull hun
and Chantillo, with what magnlhcent courage
thew stormed the heights of Fredrickburg, how
like sweet music to our ears was the voice of
our cannon laundering forth dehaEce from IN
tie Round Top and Cemetery ridge, proudly waVc
ediour banners in triumph over the uelehce oi
Vicksburk and Port Hudsoni through an ava
lanch of shot and shell, over lines OF WORKS,
mn maths precipitous, doubtless and determined
orr nraye boys climbed the rugged mountain
aide. forced the foe to yield or fly, planting
their regimeptal colors along the crest OF MIS-
sionary ridge. upon the very summit a OF ,, oaI
thew fonpbt through the tangled Wilderness,
at Gold Harbor, around Petersburg, at the We'll
don and South Side railroads, until at Appomat-
fox they saw furled, never again 10 Hau4t III
the face of the Union army those hostlle nags,
which for four weary years ha1 waved along
onr front threatening the destruction OF the pest
government the wisdom OF man ever oevise9
or a people were ever blest an being pefmltted
TO live under. e
Memories of the past press upon us, forms
and scenes of other years go trooplng py, III
fancy AGAIN we see the well remembered races
of the cherished companions of our camp hres,
our brave comrades of the batte-feic we can
almost feel their touch as shoulder to shouioef
with us they stood in hours OF danger, we
live over again the weary hours of guard ana
drill. we welcome the glad excitement OF Tue
nicket Hark! tits the long roll waking our
slumbers. hurriedly we fall into line, Inc au
vance is sounded, through the chill mlsls OF
early morn we move forward, soon we ca III
the 1nick sharp shot of the picket, anon the
scattering fire of the skirmish line, our hearts
heat faster our breath comes quicker, Thoughts
of the loved ones at home crowd our minus pus
with soldiers pride we march steadily on; ana
now the air is thick with the smoke OF Dattle,
,no bead not thh yolleys of musketry, the roar
Of artillery. but still press forward, the hght
grows desperate, our lines fater, our comardes
3sll sharp comes the order, ''close up men,
steady. steady as round us shrek tae snot anu
shell. the minness sing the oeatn song VI tno
brave. now we give the old ringing cheer as WIN
mnskets clenched we charge the enemy line,
we feel the wild thrill OF the moment OF victory
az we gain their works, over their rlfle PITS gu
ward we 60, the enemy hesitate, lnelr nnes
wayer. they break, they fly the day is ours tne
victory won: sadly, tenderly we now turn 10 sue
cor the wounded, to bury the dead, we gamer
aronnd the evening camp fire. and with sadden-
ed voices speak soldiers euiogy OF tne COM
rades who no more will greet US, VINO VIII an,
swer give. Oil comrades so long as lie shai,
last from memory taDiels' no'oi' Nv ''o''' vs."
these scenes be ettaced.
The war 10 over, the years OF danger anu
doubt. of sorrow and OF glory nave Passeu
away: no more the war OF hostile cannon
breaks on the listening ear; no more the Du'
ole's call summons to duty; no more IS the
sweet southern air melodious with our drum
beat she setting sun saluted with our benedlc-
ton: our tents are struck, our lines dismissed,
our service ended. The thnned battallons.
that with full RANKS Oh pIdVe AtHi S'ion6 ~
their youpe manhood, went forth to meet the
enemies of the Union, have returned; but alas,
thew did not all return. Of the thousands who
left our northern homes proud of their ability
10 serve. jealous to prove their worth, earnest
for every duty. many came not back, but sleep
in the soil hallowed by their blood, or within
the limits of our national cemeteries. Some
ratnrning on their shields were by loving hands
tenderlv laid to rest beneath the green turf OF
onr yilIageichurch yards, or i'll the beautiful
Cemeteries of our cities. Others we know not
where they lie, missing is written against their
names unknown inscribed upon their head
boards; missing from the family circle, mss
inc from all the walks of life, unknown tnelr
fate. unknown their resting place; but they
are neither missing nor unknown In that great
comnany of the good and true who Walk the
Golden Streets of the New Jerusalem.
The orator then called attention to the fact
that the men who died for the country LETT
wives. children and aged parents to be cared
for and many came home disabled, that these
| had suffered and were likely to suffer more
| and that in consequence of this an organlza-
,ion was needed to care for them-that the
| Grand Army of the Republic was manly III
stituted to meet this demand. He then pro
ceeded to explain the principles of the order
Fraternity, Charity aud Loyalty" lie de-
MED that it was in any way political or
ganization.
1 41,ny, do 70