The Portland daily press., 1875-06-18
BENEDICrION.
Gen. Devens' Address

Ii.
George Washington Warren presided, and
introd ueed Gen. Chas. Devens, Jr. as the ora
tor of the occasion. The Grafton was confined
to graphic description of the battle, and an
eloquent appeal for burial of all political ami
mosities engendered by the late war. The fol-
lowing is the concluding portion:
To-day it is the highest duty of all, no matter
on what side they were, but above all of those
who have struggled for the preservation of the
Union, to strive that it becomes one of gener-
GUS confidence in which all States shall, as OF
old, stand shoulder to shoulder, if need be,
against the world in arms. Towari is those with
whom we lately warred, and who recognize
that the results are to be kept inviolate, there
should be no feeling of resentment or bitter
ness. To the necessity OF events they have sub
mitted; to the changes in theiConsttution they
have assented, we can not, and We do not think
so basey or so meanly of them as to believe
that they have done so except generously and
without mental reservation.
We know that it is not easy to re-adjust all
the relations OF society when one form Is SUD
denly swept away, that the sword does It's
work rudely and not with that gradual prepa-
ration which attends the changes OF peace. we
realize that there are difficulties and distrusts
not to be removed at once between those who
have been masters and slaves; yet there are
none which will not ultimately disappear. All
true men are with the South in demanding for
her peace, order, honest and government, AM
that has been made desolate. We need not
doubt the issue; she will not stand as the
"Niobe of nations" lamenting her sad fate;
she will not look back to deplore past which
can not aud should not return. but with the tire
of her ancient courage she will grid herself up
to The emergencies of her new situation, she
will unite her people by the bonds of that mu-
tual confidence which their mutual interests
demand and renew her former prosperity and
her rightful influence in the Union.
Fellow citizens, we stand to-day on great
battle field in honor of the patriotism and val
or of those who fought upon it. 1t is the step
VIII CHI they made in the worlds history we
would seek to commemorate, it is the example
which they have offered US we would seek to
initiate The wise and thoughtful men who
directed this controversy knew well that it is
by the wars that personal ambition has st mu
lated, by the armies whose force has been
welded alike for domestic oppression or for
egn conquest, that the sway OF despots has
been so widely maintained. They had no love
for war or any of its works, but they were
more ready to meet its dangers in their attach
ment to tie cause OF civil and religious liberty
They desired to found no Roman Republic
''whose banners famed by conquest's crimson
wing" should float victorious over PROSTATE ma
tions, but one where the serene beauty If the
arts of Peace should put to shame the strifes
that have Impoverished peoples and degraded
nations. To-day, let us rejoice in the liberty
which they have gained for us, but let no ut
terances but those of peace salute our ears, no
thoughts but those of peace animate our hearts,
Above the plains of Marathon even now, as
the Grecian shepherd watches over his focks
he fancits that the skies sometimes are filled
with lurid light, and that in the clouds above
are re-enacted the scenes of that great lay
when on the field below, Greece maintained
her freedom against the hordes who had as
sailed her Again seem to come IN long array,
erich with barbaric pearl and god', the tur
mad raplr of PprSian host and
filled with the clang of sword and shield, as
again the fiery Greek seems to throw himself
upon, and drive before him his foreign invader;
shadows although all are that fit in wild con"
fused masses along the sky. Above the field
where we stand, even in the widest dream
may no such scenes offend the calmness of the
upper air, but may the stars look forever down
upon prosperity and peace, upon the bay stud
ded with its white winged ships, upon the pop
ulous and wide extending city with its marts
of commerce, its palaces OF industry, Its tern
pies where each man may worship according
to his own conscience, aud as the continent
shall pass beneath their steady rays, may the
millions of happy homes attest lana where
the benign influence of free governme 1T has
brought happiness and contentment, where la
Dor is rewarded, where manhood is honored,
and where virtue and religion are revered.
Peace forever with the great country from
which the day we commemorate did so much
rudely to discover us. Ii there were In that
time or if there have been since mauy things
which we could have wished oGherwlee, we eau
easily afford to let them pass into oblivion.
But we do not forget in the struggle OF the
Revolution how many of her statesmen stood
forth to assert the justice of our cause, and to
demand for US the rights OF which We bad beeu
deprived until the celebrated address was pass
ed which declared that the House of Commons
would cons der as enemies TO he King aud
country all those who would fur her attempt
the prosecution of war on the continent of
Am + ca for the purpose Of reducing the Amer
lean colonies to obedience.
From her we have drawn the great body of
laws which modified and adapted to our differ