The Portland daily press., 1876-08-10

| manner.
The state of Maine was the second Judge
Shepey being called upon. spoke eloquently
and so pleased the boys that they proposed tC
reverse if he spoke less than ten minutes. he
spoke of the Maine soldiers, taking the 9Th
Maine as sample regiment. Gen. Hancock
said of them to man who wanted to 60 to the
front that beyond the pickets beyond the cav.
| airy, he would find the 9th Maine picking
blackberries. He also paid high tribute te
| the First Cavalry, which was cheered.
Major G. c. Emery of Boston, spoke to the
sentiment "The Commonwealth of Massachu
| setts.'
Vice Commander Hill spoke to the sentiment
The Grand Army of the Republic
Marching Through Georgia. was sung
The author of the song, Mr.. Nichols was pres.
ent but declined to lead.
A Massachusetts soldier, who was introduced
as Captain Jack Adams, was next called on
to speak, but no sentiment was given him to
speak to because Adams could not speak to
single point. 1t was the first time Captain
Adams had ever been in Maine, bat he knew
Maine soldiers. he had been in the same brig.
ade with the 10Th Maine, and always felt safe
when it was in front. He knew, too that
everything which could be stolen would be
taken care Of He lett his pocket book at the
hotel when he saw those fellows in the street.
Capt. Adams then referred to the war and
Union soldiers. They saved the country and
that fact should not be forgotten. He thanked
God for James G. Blaine Immense cheering)
He thanked God that Blaine had told the rebels
in Congress how they treated Union soldiers
that he had bearded Hill in the House. 1t
was getting to be too much the custom to re-
quire Union soldiers to stand back while rebels
we're welcomed. (Sensation He had nothing
but good will for the Southern soldier but the
Union soldier must be recognized
Capt. Adams speech caused thorough sensa-
ton and cries of "no politics were raised.
The army was the next sentiment and Gen.
Hobart Ward was called to respond, but that
gentleman not being present, Capt. Adams
was called on, who in turn, called upon Rev. j.
f. Lowering, who was chaplain of the 18th
Maine to respond. After paying high COM
pliment to Maine soldiers, he proceeded to
speak of the loyalty of the Maine soldier, and
passed on to say that it devoved upon the
Union soldier to lead in giving the nation
patriotic and true President. AS he was pass
ing on to say what sort of man the Unien
soldier should not support, some one in the
crowd sung out "Tilden." This was a signal
for cheers, Kisses and shouts of "no politics"
''Then," said the eloquent parson, ''if politics
are not allowed here, let us speak to the senti-
ment of loyalty" Qmmense cheers.)
1.-THE Ladies'" was the next toast, and Gen.
Charles w. Roberts of Bangor, was called up
on to respond. Gen. Roberts said that this
was not the sentiment he was to speak to.
He appreciated the devotion of the women
during the war. This point did not hold him
long. He then proceeded to say that the
war was over and that its animosities shoold
die out. The North was victorious and the
South was truly penitent. He had no words
for Jeff Davis. He fought more with words
than weapons; but he hoped the time would
come when the Union soldier would respect the
character and devotion of Robert E. Lee This
was too much. Hundreds shouted, "No poll
tics;' down. ''no rebel talk here" Gen.
Roberts attempted to continue but the widest
confusion prevailed. Shouts, Kisses and insult
ing cries made very bedlam of the large tent
When Gen. Roberts attempted to speak he was
greeted with the same angry. excited voices.
This interesting episode continued for some
time. Judge Shepley at length got placs on
table and shouted: "Gen. Roberts was
brave soldier, give him hearing and we will
reply" "He resigned at the first of the war;"
shouted an intense fellow with robust physique
and strong lungs, because he wasn't in favor
of the war;
Gen. Roberts faced the crowd and said that
he never was frightened. Col. Burbank sprang
to the table and said shear him, We'll reply"
Comparative quiet was restored at length and
Gen. Roberts closed by giving a sentiment to
the nations dead and expressing the hope
against hope that the scars of the war would
be hid from view as are the graves of our pa
triot dead by the verdure of God.
No sooner than Gen. Roberts had sat down
Judge Shepley sprang to the platform and
claimed the right to reply. He saw the last
steamer which brought Union soldiers from
rebel prisons. He had helped to carry those
emaciated and starved men from that boat.
The next day he marched into Richmond. He
entered the residence Of jeff Davis, whom he
had known when he Davis was loyal man,
He also entered the residence of Gen. R. E.
Lee. Both of those NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. the
prison grounds from which these starved and
abused men he had seen on that boat had been
taken. Just above there was an excellent
camp ground where men would have had good
air and dry camping ground. jeff Davis not
only knew this, but Robert E. Lee knew it.
He had then and there sworn that he would
denounce those men as the murderers of
Union soldiers. That duty was never more
clear than when he heard Gen. Roberts claim
from Unicn soldiers their respect for Robert e.
Lee.
Judge Shepley stepped down, and then fol-
lowed the most intense cheering of the evening
Men jumped and shouted as if life depended
upon it, and the performance was repeated
again and again.
The applause had hardly ceased when Col.
Fl. Fl. Burbank sprang upon the table. His
name was not in the programme, but he must
speak. He had been nine months in a rebel
prison. He knew its horrors. R. E. Lee knew
its horrors; and knowing that he knew it, he
would not sit and hear him applauded in an
assemblage of Union soldiers. Talk of the flag
being sentiment. To him it was reality
when it first greeted bis view after nine months
in rebel hell. Gen. Sherman, the noblest Ro-
man of them all, whose name had not been
spoken tonight, while rebel general had been
eulogized, opened the prison doors, and his big
heart and strong hand were given to the starv.
ing prisoner. God bless him. Give him three
cheers. These were given with will.
1t was then agreed to keep clear of political
matters; but as it was past midnight, it was
announced that those who were going to the
city must leave. When the Press reporter left
the great tent the exercises, which this little
episode somewhat interfered with, had been re-
sumed.
1t should be added that after the sentiment
of "The Army" the Navy was given and Ad--
miral Thatcher was called upon to respond,
but he was not present.
The whole affair is gratifying success from
first to last. Everybody is gratifed and the
boys are having the best time since the war;
To-day there will be meeting of the State
Association at 1915 and meetings of regimen
tai associations during the day. The first boat
leaves at o'clock, and others at and IL. The
y+u will OF fo,, ~ 1o