Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-06-01
have been the eon.eansaee II our land had hem

comes to us freighted with greater signincance.
| This is day of varied emotions. AS We join
in its exercises feelings are STIRRED within Us, op-
poste yet not conflicting. The thoughts slg'
| huence. They touch different keys Of our ma.
ture, but the tones awakened blend in rich, full
| harmony. Sorrow and rejoicing. pride and hu,
| milty, sober thoughts and noble receives, al
have their places all assert their claims upon Us
| to- day. Standing by the graves Of our noble
dead the springs Of grief are re-opened. That
which time has softened to tender sadness, be-
comes again the mourning that was felt IN the
| hour of separation. The mother weeps for her
son, the widow for her husband children Tor their
| father. But at the same time there comes feel
ing of pride at the thought that their death was
noble one. In the thought that they were "Sol-
diers of the Republic" and died in its service,
there is balm that soothes somewhat the sorrow
| of separation. We are proud of the glory they
gained and when we turn and look at ourselves 1t
makes us humble to think Of how poor our lives
| look in the light of their great sacrifice. How
little we are doing for our country compared with
all that they did When we look at our responsible
tiles, our duty and our opportunities, we find our
selves resolving that our life was spared to us,
we will devote it to higher aims and nobler pur-
poses.
Among the thousand thoughts which throng our
hearts at this hour there are some tina. words iali
adequately to express. How shall we give utter-
ance to our gratitude for all that these men have
| done:
mo words suffice the secret soul 10 show
In vain the effort. The lips are mute when the
heart most needs their aid
What can be said in praise Of the honored dead
that has not already been uttered Yet how little
all that has been said fills the full measure OF
their heroism and devotion. We say, they died
for their country" but who can measure the sub
llmity of such deed Death has grandeur
that transcends the province of language, when
it is met in battling for righteous cause.
hos hoon coll ad ha Of
there is in the thought of it something that we
dread. Its image is invested with fear; we shrink
from it in trembling apprehension.
"But to the hero, when his sword
Has won the battle for the free,
Its voice sounds like prophets word,
And in its hollow tones are heard
Tie thanks of millions yet to be.
need not speak to you at this time in extended
eulogy Of our fallen comrades their works praise
them more fifty than words Of mine can do. The
peace which we enjoy, the security in which we
dwell, and the proud position which we as Ma
ton hold to-day all are fruits Of the victory they
gained for rs; and those silent mounds upon the
hillside tell OF the sacrifice they made to attain IT,
But though our words fail to fifty set forth their
heroism, we love to rehearsc their deeds OF valor
Glorying in their greatness the citizens Of our
land will ever prize the memory Of the brave souls
who were the champions of liberty in the darkest
hour Of danger; and to children's children, down
| through the generations that are to come, Will be
transmitted the story of how the fathers went
forth to do battle for their country and persisted
in its defence.
Who were these men whom we revere ~ fallen
soldiers of tho republic They were men Of peace
| and not Of war. Up to the time Of the rebellion
they had led lives of quiet industry. On farms,
in workshops, in stores and Offices they had pur-
sued their avocations until, summoned by the
stern voice Of duty, they changed the implements
of peace for those Of war.
''No maddening thirst for blood had they;
No battle joy was theirs"
They were DO veterans torghene in the rough
school of army life, but quiet citizens, until their
country's need caused them to leave their peace
full homes and enter the rough life Of the camp,
and the carnage and destruction of battle. Our
army represented every phase Of our National
life. Men from every field of industry were there;
kers with the hand and workers with the brain;
men skilled in various ways, men of different
tastes and temperaments, all standing shoulder to
shoulder, filled with great purpose, working
together for a common end. They were men OF
intelligence. 10 despotc countries the soldier is
looked upon as q mere machine. He IS kept down
War is his business. He has higher desire
than to crafty his appetites; no broader culture
than the routine of drill.
But our army was Of different character. Its
members were soldiers only for the hour; and re-
tanned amid the turmoil of camp and field the
same tastes and habits of mind they mad possessed
in civil life. And then too their service was vol
untaiy. They were no. obeyiDg the dictates Of
any ambitious leader. They were not thirsting
for blood and eager for SPOIL following any crazed
rolutionist. They were contend;ng for prnci-
Piles which they could understand. They were
defending the country they loved. Earnest, yet
not unduly excited, brave, but not rash, they
fought to vii that their cause might be vindicated
This being the nstsre of the men and this the
character of their warfare, are justified in as
sorting that they mamie sted the highest type OF
bravery. 1t was with them no needless rushing
iLto danger No maddened, fanatic zeal blinded
them to the peril to which they exposed them
selves. They realized fully the fearful risk they
ran, but the sense of great responsibility nerved
them to meet it manfullv.
The men in whose memory We meet to-day did
not throw away their lives unthinkingly. They
did not court danger, nor rsshly expose them
selves to it, but knowing what they faced they
stood at the post of duty and met the grim mes
senger unhinchingly. 1t was 40 much . sclf-sac-
rfice as when Arnold Winkleried opened for his
countrymen passage through the Austrian ranks.
1t was as much martyrdom as any death that
has been suffered for the sake Of truth. All
honor TO these men. Let the nation cherish their
memory to its latest day; for when it is dead to
the influence of their example it will be dead to
every principle of truth and justice. Well do we
hold these services in commemorstion of their no
BILE deeds. Bright as the flowers We offer are our
recolections of the gallant dead Green and
fresh as the garlands laid upon their graves will
ever be their memory in the healts Of loyal peo-
pie. We cannot honor too highly the men who
l0st thelr lives IN overcoming IcUeulou ~
them the country is indebted for all the greatness
which it has to day-for all the glory which it
hopes to gain in future years. Purchased at the
price of their hives, all the great results ensuing
from victory IN that struggle are their gifts TO
us. To them we owe all the benefits coming from
the success of our arms. and the hearts of our
people should ever throb with grateful emotion at
the mention OF their names. They preserved our
National unity. The young republic Of 100 years
ago had been transmitted from generation to gen.
Grafton, growing in magnitude with each decade,
until it has reached in our day magnificent pro-
portions. 1t was noble country, reaching from
ocean to ocean, from the lakes to the gulf But
| Il pernicious falacy Of State Rights sought to
suuder the nation which was the happy fuflment
of our fathers hopes. The South, dead to every
feeling of patti lotto pride, would have torn our
realm asunder even though the life blood Of the
nation might ebb from the severed arteries. But,
thank God, loyalty had sufficient strength to stay
their traitorous hands Their base designs were
foiled, but not until thousands Of brave men hsd
fallen in the fearful strife Every man that died
beneath our flag surrendered his life in advancing
the highest principle Of government. The truest
| tendency of progress is toward unity among ma.
iions. Italy and Germany are noble examples Of
the working of this princI lie, and many events Of
the hour give color to the prophecy Of the poet, Of
the time