Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-06-01

dress in full
MAJ. FoGLERs GRAFTON.
TO speak in behalf of our brave and noble dead
Is 10 me labor of love and gratitude, and COM
rades, thank you for this invitation.
Inc liberties. civil religious and political, which
we AS people enjoy under the protection of our
government, have been obtained through the
bravery the devotion and sacrifice of human life;
anu every loyal and patriotic heart should not fail
to recognize, with feelings of the deepest graft
tnue the ohigations we are under to all brave
anu "eEo'eu men OF the past who have aided
10 gaming ana establishing our Liberties; and
esp cially should we remember that greater nnm
her who in our own dav have also sealed Their
llVcs at the altar of their country that those
Liberties might be maintained and pernetua,ed
Ana mat a grateful people NAV have an oppor-
tunly OF showing their Gratitude for their own
honored dead. has this dsv been set apar, and
memorial service established, of decorating the
graves of our fallen heroes with the fragrant
howers Of spring. And in accordance with mi.
service has the Seth Williams Post Of this citv
placed their floral offerings upon the grassy
mounds beneath which rest the forms of a few
brave comrades who have been mustered out to
he called t'ith no more till the great Gay of fiual
review.
l. seems fitting that in some wav, wear nv wear
the memories If those who fought and died IN the
late war, with their struggles, their sue, ngs and
their tiiumph-, should be especially b, Fought he
fore ~; and while that "roll of honored dead"
are far beyond the reach of any earthly honors we
can confer npon them. we need the Observance of
this day for oar own sakes. 1t is of value to NJ.
for by the judgment which we pass upon the
deeds Of the great and noble 10 years gone nv
so dn We pass judgment on ourselves Reralno
then the achevem nts of those brave and devoted
men, we catch something Of the inspiration com
iug from their noble examples, and feel ourselves
our keued into a 'ruer and more earnest life
So i 1t also with those "naons that cherish in
their hearts the memories of their houored dead
they show that they are made mp of such fibre
as constitutes nobility in themselves and gives
t,t norm tfy and nAu -. 81
stitr iinus."
OF all nations that should honor and respect
those who fell in their defence our own should
stand foremost for say, and say il in pride,
that nation ever sent for h an army of men
possessing more exalted types OF all that j. brave
and noble in human character thas were tho men
composing the grand old union army. And II Is
because Of their worth also as men, az well as the
cause for which they fought, that we wouli honor
and perpetuste their names aud their memories
lille we ali dep"ecate war and earnestly look
for~ ard to the time when 1t shall he left FAR be-
hind when swords shall he beaten into plow-
shares and spears into pruning hooks" We, war
fare has been in the past q necessary pha.e in
national existence. aud essential in all ma ioual
progress thus far in the world; and with nations
so has it been in the progress of mankind We
know that ~ the earlier ages OF man Ia. right.
were trampled beneath the feet If the few priv.
LEGGED classes Of priests and nobles-a m re slave
wholly within their power aud snbiec ion o.
preston and injustice surrounded him on eveiv
band. The spirit of persecution and tyranny
never failed to resort to the most shocking NJ 1
bs,bnic cruelties to prevent both his intellectual
growth and moral elevation. In this condition IL
is almost wonderful that the mind of man ever
ceived the idea of liberty. But notwith .tand-
ing h- serNile de sradstion we fni that from time
to time and age to aye there have been brave and
noble souls who, wiling TO accept anv fate that
mi 2ht befall them rather than remain in such ser.
vitude, have endeavored to BURT a,under the
shacklcs which so cruelty tettered them, and who
dared TO stay the unmerciGui hand that woud
forge those chains still more strongly. But their
success was achieved only through revolution and
warfare. Not right conceded without a
struggle, not advance was gained wi hout
opposition, and vet these grand snldiers-pipneer,
in the cause of libery-they willingly accepted
isolation, poverty and csumny for the good of
mankind. They gave up al hu, their self r. spcct
continued to strike the initial blows far freedom
and human rights They but he al led the dawn
of coming day which it is oar privilege 10 eni,v
when the rights Of man should be recoe nized and
accepted. And thus through successive struggles
and achievements has been made possible the high
standard of civilization to which mankind has
attained.
But the victories which should re.nlt in The
Grove and elimination Of mans efforts in behalf
of human liher'y reserved for the people Of
the New World TO achieve With th. same spirit
of oppression and intolerance continuing, our pill
grim ia herr. on account Of re gious pet secntions
sought refuge in the wilds Of America, where
they could worship thrir Heavenly Father accord.
ing to the dictates of their own conscience. Con-
genial natures followed and within the next CEN
tuty England had lost many OF the foremost
of the times-meD, too who had been prominent
in all refo ms. and who brought with them the
most enlarged and elevated opinions of the age
They also came to seek devereuce from the
power Of mperious and obstinate rulers. But
even here they not free. Political persecu-
tious followed and forced them to submit To ru ers
in whose selection thew had no choice; compelled
them to We'd obedie nee to laws in whose making
thew had voice, and also to suffer the violation
.,...4 -, "A
life itself To such acts of usurpation aud tvrsn
the PEOPLE O. the American colonies refused 10
submit. Thew asked redress of their grievances
in recognition of their rights. but of no avail.
Nothing short OF the most abject submission
would .at fv the demands of King George. The
colonies, however, equally determined
not to submit, and then 10 their sublime devotion
to the cause of human liberty, for which they
had already suffered much, they dared to pro-
claim to the mghtiest empire OF the world that
"resistance to tyrants is obedience to God" They
refused longer to concede authority to a govern
meut simply because II possessed power to enforce
its will, and they announced the sublime truth to
the world that all power comes from the people
Disclsiming all further allegiance to the British
Crown, they fully realized the fearful conse-
quences that would surely follow. They knew
that al appeal to arms was inevitable II they
would become a free and Independent people, hut
thev ready to meet aud test the issue. The
contest was indeed long and bitter, hut ri gh'e,us
heaven approved the solemn appeal Of our fore
ard America was free, free from the hand of the
oppressor, and that starry flag, raised by those
noble men a. an emblem of human liberty, now
waved forth in triumph to the world.
''Gireat men grow greatest by the lapse Of time,
We know those least whom we have seen latest;
And they mongst those whose names have grown
sublime
Who fought for human liberty greatest"
The American Republic was established Years
of peace and prosperity followed, and we became
strong and powerful nation, yet Notwithstanding
we had become a free people, our fathers did not
ia the adoption of the Constitution embody the
great principle of the equality of all men before
the law. The institution of human bondage eX-
i-tei within our borders, and though entirely
foreign and hostile in its nature to the spirit of
freedom it was permitted to remain; yea, it was
suffered even to b come very part of our national
existence, and as such could claim protection and
support With rapid national growth, this
institution also grew strong and powerful, and so
arbitrary and despotic did it become in its de-
mands that it apparent to tar-seeing minds
that the liberties OF our country were actually en-
dsncered. Those predictions were fully verified,
and on the l4th of April, 1851. the guns of treason
and rehe lion were heard from Cha lesion harhor,
and the nag of this nation went down In defeat