Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-06-03
Memorial OratiOns.

Whether at home or abroad, they are ell
forts of marked excellence, distinguished
by the best traits OF such productions.
They have not been excelled in any year,
we think, since the close OF the war
Time has not abated the patriotic iervor,
the warm sympathy, or glowing eloquence
which the occasion is calculated To inspire,
but il has lett behind much Of the merely
sentimental and given US sounder judy
ments and better considered opinions.
For few years past many oi the ora
lions have lett out OF sight entirely the
distinction between the patriot aud the
rebel soldier who fell in the great strug
gle. Some went So tar as to put behind
them the difference in principle between
the blue and the gray. That they seemed
TO consider topic to be ignored, because
it might stir unkndiy feelings in the
breasts OF our Southern brethren, aud
hinder the reconciliation OF the sections
that opposed each other in the deadly CON
fict. But this year better judgment has
generally prevailed, aud more just spirlt
tow wards the patriot soldier, the man who
stood and suffered and died tor his country
pervades the orations delivered.
Two OF the oratious in which the right
and wrong OF the war were presented this
year were those OF General Sherman and
Frederick Douglass at The celebration IN
the city OF New York. Mr.. Douglass
spoke in UnIon-square III the morning and
General Sherman III Booths theatre III the
evening. General Sherman said; There
are such things as abstract right and alb
stract wrong, and when history is written
human actions must take their place III
one or the other category. We claim that,
in the great civil war, we OF the National
Union Army were right, aud our, adverse
res wrong; and no special pleading, no
excuses, no personal motives. however
pure and specious, can change this YER
dict of the war;.
Mr.. Douglass. after paying an eloquent
tribute to the men who marched forth at
the nations call to defend its life, touched
upon the political situation of the hour. II
do not affirm" he said that friendly feeling
cannot be established between the people
of the North and South. do not say
that between the white and colored peo-
pie of the South the former slaves aud
the former masters, friendly relations may
not be established. | do not say that
Rutherford b. Hayes, the lawful aud
rightful President OF the United States,
was not justified in stepping to the verge
and pacify the old master class at the
South but | do say that some steps by
way of Cancellation should come from the
other side. The prodigal son should al
least turn his back upon the field OF swine
and his face toward home, before we make
haste to fall upon his neck, and tor him
kill the fatted calf. He must not glory in
his shame, and beast his non-repert tnce.
He must not re-enact al home the excessses
he allowed himself to commit in the bar
rem and desolate fields OF rebellion"
In regard to the Significance OF Dec
Grafton Day Mr.. Douglass said: Good,
wise, and generous men at the North, in
power and out OF power, for whose good
intentions and patriotism We must al
have the highest respect doubt the wis
do If nh This m al Hay ma
would have US forget and forgive, strew
flowers alike and lovingly, on rebel and
on loyal graves. This sentiment is noble
and generous. worthy of all hoLor as
such; but it is only sentiment after all,
and must submit TO its own rational liml-
tations. There was right side and
wrong side in the late war, which no SEN
timent ought to cause US TO forget. aud
while to-day we should have malice
no part Of our duty to contound right
with wrong, or loyalty with treason. Ii
the observance OF this memorial day ha,
any apology, Office, or significance, it i
derived from the moral character OF the
war, from the iarreaching, unchange-
able, and eternal principles in dispute,
and for which our sons and brothers en-
countered hardship, danger, and death"
OF the position of the democratic party
at the present time he said And what is
the attitude of this same party t)-day?
We all know what it was in 1860. The
alternative presented to the nation then
was, give US the Presidency or we will
plunge the county into all the horrors Of
a bloody revolution. The position of that
party is the same to day as then. The
chosen man then was John c. Breckin-
ridge, of Kentucky. The chosen man Of
that party to-day is Samuel j. Tlden.
The man to be kept out OF the Presidential
chair by threat OF revolution was Abra-
ham Lincoln. The man to be driven from
the Presidential chair by the machinery OF
polilicsl investigation is Rutherford b
Hayes Now, as then, the same rebelious
spirit is much disturbed by the Army and
Macy In tho fret ins,.,o, &,