Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-01-14
THE MONUMENT FAIR.


Ntdr DuHllnR anu evergreen were
arranged prettily around the galleries and
other parts of the room, giving a very gay
and attractive appearance to the hall. The
tables of the different religious societies in
the city were placed along the sides of the
| hall, and were well covered with refresh
ments, fancy goods. &c. All the societies
except the ini,ersalist, were represented In
the rear of the hall was II handsome flower
stand, one of the prettest adorned features.
On one side was the post office" in imita-
ton of building, and very neatly executed.
| Taken all together. the hall as il is arranged
and decorated is a very pleasant place to
spend an evening in, and certainly one can
find interesting biects enough to attract the
attention were there not also each evening a
fine stage entertainment
| The opening address was delivered bv Col
VIM. H. FogIer of Belfast. one of the bravest
and best soldiers who went from Maine to
! help put down the rebellion. The address
required thrce-quartcrs of an hour in its de-
livery, and was an appropriate, patriotic and
scholarly cfiort,-one that was highly appre-
ciated by the audience Ii was received with
frequent applause. We publish an abstract
Of the address.
lie said while there might be diversity in the man
ncr and customs of people there certain traits and
emo ions of the souls Of men that remain forever es
centrally unchanged The depths of barbarism and
the heights of Enlightenment have thoughts and feel.
ngs and sympaihies sufficiently akin to demonstrate
the great brotherhood of man. Modes of life, meth.
DDS of government, the relations and constituents of
society systems of culture forms Of religious faith
are ever assuming phases. but the deep natural
emotions of the soul are eternal and unchanging.
lis Is true IN the admiration men pay to heroism.
When we pay our respects to the noble dead we but
perform an act that was begun In the remotest part
lleroisIn Is no meteor flashing the sky, and
then disappearing, but like the brighter eiugence of
the sun, l. present in every country, among all people
aud al all times The old fellow who went about in
mi ale iul mo-
man, would have found hundreds and thousands of
them. had he held hi dim candle in the right place
! For time the true hero pass unnoticed. but
when brave men are wanted he springs to the front.
And We need not look for heroes alone 10 the remote
past. though we may be worshppers of such. 1t
scented: n score 81 wears ago 10 have been n well
settled belief that the who fought at Bmnker's
Hill. aud saratoga aud Yorktown of different
mould than the men of TODAY, and when thev died,
We were apt to think that patriotism died out. But
how suddenly was such belief dissipaed when
traitors struck blow nj the life of the Republic. 4
hundred hard fought fields, the nation redee med the
union preserved, the old flag nnsued proved that
patriot ~m Is not altogether thing of the past.
When in its hour of supreme peril the country calls
for strong arms and brave hearts, the elements are
not wanting. The plough is left standing in the half
turned furrow, the accumulated wealth of lifetime
of struggle is abandoned to ruin and destruction;
wife and children left in the love the pat.
riot bears for them i outweighed by the love of
atherland Though the country itself NAV he drearv,
though II be the home of poverty and wretchedness,
though hunger NAV haunt 1t like "A spectre, though
the foot of oppression may be planted upon the necks
OF its people vet il will be dear to the hearts of
those whose birthplace it is, a. though it were the
home of plenty and luxury aud the refuge and abd.
ing place Of Liberty. Had the magnfcence of Rome
been absent her people would have loved her still.
50 of the Irish people in cnging TO their Gown green
Isle 1t Is the unque>iioning even unrea soning and
blind love of country upon which the pernanence of
government is based. With this the government
must be enduring. No matter how wise and patriotic
the statesmen the Legislators, the safety of free
nations depends upon the wisdom and the patriotism
of the people themselves. The politician statesman
who thinks that he governs or contends, deceves
himself IL Is public opinion that governs. The
Declaration of Independence made possible
through public opinion. II was the declaration of
the whole people, who for hundred and fifty years
have breathed the free air of the continent.
The Anglo Saxon people have wrought out for
themselves their own liberties; the people themselves
have fought the battles of the people, and have
the peoples rights The abolition of ftudal seryi-
ude the right of trial by jury freedom of thought of
speech and of the press equality under the laws, the
right of selfgoyernment-each represents conflict,
In which was arrayed upon side the
mon people, and upon the other the powerful
OF the earth aud the cause of the people has ALWAYS
! trinmphed. This point was illustrated by
pies from ancient and modern history. This
favorablv demonstrated in our late rebellion
Those who inaugurated the rebellion did not rightly
judge Of the character of the northern people
The new President, Abraham Lincoln was man Of
the people and was selected by the people. When
beon came his course was plain to guide the ship of
STATE Alright until the people should speak No act of
his should preciptae war he would not seem to
lead public opinion. but when the voice of the people
should command he should obey. He waited with
patriot a until 1t were treason not TO act ON the
wings of lightning came the sound of the rebel guns
noriHNaru, ana, the lightning nnger. the
great heart of the people touched Then again
fired the shot heard round the world" The great
dercurrent of patriotic feeling needed but this shock
to convert the whole great ocean of public opinion
into very temple of LOYALTY. Then again was dem
onsraed the great truth that patriotism is undving
devotion to country eternal No feeble response
greeted the eNpecant of the anxious President
The people seemed inspired by one sentiment, 1.-The
tnion must and shall be preserved" Men sprang to
arms rs from the very ground-the scholar, the art
san the farmer the merchant the preacher, the law
yer-al became ~ once the brave defenders of
Try aud home. Four fearful wears of conflict and
riice then came peace with Mon and safety for the
people Hut In that great struggle, how many brave
men fell In camp and hospital, upon terrible fields
of battle, on the lonely picket post upon the
march, and in the wicked prison pens they fell. each
man hero. such our heroic dead Though
time takes the keenness OF the pain the great
sorrow win remain in thousands of stricken
households Though need no outward symbol to
remind hearts Of the honor we owe TO them
/ though the pen of history will preserve the
| of their Nnlor and devotion: vet nstinctvelv
recognize il a. our duty to manifest in tangible
form our respect aud love for the who died for
us The customs of all ages and of all peoples bid
do so; the impulses of onr heart prompt the act
/ And so to them We rear our monumental offerings of
/ enduring granite. Thus in ancient times they hon
ored the brave We need rear no costly monumental
pile. deliberately adorned with richly wrought hand
work Of the sculptor's cunning skill but rather will
we choose the modest shaft, upon the summit sin
gle statue pointing towards heaven, as better SYM
bnlizng the purity and modestv of their patroitism
and the immortality of their fame. We will emblaz
/ on il with no boasng recital of their brave deeds
hni choose betting epitaph, telling in brief the
shafts and high sounding eulogies give eternal fame
make men immortal. In such spirit and with such
| thoughts, we will rear our heroes monument.
The closing exercises were readings and
recitations by Miss Sarah f. Laughton. the
well known teacher of elocution. The scec-
tions were from Shakespeare plays. and
were brought ont in fine style. demonstrating
anew the superior abilities of Miss Laughton
rs a reader.
During the evening the Augusta Band
played some of their fine pieces. Our people
were glad to hear again these favortes
After the stage entertainment the audience
betook themselves to the tables, which were
spread out very temptngly before them. All
things considered, the opening evening was a
| success.
This is to be an evening of absolute fun at
the Fair--the ''Olio' evening As designated
by the programme. Besides the four farces
that will be performed, there will be character
songs and selections by the orchestra 1t will
be determined tonight who will have the
Encyclopaedia The dinner that will be served
at noon, in the Common Council room, will
he gotten nm NV tho ITniyersalist soc;aty