Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-06-02

graves lie to each all over our nations sol
as to form one vast neighborhood of heroi
dead; above which there hovers rs it were
living invisible presence, which at the fir,
footstep of anarchy or tyranny, will send ou
the sodiery challenge "rhO comes there -
at which the base intruder shall hurredl
shrink away. Let us rejoice that we have tn
old flag with not Il star gone nor stripe alter
ell. Wherever il floats it breaches the Cos
pei of fraternity, of loyalty, of equal right
among oU men. Ii cOuntenances no form o
wrong or injustice it upholds the right. I
oppression is found anywhere under it, ii il
not by its approval or consent. 1t is the flag
of all other flags in the world
On the last Fourth of July / found myself
journeyng mp the beautiful Rhine of the old
fatherand. ! never before had spent this
anniversary of our independence where no
demonstration of rejoicing was heard, nor had
| scarcely stopped to think but hat this day
was celebrated all over the world as it was in
America Many times during the day
thought of my beloved country and muse up
on her remarkable history and her pecu-
liar glory. Atlengthin the midst of my revcre
when near the storcd village of Bingen nv
eye fell upon the glorious Oid stars and
stripes as they fOated out from their support
How my heart bounded at the sight of our ma
tional banner 1t was as though fmc1ico it.
self had burst upon my view. 1t seemed to
be home, and friends. and country all in one.
and | qucried if it had been flung to the
breeze at that time IA by an angels hand for
my poor sake. thought Of how its folds had
been gathered as 1t were out of that old coun-
try. The ruins of the ancient castles round
about me carried me back to fculal times and
to all the long struggle Of mankind for what
hInssII a and h.,. :, Hal
length been attained in my own land And
this precious emblem of the achievement
seemed to give its bencdcion to this German
village over which it iioated as well as to nv
own heart.
But could not forget how much this flag
had cost | went back in memory to the
struggle of our country for independence and
also to the time when had seen it again and
again in the smoke of battle and the crash of
war | remembered the hundred of thou
sands of the killed and wounded it had looked
down upon. And | said but for nv slain
comrades this flag could not be. 1t would
have been trodden in the dust and bottcd
out of existence.
The glory of their death can be measured
only by the value of what was purchased
thereby. History fails to furnish any exam
pies OF such high born valor rs we are CON
tcmpating tonight. do not deny instances
of greater fame, but do deny any of as Dr1e
fame.
Not far from this time alluded to stood
upon the field of Waterloo, where since the
memory Of some of YOU the two most tamons
Henerals OF our century, perhaps of any cen
turv, with their charging squadrons and hol-
low squares. met each other in mortal combat
Before this | stood by the ashes of one of
these heroes, i'll the solemn crypt of St Pauls,
and afterwards by the ashes of the other in
the magnificent tomb on the Seine: but nci-
ther at Waterloo, nor at the funeral car of
wellington. nor at the tomb of Napoleon.
dld feel that sense Of true glory, that glow
of admiration for high moral heroism. that
feel when look upon that flag and think of
its defenders For these heroes and their
followers across the waters were strangers to
the noble motives that actuated our loyal he
rocs.
GU tell me | am prejudiced in favor of
this land. tell you nay. | know | have
some reason for loving NV country. But
love 1t and glory in il not chiefly because il
has made pleasant home for me and ac-
corded to me the rights of man, and in
no way abridged my liberties. love
love it, glory in it, chiefly because by
the very principles its constitution. it treats
al men IN this same way, whatever the cir
cumstances of their BIRTH whatever their col
OF, whatever their station. Principles are the
same everywhere, and if found these princi-
pies in England or Germany, | could honor
them as readily as in America. But do not
find them yonder; find them only here and
their emblem there The stripes, alas have
fallen in fatal blows on our gallant dead. mt
the stars tell of their glory, and the glory
they have bequeathed to us The red tells
of the blood they poured out, but the blue of
a freedom wide as the blue skies and the,
white Of the stainless integrity to which we
as people are beckoned
Mr.. President and fellow citizens. one thing |
is certain, however anxious we may feel about
the future of our country, however recrcant
we Us people may he to our sacred trusts. |
the record of our dead soldiers can never be tar
nished. Their names stand recorded at the |
top OF fame's tablet, and all the powers of
earth and hell can never lower them one whit. !
he false as we may to the principles of liber-
ty committed to us, our patriot dead will ever
stand recorded in the annals of history. and
in the book of the recording anueI rs the de-
Tenders Of liberty, aud the true friends of
their race.
Comrades, | must not longer weary your
patience. You have twice honored me. by
appointing me to this service, and now in
kindly listening to my words For these
honors | sincerely thank YOU.
May urge that no tribute ufSpeech. howcv- |
er glowing, will suffice in di,chargng our
duty To our fallen comrades 1t is well that
we should speak ont the admiration which we |
feel for their heroic deeds; but the greater
part of what we owe to them will remain vet |
to be rendered. The best eulogv of the no. |
BILE dead is Il noble life. The best homage
we caa give to those whose memories we are
honoring to-day, is to live in such a way as to
turn to the greatest account, the priceless
sacrifices they have made This will be do.
ing them homage indeed
My comrades your own conncciion with
these deeds that we celebrate, Of your slain fel
low soldiers, ought to he aneye : tagging inspir
alton to amorally courageous life. Its a great
thing for any man To have one passage in his
life, At least, hack upon which he can look
and teel that it was truly noble. Gen, Gar |
field cites an incident that took place an the |
field dofChickamauga, of which touches the point |
Near sunset of the sccoGd ,iay of that battle |
the left wing of the taiQn army were heavily /
pressed by dona,e their number and despair |
alMoss began to settle upon them, They fred |
TIL the hast cartridge was gone, and then gal
lantiy repelled charge by the enemy at the
point OF the hayunet, which proved the turn