Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1881-09-01
The Veterans Reunion.

Among the many good speeches made at
the Camp Fire Of the Veterans reunion,
held in Portland last week. none was bet
ter than the one made by Hon. w. W.
Thomas. Jr. of Portland. in response to the
third regular toast of the evening which
was:
The 1ssociafion Of IIderdn SoIiiers and
Sailors of NdiRe-Iis second reunion and
| splendid success. If there is any skcpticlsml
ON this score. it is the fault of those who did
not come, but who will be sorry they STAYED
| al home.
To this toast Mr.. Thomas responded as
follows:
IefsTdHs Of Maine:
have always held il To be an ndecorous
| thing for a civilian To speak at an Assem-
blage Of soldiers But, my friends. when
YOU veterans who fought our battles, and
won our victories for Us. ask me tonight Ia
speak word for YOU. | feel that silence
would be more indecorous than speech.
And now. my friends. that | am on my
feet, what can ] say in your praise ? Moth
ing | am SURF that can honor YOU half as
much as your own heroic deeds for simply
to enumerate the battles YOU have fought i
TO call YOUR highest roll Of honor
In all ages mountainous and seagirt coun-
tries have produced heroes. and the State Of
Maine has proved no exception 10 the rule.
Our own loved State of Maine | am
sorry there was no one here tn answer to
the toast, 1.-The State OF Maine" VIVA,
son of Maine il not proud of her-State
where a thousand headlands break the on
set OF the untamed sea-Siatc, where a
thousand mountains kiss the Sky-Siate.
where thousand woodland lakes mirror
the stars Of heaven Born and bred in our
rock ribbed. sca-giri State, YOU soldiers 81
Maine could BE- naught but heroes Heroes
YOU marched forth from amongst us 10000
strong heroes YOU proved Yourselves 10 b.
on many a well fought field. We a, home
had never cause to blush for YOU at the
front we were ever proud Of the marches,
the battles the ,Alor and the victories OF
the soldiers Of Maine.
Lives there man IN Maine. care not Of
what party or creed he may be. that does
not feel glow Of patriotic pride warm hi.
heart a. he reads in the eloquent address of
our Governor these vor,ls. from Bull run
to Appoma,toN. no Dag Of Maine regiment
MAS ever captured and held Eve minute, b,
the enemy"
Ave. veterans Of Maine, YOU suffered no
dag 81 Your, TO De dishonorrd. no fax com
mliied To your keeping ever traiIcd IN the
dust Nay, more. IN the onset Of our hat
tie flag upheld by Your arms. borne onward
by YOUR yalor through the ,hirkcst 81 the
FRAY. Maine has indicated her claim 10 the
proudest Of notices. for ON every tattcrcd
~ar-vorn hag. borne into the hell Of battle
hy the men OF Maine j. written. not IN
words that perish hu, b, might, deed, rha,
shall live forever. "D,ugo tend"
When the war vas over and victory won.
you came back 10 u, but With dee,ma,rd
rank.
Since then the quiet, revolving wear, n
peace have thluncd Your columns again, but
to-nlgh, Won closr up YOUR ranks once more
ami sitting round Your campfire dSh, Your
battles ser again.
And as look upon you am reminded that
the world never before .aw a troop n set.
craus like you aud YOUR comradc, 81 the
armie. Of the Union.
The lcgious Of Rome amer sucCr.,tul var
we're quarterrd on the Roman pro, tnccs.
bu; such .as the rapAoI,y and cNtor,ion Of
the soldier. and officers tina, the Roman
province. dreaded the presence Of Their own
veterans more than an attack Of a hostile
army.
In our Own daN the nations Of Europe have
had their great var, and achieved their
great VICTORIES but after their vars arr over
their armies Of veterans are maintained a.
standing armies, perpetual menace tu the
ughts OF the people. and a perpetual burden
1" every man, woman and child Of Europe
Hut YOU. American Veterans. ha,c taught
the world lesson IN jcac, n We. q, in
~ar. Nou fought the most ,,upcndou, VAR
that ever shook the earth. You gained the
grandesi Il Nietoric, But when the great
fight IA. over and .ibert, and cquaiIi,
union and nationality Won FOR continent
you came back to Us. not to Impo, rri.h and
destroy with YOUR veteran Iegious, bot Join
ing the grand army Of labor, 70 work with
Us shoulder 10 shoulder aud help 10 render
fruitful and prosperous the country YOUR
NaloT had saved.
Veterans Of the grand arm, Of the Union
long may YOU live 10 enjoy the blessings uf
peace and prosperity.
For many years 10 come may you con
tnue to gather around your campfire, FOR
the very soil on which your camp i pitched.
Is part If a great, free. united country.
through your courage and your toll, YOUR
hardships and your blood