The Portland daily press., 1881-08-26
To this Hon. W. W. Thomas responded in
the following fitting terms:
Veterans of Maine.

the following fitting terms:
Veterans of Maine:
I have ALWAYS held it to be an INDIGENOUS
thing for civilian to speak at an assemblage
of soldiers. But, my friends. when you yete-
rams who fought our battles. and won our VIC
tories for us, ask me tonight to speak word
for you, feel that silence would be more in
decorous than speech.
And now, my friends, that am on my feet,
what can say in your praise? Nothing am
sure that can honor you half as much as your
own heroic deeds; for simply to enumerate the
battles you have fought is to call your highest
roll of honor.
In all ages mountainous and seagirt coun-
tries have produced heroes. and the State of
Name mas proved no exception to this rule.
Our own loved State of Maine. am sorry
there was no one here tonight to answer to the
toast, "The State of Maine" What son of
Maine Is not proud OF her-State where a thou
sand headlands break the onset of the untamed
sea-State, where thousand mountains kiss
the skyLotate, where thousand Woodland
lakes mirror the stars of heaven! Born and
bred in our rock-ribbed, sea-girt State, you
soldiers OF Maine could be naught but heroes
Heroes you marched forth from amongst MS
7O,Ooo strong: heroes you proved yourselves to
be on many we'll fought field. We at home
bad never cause to blush for you at the
front; we were ever proud of the marches, the
battles, the valor and the victories of the sol
diers 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 his heart
as he reads In the eloquent address of our Gov
ernor these words, "from Bull Run to Apo
mattox, no flag of Maine regiment was ever
captured and held five minutes by the enemy"
Aye, veterans of Maine, you suffered no
flag OF yours to be dishonored, no flag COM
mitted to your keeping ever trailed in the dust.
Nay, more, in the onset of our battle flags, up
held by your arms, borne onward by your
valor through the thickest of the fray Maine
has vindicated her claim to the proudest of
notices, Tor on every battered war-worn flag,
born into the hell OF battle by the men of
Maine is written, not in words that perish,
but by mighty deeds that shall live forever,
'sDirigo, lead"
When the war was over and victory won,
you came back to us, bnt with decimated
ranks.
Since then the quietly revolving years of
peace have thinned your columns again, but
tonight you close up your ranks once more
and sitting round your campfire fight your
battles DER again.
And as I look upon you am reminded that
the world never before saw body of veterans
like you and your comrades of the armies of
the Union.
The legions of Rome after successful war
were quartered on the Roman Provinces but
such was the rapacity and extortion of the SOL
ulcIS duu OmC6TS tudb bu6 AOmdn provinces
dreaded the presence of their own veterans
more than an attack of a hostile army.
In our own day the nations of Europe have
had their great wars and achieved their great
victories, but after their wars are over their
armies of veterans are maintained as standing
armies, perpetual menace to the rights of
the people, and perpetual burden to every
man, woman and child of Europe.
But you, American veterans, have taught
the world lesion in peace as well as in war.
You fought the most stupendous war that ev or
shook this earth. You gained the grandest of
victories. But when the great fight was over
and liberty and equality, union and national
lty won for continent, you came back to us.
not to impoverish and destroy with your vete-
ran legions, but Joining the grand army of
labor, to work with us shoulder to shoulder
and help to render fruitful and prosperous the
country your valor hal saved.
Veterans OF the grand army OF the Union,
long may you live to enjoy the blessings of
peace and prosperity.
For many years to come may you continue
soil on which your camp is pitched, is part of
great, free, united country, through your
courage and your toll, your bardships and
your blood.
The fourth toast was:
The Army and Navy of the United States
Though apparently weak in numbers. it is the only
national body of armed men in the world which can
whole male population.
Gas Gen. o. o. Howard rose to respond he
was greeted by storm of cheers. Beginning
his remarks with compliment to the volun-
teer army he proceeded to eulogize the regular
service and described at some length and with
feeling the arduous nature of its duties. He
pleaded for an increase of its numerical
strength and for better appreciation of its
merits by the people whose servant it is.
The fifth toast was:
The Militia of Mine:-We recall the inestimabler
value of the militia, a in April, 861. We remembe
that the first blood shed in our great war was that
of militia man. By so much as these volunteers
are now bet er organized and equipped by 50 much
may feel confident in them in the he ur of need.
The militia of Maine-second to none.
To this Gen. j. NJ. Brown briefly responded,
complimenting the militia of the state upon
the progress it has made and the proficiency it
displays, and strongly advocating its claims
upon the hearty and generous support of our
citizens
The sixth and last toast was:
The city of Portland-we return our very
hearty thank for the successful endeavor to make
eur Encampment a delight. The passage # time
works no abatement of her zeal towards and kindly
remembrance of the ex-soldiers and sailors.
To this Mayor Senter briefly and felicitously
responded, expressing the pleasure of the citi-
zens at the opportunity to welcome the vete-
rams, and humorously mentioning the victory
won over the Britshers under the shadow of
Bramhall.
So the regular order of exercises came to an
end But as the great audience was about to
break up Gen. Howard stepped to the front of
the platform, raised his hand and offered an
earnest prayer for the recovery of the Presi-
dent-a prayer in which everyspersonspresent
silently joined. Then the crowd dispersed, and
the reunion of Maine veterans came to an end.