Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-09-22

-.rlv GO years ago ~ ''e mug VI usN vi
- .ioue Of the monument AZ Bunker Hill.
- Ant are his words to this day and occa-
~, So truly do the, characterize this
~ 'sssent day that they seem to US to be the
rP.,Nov Of rhetorical exnoerance when ap-
e 0,;sI TO the United States OF 1873
pr The ereat orator further declared that ''the
-..s,.i progress of knowledge, the improve
Eans in legislation, in commerce, in the arts.
=: ~ ,s,ters. and above all. IN liberal ideas and
- =. general spirit OF the age, which had
IN -. made in the then 90 years OF our coun-
-. existence, bad been such THAT the
Il world seemed changed
W .ta1ding at that midway point in our
,:.,o,v. the glories of his own day and gen.
me-. ..;on could move him to such enthusiastic
sn.,s.,iop. how could he fttingly frame in
..sech the wOndrous advancement OF his
sP r,rv and all that relates to human progress
"a h.npipess, were it given him to look from
-. 80. Do;nt of time upon the achievements ofthe
We ., haf century He would see fif,y mil
-. Of people where then were but twelve
" ncn; He would behold rising States and
ming MING cities stretching in unbroken sue
ee...;on across the continent. through the
- mysterious region known then only to
~ sdyentuous hunter and trapper, and end
-, -bere the Pacific leaves the shores fthe
'"s state which was at that time an alien
"a rnvaIued land. Then there was not a
IL of railway on this continent. To-day
;.on network hundred miles in length,
h;,d. the States of the Union into close re-
,.,;ons of trade and intercourse, bringing
..onle of the various sections to better
lrIedoe of each other. and promoting the
.a.,ooeneousness and strength of the nation.
IT, sseam ferrisge of the ocean was then but
i..,v foreshadowed The telegraph and
saisnboue-the familiar servants of to day
"a mr. entered into the imagination Of the
NON of that day. Whether We regard the
dsyslapment and utilization of existing
t,o,ledee. forces, facilities and products, or
NOV discoyeries and inventions, pertaining TO
,hs material world, OF consider the expansion
IS enlightenment and thought into channels
- heneHcence to mankind.-no correspond
-, neriod has more nobly illustrated the
~,sndeur and daring of the human intellect
., further advanced the sum of human happi-
moss than has the past halt century, especial
" in our own country
tn the American people this is indeed "a
aay Of extraordinary prosperity and happi-
no.. - and it is such because it is day of
l.h;0h national honor, distinction and power. 5"
what ia the national honor" of a free peo-
nep II is the strength of the love of the peo-
Mo for the government of their own institu
don. Was ever greater love shown than
,h,t which bore the Union through four years
of gigantic warfare-years of death to thOus-
an6s upon thousands of patriot heroes, fearful,
xoeful wears to other thousands of patriot
bearts-to assured safety and higher glory?
The irrational honor" is the vindication Of
the national existence. The loyal people of
the land accepted the challenge given in the
most offensive manner by blow and an in
suit to their flag, and joined in the wager
OF battle upon the question of Nation
and q constitution, or sovereign States.
and q compact between them. Stirred
90 action by the stress of war, the
Nation snapped the threads of sophistry with
which her enemies had sought to bind her
through years of insidious respite, and
emerged from the strife erect, dauntless, "a
noble and puissant Nation, rousing herself
like strong man after sleep. and shaking
her invincible locks"
The national honor is the answering rec
ignition of all the obligations resting
upon the nation. So far from using the ty
rants plea of necessity" to abridge liberty
in the rage of war. the nation recognized its
obligation to freedom, to the law of its own
being, and struck the bonds from four mil
Hons of enslaved human beings. And so with
oil the rest. No man can point to a single
obligation which it has not met in letter and
in spirit, and with punctiliOus observance of
the broad equities that are the law of all true
greatness and nobility. Maenanimity and
generosity could ask no more than it freely
accorded to the vanquished when they had
laid down their arms. No faint of reputation
Affects her financial affairs, appalling as was
the sum Of promises TO pay, which had been
vrung from her in her agony. The wounded
and disease smitten soldier, the widows and
orphans of those who fell in the country's
cause, are the recipients of an ungrudged
bounty without precedent in the history OF
nations.
And now all the love that prompted the
devotion, all the devotion that led to the
heroic deeds, sutferings and sacrifices that
sgnaized the contest for the unfolding OF
the national honor, and ali the virtues dis
played In that contest, find themselves
transmitted and conserved in the heightened
distinction and power of the country, and
rewarded in the prosperity of the whole
people. vctors and vanquished alike. The
Who could only stand and wait with fortitude,
hopefalness and words of cheer, rendered
true service and have their share in the
honors OF victory. But foremost in honor are
they who were foremost in the fight
undying honor to those who fell in the
cause which was at once the cause of country,
Of freedom. and of humanity. Never on the
eafth was there more inspiring spectacle
n llyip of he. H.
uys nag in the hour of its danger, and their
march against the foe, their hearts aglow with
en!husiastic readiness to welcome any fate SO
only that their country might live. The in
sa'iaole fures of war consumed them by
thousands The tale of the victims can most
mpressively be inferred from the number
snich each familiar community has contrib
u'eo 70 u. There is none so small as to have no
representative among the patriot dead. Honor
ana prise ana gratitude and loving and ever
lssting memory is the rishtful need of them.
"oe and all who ION the solid land or the
weaving sea- persisted under the strokes that
souent the Nations life. Their countrymen
e not unmindful of the benefactors who
s.'e the last and greatest gift, even life, to
s.ca,e the blessings we to-day enjoy. The
,.ioie TOKENS of honor and memory. such as
%is We are now assembled to dedicate, which
nave ~, oeen reared in many a city. town and
'msee, are but the symbolic form of an i'm
persnaoie sentiment that lies deep in tn,
thoughtful life of the country.
augusta, like many another patriotic COM
Spnny, in the multiplicity of burdens and
Ssues consequent upon the war deferred the
ssnng OF memorial to her fallen sons to q
Nsotsple day. ! will not now attempt d