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

heat and cold and all the wonderful sequence Of
the seasons have come and fled since the roaI
of batteries, the clangor of arms and the dir
and dire waste of civil outbreak ceased
among US. Eleven millions of dissatisfied
and determined Americans in open revolt
saw in 1855 their vision of distinct existence
as a people go out in wild disorder and pitt
less rout. to be buried deep in the CORY track
of war. But from the soil where lies the
sepulchre of secession there has sprung forti
within the reunited nation for those who raj
lied to the standard of the lost cause q
fairer prospect and vaster heritage than their
own dream could have realized.
To number our Israel. to sum up and pub
lisli our amounted possessions, to catalogue
our tokens of miraculous advancement, and
TO herald the gains and to portray the growth
that time has seen since the vanquished laid
down their arms and the victOrs laid by theiI
unneeded trappings of warfare-such review
of our material advantage does not belong to
this occasion.
This we know and must say-but for the
men we this day commemorate with the at
tendance and ceremony Of this unusual
and significant throng of behold
ers. and but for their compatriots
in the Union ranks. the inventory OF true
progress we so fondly prepare and the pre-
sentation of that unparal. eled prosperity which
is our just claim and vaunt, all this, but for
these and such as these, would have
been impossible. Bacon has it that
while the whole universe under
goes change, no stream of time can wash on,
one of Homer's poems" The future NAV al
ter the condition and character of the Repub
lie, bu. time has no power to blot out that
lasting and luminous chapter which recounts
the deeds of the army of loyalty Of which
your martial dead made prominent part.
Not mine the task to give in detail the acts
or merits of the one thousand men of Au.
gusta of which these one hundred and fifty.
one departed comrades make your martyrs to
patriotism,-martyrs you have gathered to-
gether to honor by this memorial Offering.
Time would not permit rehearsal ofthe mil
itary proves of the conspicuous names.
known so well.to you. and known to every
close student of the insurrection,-name
cut here in letters upon tablatures of ada
mant to remain while day and night continue,
as your precious roll of honor. Justice TO
the qualities and virtues of each soldier who
gave all to country by giving life, forbids any
exceptional mention from among the glorious
list of heroes carved on these unfailing
tables Of stone, to last while this
fair capitol of noble commonwealth shall
last. Heroes? Yes! If ever this earth could
proudly point to heroes, that right and priVi-
lege is ours. If ever from the huge mass
who in our day and generation have gone
down to the dark house and the long home
it is justifable to single out men who should
be embamed in memory for eminence in
courage and self denial, in the graves scat
tered over our extended domain, where
lie those who were stricken to the dust
in the last great conflict for human
welfare. we shall find such men.
And if Judean harps echoing through the royal
halls of Palestine, if the glowing line that
have made classic the conflicts of Greece, II
the sw cling and regal periods of Roman
verse and the crowded tones of later liter
AZURE, can note and repeat the conduct of
those who fought for gain. for empire, for de-
fence or for retaliation, what commentator
should be uttered over the memoir OF those,
who for more than any passion for war. for
more than any inspiration of conquest, even
for more than any superior motive OF self
preservation gave up their lives to vindicate
the manhood of one race, pouring out their
blood in generous libation TO uphold the
ideas and maintain the principles that bestow
upon another all the dignity of enfranchise-
ment? Old as the world is, SCARED with
wars and glittering with martial parade and
pagentry as it is, il has no story like the
story Of npr buried heroes. At that story
take hurried glance.
For two calamitous years our army reels
back, staggered by every blow, until havoc,
defeat and retreat seem to be the natural
order of our armies. Not only does desola-
ton sweep through the field and distrust
threaten to destroy us at home, but our ex-
chequer is exhausted, our credit wanes, and
our lesions are thinned. But more brave men
rush in to fill the depleted ranks more loans
flow in to sustain our failing chests; more
loving and tender women tread softly by the
hospital bedside to press and soothe with
their gentle hands the aching heads of diving
warriors. We write ''liberty for the slave"
upon our shattered banners, and then we
hear of Vicksburg. Gettysburg and Port
Hudson One million men of war are on
the active roll of our armies before the
work is done. These men at first are I'M
trained to warfare and unskilled il service,
but ere long they stand or pass to the further
edge of conflict. sternly keeping step under
cruel and murderOus fire. Fronting the
majestic and awful adversary -death-the
hail of quick musketry pouring on them, the
heat and light of battle burning and blazing
around them, their faces become giorified
and beautiful with manly fortitude and resig-
nation. At last. after long marches and
wasting sieges and combats that are beta
combs of slaughter, the enemy weakens; he
yields his holly contested ground; his fire
.lackens the final word comes, 'sthe lines
are breaking" and charge, battalion charge,
..rings through the Army Of the Potomac !"
the whole Union front leaps forward at the
cry like an Infatuated overwhelming wave,
and treason is swept back in confusion, and
driven, let us hope forever TO its lair. The
men of Augusta whose names are inscribed
on this memorial tablet came back to you dead
or have since died, all having participated in
the struggle have yainly attempted to de-
scribe Therefore it is that We bestaw on
them that title ontsbining the pomp of kings.
the phantom of high birth. or the glare of
station-the matches title of hero! And
whatever there be of sublimi'y in pat
riotic impulse or ardor, whatever is inspiring
in chiyalry, whatever Of sentiment ar emotion
clusters to the lofty name OF con 'try. what
ever is noble in national honor. valuable in
national unity grand or inspiring in national
victory, whatever Ieans should be shouted
over the march of freedom. and over
the couauests of human progress and the
rights of men, all, all, should unite
in emphasis and exaltstion of the spotless
and radiant lustcr that baloes the memory OF
our heroic and immortal dead
One hero-a great citizen, first among us
from his recognized eminence and traits OF