The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-05-31

in the first stages of ife's journey, by the loss
OF their chosen companions, shed upon these
mounds shall be as precious jewels in the
crown Of our departed comrades.
Forget not, then, that to engage in these ex-
ercises is not only duty, but privilege ac-
corded TO every true hearted patriotic woman.
To you, comrades, the sun not only stands
still in the valley to-day, but he retroga des In
his course and we are again in the midst of
the exciting scenes of the late war We are
living IN the past. How lifes young blood
boils! How the patriotic impulses of every
true and loyal citizen bestir themselves. The
tocsn Of war echoes through every valley and
over every hilltop of the whole country, and
arouses TO arms, the hamlet and city alike
The call of your country, for the protection
OF your strong arm and brave heart, is a loud
and personal one. 1t appeals to your honor TO
your patriotism, TO the protection OF your
homes and hearth stones, Even ii you would,
could You ignore the call? Was ID not 30 my
comrades? There is only one prayer and one
wish In the patriots heart, victory aud an I'M
divided country.
With martial tread and flying flags, regiment
after regiment leave their quiet homes and
hasten on to the front, and-you so with them
and these seepipg comrades, no less active no
less patriotic than yourselves, march shoulder
to shoulder, and step TO step with YOU Aye,
there wore manifested tho strength and Vigor
of youth; there was courage; there was patr-
otism; there was tho determination and great
hrcc VI ouulg WnlCn III tue emu SaN6Q 10 us M
posterity free and undivided land.
Come trials and hardshlpa, come the parting
from near and loved ones perhaps for the last
time, come death on the battlefield epeg, there
is no faltering. Though the lip Quivers, the
heart is firm; though the eye fills when the
last embrace Is given, and the last lingering
kiss Is pressed on the pale and tear-stained
cheeks of those who must remain behind, your
soul is possessed in quiet and even cheered by
the warmth of your own patriotism.
Can we, then, do too much honor TO the
memory Of those who have thus gone to their
last and final bivonae. Shall not grateful
country. take up the work when we shall have
joined these sleeping companions, and genera
ton vie with generation IN the exercises Of this
Memorial day2
But, my comrades, as look upon your faces
and your thinned ranks to-day, and the scores
Of decorated graves about US, am wildly re-
minded that we are removed at least two de-
cades from the trying scenes of our army life /;
and, though the passing years have wrought
many and marked changes in you, your hearts
beat to the same patriotic impulses they did
twenty years ago. The tributes Of this day
testify to 1t, and your presence hero confirms
II. In your hearts the fires of youth burn as
brightly as when you FIRST took up arms IN de-
fence Of your country. Aud should she call
you again TO her defence, say, wouldnt you all
be ready aud answer TO the eall9
How many there are who stood by you in the
ranks. on the march ana in the carnage OF
battle who have been marshalled on the other
side? How many there are who have BIZ
youacked with you on the field that have gone
70 that country where the strife OF battle is
unknown, how many there are who marched
with you, shoulder TO shoulder and
step TO step, whose faces you have looked
upon for the last timel Their ranks are ever
on the increase, while each Memorial Day
hnds corresponding vacancies in ours. When
we shall have brought our offerings to these
affairs for the last time, and shall have entered
within that green tent whose sides never rise,
and the roll call of cur departed companions
shall report, none missing, then will a great
full pcsterity take up the work and continue
this beautiful commemoration of cur coun-
try's dead heroes.
1t is natural today to recall and recount the
experiences through which we passed in the
war OF the Rebellion. To try 10 make men
tion of them at this time, would DO folly. The
incidents Of the camp, the march and the bat
tie, We're they all told, would fill volumes. We
all recall personal experiences and incidents
which endear us to each other and to these
sleeping companions.
In my own experience | am wildly remind
ed OF a comrade, whose grave, in a distant
part of the State, the SHOWS of winter have
protected and the showers of summer have
heautihed these many seasons, aud whose
memory comes up to me froIn the past as the
fragrance Of these flowers.
through long ana dangerous sickness,
when all hope OF recovery was given up by
my, comrades, this comrade, laree-hearted
brave, yet tender, ministered to my wants as
faithfully and tenderly as mother would
to her sick child. His encouraging words
were healing medicine. Hts tender hand
could soften and smooth 1the rough couch as
none other could. Rest, comFade, in thy mar
row house and may the good Lord OF ALL grant
tothee that reward Of him who loves his sel-
losg-men more than self.
To me he is lot dead. His every festBre I
can recall as though he stood by me but yester-
day. Dead2 These comrades can never die.
TIER material bodies may return TO dust and
be seen no more by mortal vision, but with US
they are living presence Dead2 Ask these
mothers and fathers, whose sous ia the bloom
OF youth fell on the battle field, or suceumbed
to malaria and fever, or miserabiy persisted la
the barharous prison pen. ask them T. say, K
their sons are dead. They cherish their menu
Dry, they will tell you, as a sweet and con-
slant dream. Dead? Ask her who, in all the
bloom and freshness Of her girlhood, offered
her life companion on her country's altar. il he
is dead, and she will tell you that his presence
goes With her through the wears round Of life
az a blessed angel Dead? Ask cur rescued
and happy Republic with peace and quietness
within her borders, II they are dead, and her
every citizen will answer you with one united
acclaim, that they are as imperishable as tho
eternal hills that grid her roundabout.
Dead? Ask millions Of our citizens whose
iron letters OF slavery we're stricken of 10 one
day, as by the hand Of the Mighty Jehovah, IL
they are dead, and they will answer you while
from their greatial hearts, that these
heroes were the Moses q their Red
throne OF the Eternal 0ae, and ask Him il
they are dead, and He viii answer IN that
sweet and assuring passage, "Inasmnch as ye
have done il unto one OF tho least of these,
my brethren, ye have done 1t unto me-"
Dead? This host Of martyrs dead2 | tell
hafr mar will hp HANDED tfsr t.t
dren's children and breatAed with pride and
alteration by future generations.
Dead? Methinks / now see lowering around
you, on all sides, in martial array, the dis
membered spirits Of the departed, their eouu-
tenances wreathed with smiles of conmenda-
ton, and upon their tattered, though iDvisi-
BILE banners, inscribed in letters OF light, Is
victory.
Dead? Though the scenes and generation
in which they figured may pass into obliv-
ion, though these green turfed mounds may
become unknown TO the thousands who pass
them By, though the swift passing years may
obliterate their names from the marble head
stone and elothe 1t with decayiBg moses, yet
they shall never die, for they are immortal
And should the liberties of our land ia
years to come be threatened with civil strife,
or by foreign foe, these martial spirits will
lead the army Of freedom on TO victory. Their
banners win lead in the van of every charge,
and where the battle wakes hottest their colors
shall wave in triumph.
At the close OF the address the band played
dirge, the procession reformed and returned to
the city.
EVENING EXERCISES.
There vas large audience present at City
Hall in the evening. Chambers band proyld-
ed an excellent concert previous to the literary
exercises, which gave great pleasure to the lis
teners. Then followed prayer by the Post
Chaplain, followed by the reading Of orders by
Comrade Seiders. The band then played Sc
lection and Hon. James A. Fog. Mayor OF
Cambridge, delivered a most eloquent and
brilliant GRAFTON, Of which we publish the fol-
lowing abstract:
THE TWO CIVILIZATIONS.
After a brief and brilliant introduction rela-
ting to tho selection Of Memorial Day on
which TO honor the memory OF the fallen
heroes the orator stated it was q very signifi-
cant fact that about the ever memorable year
1920 two distinct and entirely opposite syslems
OF civilization and development were planted
on orr American shores; the landing of the
Dutch ship at Jamestown in 1919 with twenty
slaves on board who were sold into seryitudo
to THE colonists, and four months after the
landing of the Pilgrims on the bleak New
England scoaat with as brave and deyout
band Of men and women as ever went forth TO
subdue and settle the earth in any time or