The Portland daily press., 1884-05-31

rolls over the dead and dying, when the charg-
ings horse hoofs strike with brutal wounds
those who will never rise again, the scene
seems too terrible for human contemplation.
Comrades, you have beheld sights that you
never like to picture to yourselves. But is
there no good in war? Through all the CEN
turtles of human history there seems to have
been questions which could never be settled
except by the fearful arbitrament OF steel. For
one believe thar nothing is permitted EXCEPT
for ultimate good by that Great Power who
leaves not unnoticed even the spsrrow's fall
In some things we see that assurance but dim
ly, in others face to face To me the lesson of
war is the lesson of self-sacrihce aud blazing
evidence of the hope of immortality which is
in our hearts. What is there in the world so
valuable as life2 Even Satan knew that call
that a man hath will he give for his life." The
piled riches of a world would not tremble
moment in the BALANCED And yet there are
causes so sacred and enthusiasts so high that
men-not merely Of lofty thoughts and holy
lifes-but all men, are ready to fling life to
the winds. What are patriotism and
love of country? They are the seifishness OF
mankind broadened so as to take within its
scope the welfare of whole nation. 1t is the
readiness of one to lose bis all for the good of
all. This is the lesson of self-sacriice. WI en-
men lay down their lives for honor,
for patriotism, for high principle
it shows that there issomething better than
life that honor is life, that high principle
is better than life Sarely the being who is
capable of laying down life for honor, for pa
triotism, for high principle, is capable of TAX
ing it up again in somo other sphere where
honor is forever stainless. Patriotism broadened
into love of humanity and high principle for
ever rules the hour.
Comrades you whom see before me, were
not called upon to make this sacrifice of life,
but you carry with you through all your earth
ly career the proud consciousness that you
once rose above all earthly selfishness and
stood ready to lay upon the altar OF your eoun-
try, this most precious of all Gods gifts.
But loss of life was not the only sacrifice
that the war demanded. Only $4,000 men fell
dead upon the field of battle 100000 are today
dragging about wearied limbs and shattered
bodies, worn with sickness and enfeebled by
wounds. When q few years ago
the country was startled by the vast sums that
went out of the treasury by the
pension roll. The cnthinkiDg were dis
posed to say that thc-s who had saved the
country in time OF war we're likely TO ruin it
in time of peace. They little thought how
many of our worn and weary veterans, sick
and disabled, came home with high hopes,
never to be realized, that few
years among their friends and the scenes Of
their childhood would re1tor to its wonted
vigor their health, shattered forever by the
cruel hardship3 of the untsnted fields, the
long marches aud the ho-tile climate. As the
years rolled on there came elC3 the certainty
that the health OF their lest youth could never
return, and that their duty to their families as
well as to themselves demanded that they
should claim their just and righteous dues.
But, comrades, great as were your deserts,
you did not make all the sacrifices OF the war.
Your wives aud mothers had sadder hearts
than yours, Some of them had the unspeak-
able joy of seeing their loved ones safe return.
Others will listen in vain for the foot falls
they will never hear upon earth. To their
SORROWS / can only give the G0lemn sympathy
of silence. For some Eorrows there are no
words.
But all who suffered in our war can have
this high consolation: No war was ever fought
for juster cause or had nober results. " hen
you make your com arison with all other wars
you need not withhold from them any Just
need of praies. You need not say that Alex
ander desoated the world to enjoy the glory ri
a coDqueror. You need not say that Caesar
marched his fegiOns into Gaul to win the
shadow of name. You need not charge that
all who fell in the Napoleonic wars fell to min
lister to Napoleonic ambition. You can sa
that Alexander carried Grecan arts as well as
Grecian arms to the confines OF the world, that
along with the tramp of C8 ar's legions into
Gaul aud Britain went Roman culture, Roman
power and Roman civilization, that the N.Y.
RAIDS who fell under Napoleon shock the
thrones of tyrants. But your cause was loftier
than all these. You struck down the last bull
wark of organized injustice in this Republic
you freed, emancipated and enfrancnised
whole race, You united and forever conse-
CIdtou 10 llUoFty d kES&J HdtIOus OOuuueu Obiy
by the rise aud set of suns. For you will be
the gratitude not only of the fifty millions thai
ares but of the three hundred and fifty millions
that are to be.
Comrades, have thus far only spoken OF
the living but l have not forgotten that this
day is consecrated to the memory of the dead.
OF them | dare not speak, / should seem to
be threading with sandalled feet upon holy
ground" Human lar guage is so worthless IN
the presence of the awful mystery of DEATH
NJ r. ladnr TRaA lad
can tell whether they with US now or
whether in the expectation of blessed resur-
rection they sweetly sleep unmindful of our
praise or blame. In the hope that they are
here and in the sunlight of the Eternal Day
can lead the loving thoughts OF our souls L
leave to each appreciative heart the tender
memory of its dead.
Mr.. Reed was interrupted frequently by
applause. Music by the band and Weber Club
followed, when Rev. Mr.. Daniels addressed
the audience. The following is an abstract of
his remarks:
REV. MR.. DANIELS REMARKS.
1t was the dying request of one of Napole-
on's old soldiers that his name should never be
erased from the rolls of the grand old body
guard. 1t illustrates great principle in hu-
man nature, namely, desire to be remem-
bered. Because of this. so many veterans
have halted today in life's march to visit the
In every age, the soldier fighting for principle
and dying for country, has received the homage
OF his own and succeeding generations. The
men of Thermopyl@ are remembered not be-
cause they fell, but because they fell in defence
of country Because the soldier has contribut
ed something to Humanity, and dying has left
the world better for his having lived in it, he
is honored. So long as freedom lives, the
Union soldier slain will be in our memories,
making us truer and better men. The free ma
ti0o U hiph fOrOafo re- fafandarq ahOulA narieh
from the earth.
1t becomes to us pain when Memorial day
becomes holiday for sport and game, for we
are face 10 face with the great silent army of
the On or who bivouacked on the bloody field;
bat now, with guns stacked, silently await the
reveille of the resurrection morning One
thought has weight with us; men, caught by
the same great principle. think alike and act
together. Blue blood of the first family went
down to the war with plebian blood of the last
family, and the same red dew OF the baptism
was upon their foreheads. In 1884 we are
proud of Col. Shaw, commander and comrade
of the black men. This spirit which led our
soldiers, must find an echo in ou1 hearts. The
lessons they still speak lead to great princi-
pie, or to mood to lend helping hand,
Hardly any one dares to die now without bav-
ing tried to help somebody. The hand of one
altogether lovely writes upon your walls, "He
that would be the greatest among you let him
be the servant of ALL" In this spirit we would
seemly con test over places of prsferment and
honor; rather let Us seek the nober spirit
which springs from grand truths, aud so make
men better and happier and the country
stronger in the hearts of the people.
Soon the last of the army Of the Union will
have joined the epcampment above. So live
that when the evening tap shall be sounded
you can pass beyond the line and sink to rest,
with all your couutry's wishes best"
Mr.. Daniels terminated his remarks in
happy manner, which were greeted with
round of applause. The audience sang
America" to the accompaniment of the
band, the benedction was pronounced, and
Memorial Day, 1884, was over.
Notes.
Mrs. j. NJ. Black presented the policemen
who we're detailed for duty at Evergreen Gem
etery with elegant button hole bouquets.
In Ferry Village.
The observance of Memorial Day here was
very appropriate, as well as complimentary to
the town. At 10 O'Clock the procession formed
in line on Sawyer street, headed by the Ferry
Village band. under the lead of Drum Major
o. L, Robertson, followed by Washington
Camp, P. o. S. of A., under command of Noah
B Knight Co, E., 18th Maine VOL and 100