The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-06-01

by Oloudman. The flag was painted on BAN
ner silk, 6x6 feet inches, with the coat Of
arms OF the State embellished and surrounded
by a circle of gold stars
Arriving at the cemetery the exercises were
conducted by Cloudman Post, consisting of
memorial exercises, a dirge by the band and
bensdiction by Rev. MIR. Cousens. After the
morning exercises here, Wade Camp, IS. of v,
went to Gorham to assist in the services
there.
The services at the Congregational church
in the evening were very interesting. There
was very large audience present, the church
being filed An appropriate hymn was sung
by the choir, and prayer was offered by Rev.
e. Bacon. Mr.. G. W. Bennett of Cloudman
Post, in few fitting words, then introduced
the orator of the evening, Hon. Wilbur f.
Lunt of Portland The speaker referred to
the causes of the war, and how, to sustain the
constitution of this country and the integrity
of the Union, Abraham Lincoln called upon
these comrades to stand by the old flag, and
how nobly they responded to that CALL 1t was
not the men of great fortunes who went forth
to protect the nation in its hour Of peril but it
was the common people. 1t was the men en-
gagged in agricultural pursuits, in the arts and
the industries Of the land who ranged them
selves shoulder to shoulder, and were drilled
and disciplined and started for the war. They
went to camp, we're uniformed and equipped
and sent down into the neighborhood of the
war, and gradually introduced into its hard
ships Those who have not participated in
the long, long marches over the dry and dusty
roads on q sultry day, without water and with
out food, cannot begin to realize in the slight
est degree the suffering Of these new soldiers
as they marched over the plains or noun
tains or through the swamps Of the South.
What were the motives Of these men who
went forth to fight for their country? Recall
how, when the news came speeding over the
wires that the 9th Massachusetts had been
fred upon in the streets of Baltimore, the spir-
1T OF patriotism was aroused, and how eagerly
these comrades volunteered. 1t was not from
any base motive, bat it was from the purest
motives of patriotism, the same motives which
prompted our ancestors in England long ago
10 fight for their liberties against the king;
the same motives which inspired our ances-
tors to fight for their liberties in the war OF
the revolution. After referring to the suffer-
ings of the soldiers he asked, "Can we forgive
them?" and replied, aye, we can forgive them,
because it is not for US to punish, but we can
never forget the more than 10000 of our COM
rades who lie buried in the Carolinas and
Georgia, the victims Of the stockades.
The speaker reviewed briefly the results of
the war. The Union has been preserved. Not
and every star is there, and We have added
more, and our country is growing gloriously.
1t has been said that republics are ungratefnl.
Sometimes our lawmakers, their time taken
up with political strifes and chickering's, forget
to perform service which grateful people
demand. 1t is only short time ago that the
man who commanded the vast armies of this
country, and led them to victory; the man
whom we love and revere most of all; lay suf-
fering from disease that must soon tring to
him death, and the Congress of the United
States could no longer resist the demand of the
people, and they turned their attention from
their political strifes among themselves, and
placed the name of U. s. Grant upon the list
of retired officers of the army of the United
States. (Applause) The heart thrills with
emotion as we read his name and recall the
many instances of the kindness, even to pri-
Yates, of the man who commanded the most
magnificent army that the continent has ever
seen, and yet not 80 elevated above the hum
blest man in the ranks that he could not stop
and speak to him and see If he was all right.
The result of the labors of these brave men
can never be LOST and the time is not far dis
tant when the results of those labors will be
fully contaminated. Time will soften down
the memories of the past, and all over this
land we shall be one homogeneous people,
when there shall be no North and no South,
no East and no West, but one country.
In closing, the speaker referred to the insti-
tOtions which have been reared all over this
land for the benefit of the soldiers, by CRATE
full people, and declared that the services
which they had rendered would be appreciated
more and more as the years roll by.
Mr.. Lunt spoke for nearly an hour and his
address was listened to with the closest atten-
ton, and he was warmly spplauded at its close.
Yarmouth.
The exercises .of Memorial Day, under the
auspices OF W. L. Haskell Post, No. 10S, took
place as usual, and with much success. At
$50 a. M, the Post, numbering nearly so men,
escorted by the Yarmouth brass brand, and fol-
lowed by the ladies Of the Relief Corps, in car
risges, formed in procession, and visited the
cemetery below the ledge, and also Riverside,
at both o! which the usual services were held.
The battalions then returned to Masonic Hall,
where an excellent dinner was served for the
eeveral organizations, under the able superin-
tendence of the ladies of the Relief Corps, as
sisted by the citizens. At 1.30 p. M, memori-
al exercises were held in the Baptist cemetery,
after which the column marched to the First
Parish church and listened to a stirring memo
rial address by Rev. O. II. Daniels of Portland.
The large church was completely filed and
the exercises were deeply interesting. Much
credit is due to the committee of arrange
ments and to the marshal. DR.. James NJ Bates,
with his aids, j. p. Caswell and j. A. Chase,
for their efficient services in successfully carry
ing out the programme for tbe day.
Kennebunk..
Memorial Day at Kennebunk was observed
this year with increased interest by Webster
Post, under the direction of Furber Webster,
Esq, marshal of the day, assisted by BeDja-
min Hubbard, Esq, commander. The following
cemeteries were visited, viz, Mt. Pleasant
Hope, Kennebunk Landing, Beach and East.
ern Depot, in which fifty-eight graves were
decorated. Twenty-Five men were in line,
headed by the Kennebunk band. The exer-
cises at the Town Hall began at 2 p. m, with
a selection by the band. Prayer was offered
by the Rev. Mr.. Locke, after which H. M.
Sylvester, Esq, of Portland, was introduced
as the orator of the day. The grafton was a
fine effort. I5 occupied one hour in delivery
and was received with marked attention.
In Bath.
Special to the Press)
Business was suspended at Bath Saturday
afternoon and the streets were filed with pee.
pie. Flage were at half-mast on all public
buildings, while the soldiers monument was
loaded with bunting and flags, The process
sion moved at noon towards the cemetery
headed by platoon of police and the Cadet
band. The column included the Infantry,
Cadets, G. A. R. Post and Sons of Veterans
riages bringing up the rear. The floral decor
ations at the cemetery were plentiful and beau
tiful. The public services at the Alameda II
the afternoon were fully attended. Mayor
Wakefield presided and made the opening ad.
dress. Prayer was offered by Rev. o. Fl. Fol
som of the Winter street church and afte
singing by the children and choir and read
ing Of the roll of honor the orator Of the day
George M. Seiders, Esq. Of Portland was in
troduced. Mr.. Ssiders spoke in glowing Ian
guage of the debt OF gratitude we owe to thos'
who have suffered for national preservation
and then gave some interesting facts bearing
on the war. Patriotism is the safeguard OF al
nations. 1t was this that made Greece ant
Rome SO powerful and its decline when extend
ed territory brought diversity Of interest
| caused the downfall Of these nations. Grea