The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1885-06-03
Memorial Dan.

Light Infantry, Fire Companies, Hook &
Ladder Co., Hose CO., and Russell Post u.
A. r., accompanied by baud and drum
CORPS, formed ON Water street In front OF
the Armory and proceeded to Coourn Hall
where were the following exercises; Sing
ing by choir of male voices, Memorial
exercises by the Post, Prayer by Rev Mr.
Frost, Address by Rev. Mr. Harwood,
poem written by Mrs. L II. Webb, Tread by
Miss Mabel Goodwin, Singing OF America
by the audience, and benedction by Rev.
Mr.. Rackliff. Mrs. Webb's patriotic poem
was one of real merit and its rendering by
Miss Goodwin was worthy of the poem
and of the occasion. We shall give 1t to
our readers In full next week.
Mr.. Harwood's address was fully up to
the high expectation of our citizens who
know something of his power as an orator
The audience gave it to closest attention
throughout and freely applauded many of
the eloquent and patriotic passages
The following isl synopsis of the ora
ton but of course convey very made
ouats idea of its eloquence and pathos:
The speaker in opening said that from
time immemorial 1t had been customary To
recognize the deeds Of the brave. Heather
nation had expressed their admiration by
permitting only tho fair and the beautiful
to place wreaths upon the heads OF vlctors
and chant the praises OF the dead VINO hau
fallen In defence Of their country.
oil - nd
day. What sight; men, women and chill
drep gathering from every point of the
compass to halls and cemeteries to do
honor to soldiers who gave their lives that
as nation we might live. 1t was the spir'
II OF Washington ard Lincoln drew them
tagether.
The strife which called them together
could never grow old II contained ele-
mepts that eusures 1t an earthly immortali-
ty, Men of true hearts could never fail to
recognize it. Only base, sordid natures
could pass 1t with Indifference. Long as
man Is worthy of the name man, the strife
and Its memorials will be fresh because it
contained these elements, Patriotism, Her
oism. Victory.
Army achievement are not always due to
PATRIOTISM. Thousands Of men have been
slaughtered for one man to secure glory or
for q nations ACCOMPLISHMENT. Brilliant
men who have the gift for marshaling men
for deadly strife are BOT always patriotic.
Grant, the great chieftain, who, drifting
deathward, sends his last word OF cheer to
the hoys In blue, recognized this when he
refused to visit Napoleon's tomb. pat
riot is more than brilliant warrior seek
ing fame and glory.
A patriot must have nation worth low
ing and serving or one that Is fast becom-
ing so. A nation that exists for the indi-
yidual not for class A nation must be a
bepediction to the race. 1t must exist to
secure men their rights. Lincoln recog-
nized this when asked If God was on our
side he replied, at Is of no importance,
the grkat thing for US Is to be on Gods
side" God is always on the side of man
and on that side must the nation be to be
worthy of q patriots heart and blood.
Our soldiers had no misgiv,ng with re-
gard 10 the worth of the republic. To
them 1t seemed like living person calling
them to arms. They were not bewildered
by the strange voices in our midst crying
out that she wac doomed to fall In pieces
by the force of her own weight, they be-
lieyed she was q living organism with a
heart that sent more or less blood into ev-
cry limb and though she was of gigantic
mould, yet giant was no more likely to
fall In pieces than dwarf or babe. They
had convictions which could not be shaken.
They could not sleep without dreaming of
their country, they could not go about
their daily work without being absent
minded. They were compelled by their
own sacred passion of patriotism to leave
for the strife.
said just now we came to honor them,
II
talk about honoring such men-men who
died for loves observation-disclosures come
to disclose that we are not so base as not to
recognize their service and proudly claim
their brotherhood. They enObled US. On
Gettysburg battlefield the good president
said woIds concerning them that will not
perish. They dedicated the graves they
slept 10 and we are honored in speaking
their prai Sc and In the act catch the spirit
of these heroes.
Contemplating the spirit of such men
may we all have 1t for ours, for in patriotism
lies our defence. 4 kingdom of animals Is a
possibility but nothing less than repub-
lie of patriots can last long. In days of
peace keep alive the spirit of our Sol.
diers and we can pity the European who
asks for our defences, our forts, navy's,
standing army by pointing him to our
hearts out of which shall come our protec-
tion in every hour of peril If ever men
fought intelligently and with the holy pas
sion of patriotism In their hearts, they
were the boys In blue and if we claim kin
ship with them the same spirit must be in
US and the republic is safe.
Herolsm was another element. We are
often fascinated as we read history as we
notice men fling tqeir lives away In the en-
thuslasm Of battle. Men have done deeds
of daring not knowing why2 That may be
heroism, but we mean something higher
than that.
The best book says Holy deeds must
have holy motives. Her, ic deeds must
hava heroic motives. Motive decides quail
ity of deed. The boys In blue had heroic
motive.
What Is q heroic motice2 1t is kindness.
In their hearts were tears for their enemies
whilst In their hands were swords. A
spirit of bensficent impelled them to the
field Of blood. John Brown going to the
scafold SO forgot himself and the ghast:y
Ribbet that on the way he stopped and
kissed colored child 1t was the spirit
of our soldiers. No vindictiveness In their
hearts. Inspired by spirit of mercy to
to save the country.
That motive makes any war just. We
have no right to fight for greed or for
mere national aggrandisemeDt. The time
is past when men have right to come be-
fore some monarch and give the salute
"Hail Cesar, the dying salute thee" putting
himself in his hands like gladiator, moth
ing but beneficence justifes war.
No man has right to give his life for
greed, or for money or fame. For loves
sake man is justified In dying. The wo-
man, who, when condoled with, for the
loss of her soldier boy said, ~ would
rather have my dead boy than fifty living
ones, false to the flag" was heroine. Lin
coin was puzzle TO men who held low
ideas Of heroism. So gentle, so kind, SO
resolute, SO tender yet 80 strong-weeping
over dying drummer boy; yet so majestic
that in the crises he could say, Break me
you may but bend will not. Such man
is q mystery to unheroic men. He was The
incarnation of the spirit of the war. This
W as true heroism.