Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-01-23

sought 10 uSslrps IT, ne ueeuleu tnat Mt
ting matter TO call to the attention of the
House and country. An attempt whenever
made and by whoever made to set up the
plea that the tearing down of loyal memo
rials of war was demanded by any broad SEN
timent of patriotism was based on absolute
history. If the time had come or should
come 10 Ooliterate the great memorials of
the rebellion, the monument of the rebellion
itself should be first torn down. Let not the
work begin bp taking down inscriptions COM
memorative of the victories of the armies of
the United States. He had a list OF the great
marble memorials growing up all over this
land to perpetuste the cause of treason and
rebellion. He had descriptions of monu-
ments erected in Georgia bearing Inscriptions
breathing anything but spirit of loyalty to
this government; a monument bearing on its
face evidence of q design to perpetuate the
memory of the attempt upon the life of the
Republic. A soldier who came to Washing.
ton might wander in vain throughout the
great art repository of this city looking for
counterfeit presentment of one of the he
roes who sustained the flag of the Union. He
would find that the only men who were me-
morialized and remembered in the Cocoran
art gallery were Robert f. Lee and Stone
wall Jackson. These representations were
not simply to keep alive the memory of great
men, but were representations of soldiers.
They were depicted in full Confederate uni
form. Two years ago, when the Honse WAS
considering an appropriation of one million
dollars for the New Orleans exposition the
people down there who were so anxious To
have Union memorials obliterated were
erecting monument thirty feet high to Rob-
ert f. Lee, chief of the military; head of the
Rebellion. There was no justice in the claim
that broad patriotism required the oblItera-
ton OF the records of the grandest triumph
ever made for humanity since first the morn
ing stars sang together. Applause on the
republican side
The people of the country ought to say as old
Gen. Dix said in regard to the American
flag: ''If any man attempts to pull down
the memorial of the great triumph of the
loyal people OF this country shoot HIM on the
spot" Prolonged cheers on the republican
side
A few davs ago report had been sent
down to a Richmond paper in which he was
spoken of with that degree of pOliteness for
which the people down there were noted.
He was informed that he been macerated
and desicated by the gentleman from Vir-
ginia (Wise) and he had found in the same
paper an idyl under the head of the Southern
Historical Society paper which showed that
the southern people were not SO anxious to
forget there part in the war. The paper
praised the Ballentine report in the. last Con-
gress relative to the fight between the Mer-
rimac and Monitor and declared it refuted
completely popular delusion in the north
that the Monitor had beaten the Merrimac
Laughter on the republican side.
These gentlemen were not anxious to have
the history of the war wiped out They
wanted to write it over. They wanted to
write their victories over the face of the rec
ord that showed triumph of the Union arms
Laughter and applause on the republican
side
He protested against this sort of thing,
whether he stood here or elsewhe whether
his position was that of member of Congress
or a citizen in private life. He entered his
protest against this morbid sentiment, against
this false idea of maguaminity which would
for one moment tolerate the lying of hands
of desecration on memorials of triumphs of
Union arms. There were two statutes on
the books declaring that in government ap-
pointments soldiers should be given the pref
erence. These had not only been treated
with contempt, but in the case of the Norfolk
navy yard and custom house. gallant. effic-
lent, worthy and faithful,pubic servants who
had followed the flag of their country across
a UdttleUelus, Hhu DeeH TURNED out
that their places might be given to men who
had fought to destroy the government.
Great applause on the republican side.
Mr.. Wise. Of Virginia was glad he had an
opportunity to make a statement of facts al
though he had hoped that the subject of this
resolution would not have been discussed till
information had been received from the secre-
tary of the navy. The gentleman from
Maine Mr. Boutele) lad. on more than one
occasion, sought to revive the passions and
preudices of war He (Mr. Wise) would
examine how much truth there was in the
statements of these resolutions. The secre-
tarv OF the navy was called on to report if any
tablet had been destroyed at the Norfolk navy
yard which commemorated the fact that the
dry dock at Portsmouth had been DESTROYED
He was glad of the opportunity to inform the
gentleman from Maine that the dry dock at
Portsmouth had never been destroyed. APP
plause on the democratic side If the gem
tleman asked the secretary of the navy if
inscriptions had been removed from cannon
captured from the Confederate army he would
inform the gentleman from Maine that no
| cannon with such inscriptions had ever been
in Portsmouth navy yard. Applause on
the democratic side The gentleman from
Maine wanted TO know if an ex-Union sol
dler had been discharged and a Confederate
put in his place. He wanted to inform the
gentlman from Maine that the man who was
| discharged had never been in the Union
army, had never been within one thousand
miles Of the line of battle, had never heard
| the music of mimic bullet. Applause and
laughter on the democratic side.
| Mr.. Boutelle-''Did he not render good
service t. his couutry?'
mo, sir" replied Mr.. Wise, che, sir, was
in the receipt of large salary in bomb
proof position. while brave men fought the
| battles of their country"
| Mr.. Brady of Virginia rose and asked per.
mission 70 PROFOUND a question.
| mo sir. No SIR" exclaimed Mr.. Wise, 81
will give my attention to you in one minute
| A Confederate, or one who you (Boutele)
allege appointed on account of his ser
vice in the Confederate army, was appointed
after competitive examination and the man ia
whom you refer was removed for beast in
toxication. Applause and laughter on the
| democratic side. One other fact | commend
to you consideration. The postmaster at
| Portsmouth, who was a Union soldier. twice
wounded and twice promoted fer gallantry,
was removed at the dictation of VIM. Ma
hone. Applause on the democratic side. !
All, Mr.. Speaker it is a good thing TO raise
a fuss over this, isn't it? Your fellow citi-
zens of Maine addressing Boutelle) are
anxious to know ifa Confederate has been
appointed in the Nerfok navy yard BY this
aiminisfrafi0n- Have you forunttan tha,