The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-06-03

Yours respectfully,
j. l.. MARSH.
The enclosed authorized report as pub
lished in the Biddeford Times" is as fol-
lows:
The speaker began by describing visit to
the national cemetery at Chalmette near
New Orleans where $4,000 Union soldiers are
buried, about half of whom are registered as
unknown, and of a visit to Metarie Gene
terry, where monument has been erected by
ex.Confederates to the memory of General
A. ). Johnston, and another monument by
the Ladies' Benevolent Association of Louis
the Confederate soldiers"
In face OF the evidence of the reality and
cruelty OF war the speaker could not glorjfy
war as q method of deciding opinions or es-
tabllshlng principles. The Southern SOL
uiers We're as heroic, as true and loyal to con-
ylction and as self-sacrifcing as Those of the
North Ii is well for us to remember their
valor and their service. Today Chalmette
mas been visited and decorated by members
OF the Grand Army. who have been assisted
by ex-Confederates and ex-Rebel citizens.
ana on the sixth of April, which is the Con-
federate Memorial day, Metarle will be Wis
lied by the Army of the Tennessee, accom-
Army.
Inc speaker quoted the words of Bishop
Fellows, spoken in Boston last Sunday:
4nC HOWcI vi our hearts ana homes Law duVn
side by side in the last long soders' sleen with
the flower of the South and their hearts and
MONIES. sincerity strove against sincerity, conyic-
Iou conf onted conviction, determination defed
determlnatlon purpose was ptted against MIR
pose, sacrifice was set over against sacrifice
prayer presented us petition against prayer. Not
brothers, and because they were our brothers
tney fought as men, who would not disgrace our
ate soldier by the hand and does NOT feel nroud
i in ne was made OF such sturdy stuff? Who re-
,dis more pre- man those heroic living Confederate
once again. The ties of our relationship are ten
1919 stronger today than before Our soldiers dead!
memory, they are living in institutions They are
living In the nations life They are with u; to.
t fay, a1ey are ever with us, that Grand Army Of
me uead, but the Grand Army of the Republic
stlil The mighty army that fought against them
Is part Of the Grand Army now Death has done
MISUNDERSTANDING. Over one country they are
now keeping watch and ward-Grant and Lee.
McPherson and Stonewall Jackson"
He spoke of the horror and sadness and
moral evil OF war: OF its cruelty and barbar-
ism. But in speaking against war he sought
TO 40 full Justice to the men who served and
did honor to the heroism, bravery and use
fulness Of our citizen soldiery.
ne spoke OF the Peace party" and hon
otlsm and foresight At the beginning of
the war we had little comprehension of what
war meant or of the struggle which was be-
lore us. The enlistment went on under the
tlde OF enthusiasm and excitement, led by the
instinct OF patriotism which does not wait
TO ask why or wherefore, but answers to the
country's call-as Capt. Murrell of the Mis-
Danmark.
We honor today all our soldiery-not indi-
vldaul character. There were men of nm
worthy character in our army, but we with
noio the wreath from no soldiers grave
lis no man we celebrate but the
plth and marrow OF the nation, drawing life
from all her men, highest, humblest. Weak
est, all. for her time of need"
:. Our soldiers were the common human
Ivy OF which our nation is composed
Inc nation always has to use the mate-
rial that is at hand 1t is the glory of our
common citizens the material of the grand
est army the world has ever seen. And after
the war our soldiers were lost in citizens
am somewhat jealous, said the speaker,
OF the UNIQUE exaltation of military service.
do not like to have the government single
out from all the other professions of citizen
sup that OF military service, and put pre-
MUM upon it, Our national holidays have
too much OF a tendency to overvalue militia
ry service. Our system of pensions and of
military privilege, of political favor to the
military service is putting too much of pre-
MUM upon sOldiery. There are other call
lngs and other duties upon which the char
acter and stability of the nation is more de-
The speaker deprecated the efforts to re-
habilitate an army and navy, We need a
navy large aud ample for commerce, but we
DO not need navy for war. Our defence
and safety will come, not through the de-
fence of war ships, but through the charac-
ter, loyalty and strength of our citizenship.
The country calls today for patriotism
higher, grander than military service. There
is need OF patriotism that will rise above
loyalty to party and be true to the country
that will rise above selfish schemng and pri-
yate legislation, and act for the general good
am glad to have our government recognize
the noble service of our soldiers-to have the
needy and disabled cared for by the nation.
But should be glad to have the government
interested in the needy and disabled ana
worthy citizens who are not less patriotic ana
not less worthy because they did not serve i'm
the army. would like to see the govern
ment place premium upon good. faithful.
loyal, peace-loying citizenship There is lust
as much opportunity for heroic service for
noble daring, for patriotic spirit today as
there ever was.
The future safety and defense of our re-
public lies, not in the service of its navy and
army, but IN the character and loyalty of its
citizens. The noblest martyrdom, the most
heroic service, the highest courage
recorded on this side of the grave is the mar
NWFE 1Ax.N