The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-05-31
THE FOREST CITY'S HEROIC DEAD.
CONTINUED FROM THE FIRST pAaE.l


nance, that he had prophetic vision that
very DAY that all his love and labor for the
siaVe was not to be In vain. He managed
MS morse well and sat at ease upon him, but
rode loosely, carelessly, letting his legs sway
and his arms flop up and down. He had
evidently ridden good deal and never given
thought as to how he rode or looked. His
wonderful appearance of length struck me
very forcibly. He was only two and half
thin even to meagerness, and yet somehow
Weitzel looked actually stubby in compari-
son. Add to his loose way of riding that his
tall hat had settled down behind almost
on to his neck, and showed his forehead and
TUT OF hair like zouave, and that his
trousers had worked up nearly to the tops
OF his stockings and that he wore low cut
SHOES, and you can appreciate Captain Bob
Llncoln's remark after the ceremony was
through, as his father approached group
OF which Admiral Porter was the centre 1t
was well, father doesn't handsome much,
does he"
There had been shade of GOODNESS be-
tween Generals Ord and Weitzei. of which 1
am convinced Lincoln had heard nothing
AS we three,-the President General Welt
eel and myself-rode along the line of my di
VISION, MI. Lincoln made some remark about
General Ord, who was very eccentric. Welt
eel answered as it seemed to me, who knew
the feelings with just shadow of reserve.
Lincoln looked at him just one instant with
penetfaens at and once then uzzcf Srea and
out into smile said, "ord is good fellow,
but his names spelled wrong. ""How should
it be spelled, Mr.. President?" "O-d-d-ha-ha-
ha," said the President, and putting out his
long elbow, much as another man would put
out whole arm, he gave Weitzel poke in
the ribs.
President Lincoln had undergone, feel
sure, a great change in manner and charac-
teristics since he first took the reins of power
and used to run over to General Sam Stur-
teller In the army and after sitting down
and telling his story would pat Sturgis affec
tionately on the knee with "Now Sam, can
you beat that?"
He was most unpretentious and hearty.
There was nothing in one way about his
manner, of manner He cracked his Jokes
here and there, but never one that could not
be repeated to ladies, and it was noticed af-
ter he had gone that kind, unpretentiOus and
unrestrained as his manner was that there
was that in it which had effectually prevent
cd any officer with whom he came in contact,
and there were among them men of sublime
assurance, from assuming the same freedom
of manner.
We saw him only once more when he came
to Richmond after the surrender, and his
great Kindness of heart for a moment over
balanced his wonderful judgment when he
issued orders for the immediate assembly of
the Virginia legislature.
A few days after that riding out for pleas
ure, Gen. WeitZel and 1 near Pet
ers6urg, met captain and quartermaster
we thought him intoxicated. As he drew
up we found this strong man was weeping
violently. He told us the sad story of the
assassination. 1t was sorry army that
night, On the jubilancy of victory now was
settled the blackness of an unutterable sor-
Not :only we, comrades, but the whole
country mourn him yet. OF all the grand
figures of the 10Th century thus far ia any
land, that of Abraham Lincoln will tower
above all, like Saul above. his brethren.
with charity toward all and malice toward
none" With his great heart so Loving man
kind and with his deep and oveishadowing
sadness for wrongs and evils
he could not remove 1 believe to find his
superior we must roll back the centuries to
Him whose birth was celebrated by multi
tude of the heavenly host, bearing the mes
sage of peace on earth and good will to
men.
Shaw's quartette next sang "We Old
Boys" and Rev. Mr.. Clymer followed in
these words:
REV. MIR. CLYMER's ADDRESS.
Our soldiers memorial day is a monument
al proof of the divine union of American
citizens. The sacred sentiment of gratitude,
the holy memories of our heroic dead, make
soldiers memorial day not only a holiday,
but holy day; national Sabbath.
The salvation of our nation in the war of
the rebellion, was double salvation first,
from the curse of slavery; and, second from
the demon of secession; and, like ancient
Israel, our salvation was of God, "We got
not TINS land IN possession by our own
sword, because God had favor unto u.s."
Let me call your attention to some ele-
N Inf AhAA
godlke.
L. The spirit of self.sacrifce exhibited by
the body of our army was not only heroic,
but godly. True, false ambitions and mill,
tary rivalries mingled with the purer mo-
tiyes in our great war, nevertheless the
ruling spirit OF our army was heroic and
self-sacrifcing.
IL. Our war was rich in those personal
qualities which are the legitimate outgrOWth
of character. We have been accustomed to
horoic excellence of character in military
exploits. Our day and our age are full of
magnificent heroism in field and hospital.
There are many mighty heroes who are bone
of our bone and flesh of our flesh, whose
names are :exponents of heroic excellence
that cannot be surpassed by the heroes of
Greece or Rome.
III. The divine quality of mercy exhibited
by our civil and military authorities, dis
tinguish our war from all other wars in the
duudio Va tuC WOliu AloGUly. NU HAL ulOT6
godlike in this regard ever stood at the head
of our nation than Abraham Lincoln, our
war president Full of mercy, rich in good
ness, great in character.
The!godlike spirit of forbearance and for
giveness was special feature of the close of
the great war. When Gen. Grant by his
final victory secured the emancipation of a
lace and the perpetuity of our
Union, he spared the enemy every
unnecessary humiliation.
he would not even enter the capital of the
Confederacy in triumphal march. Instead
of holding the vanquished army in military
subsection he sent them home to their wives
and children, with all their equipments that
would be of use to them in mechanical and
agricultural pursuits.
The civil authorities refused to shed one
drop of blood in revenge. The shadow of a
political scaffold has never beclouded the
skies Of America as the issue of the great
rebellion.
Where in the history of nations has there
been such an exhibition of the spirit of Him,
who, dying to save a lost world. prayed for
his enemies, saying, "Father forgive them,
they know not what they do?