The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-06-25

making patriotic speeches, and enthusiastic
cheering and rejoicing, though these things
are an proper and cOmmendable Remem-
yer lhat Tue nag has strong personal claims
y. you That, as representing the nation,
Of aaor iisnt' should occasion CALL to demand
oiIons;y one OIL you not only your nominal
alieglance to it. but your time, your intelli-
tssence and skill, your property, and, from
Snose capable of rendering 1t, your personal
service ss IN the field, nay even the sacrifice of
i'ie ltself, to uphold and defend it.
:, KNOW that we are apt to think of orr SOL
Oilers as veterans, and the veterans as having
Deen always old; and to forget how large a
proportion OF young men an army consists
oI, why, OF Company A, the first company
enilsted In Gorham for the 9Th Maine Regi-
nn vns Ia Ine spring OF 1861, forty-six-almost
one-nalI OF them-were under twenty-one
years OF age; eleven were only eighteen
S pix onIy seventeen Zone of whom our modest,
pus 0raVe ana highly esteemed fellow citi-
zen Corp'l Theodore Shackford) and two
were Doys only sixteen years old.
Tho 1an ti doubt but that, were the life of
ene natlon In peril today, there would be as
q1,ick response to the country's CALL as loyal
self-Sacrificing boys and girls, young men
ana young women, and as brave and faith
Iui soldiers, from the members of this school,
yes, from some Of you now standing before
me, as we have seen and admired in other
crises OF our national history.
trust that this newly-awkened interest in
our nations flag may continue and increase
until, spreading from school district 10
school district, from town to town, from
county to county and State to State. il shall
peryade the whole country.
Ihen. as the beams of the rising sun, ush-
eriDg In each new day, first strike the Allan.
tic coast, they shall fall upon and illumine
our beloved banner unfurled to the morning
ands OF schoolhouses and stretching in
almost continuous line from north to south
ana as the sun mounts higher and higher in
the heavens, there shall appear with the ad-
vancing day new lines and ranks of flags ex-
lending through the entire length of the
land, constantly multiplying until he has
reached his meridian height. Then will he
Dehold spectacle of unsurpassed splendOr
and beauty; the whole land from ocean to
ocean TO ocean covered, not "as the waters
cover the sea" but rather as the stars stud
the heavens, with a host of flags almost in
Vulnerable. floating and waving, fluttering
and streaming out in the glorious light, and
proclaiming, in language of unmistakable
meaning that this is nation of schoolhouses
as well as churches, and that we believe Its
True greatness and power and its permanent
existence as free and independent republic
depend not upon the freedom merely, but
upon the intelligence and virtue of its citi-
Zens.
After the close of Judge Waterman's ad-
Dress, MT w. w: .Woodman, the principal
Sc
In very becoming manner briefly respond
cd Inc nag was then unfurled, and the
Doys and girls Joined In the song, "The Red,
Wnlte and Blue" and as the bunting went
out TO tne breeze, the air was full of hearty
cheers: Ex-Governor Robbie, invited to res
pond for the citizens, was applauded and
spoke as follows:
u consider 1t a personal honor, and am
hlgnly gratified to take part in these inter.
eesting exercises. This beautiful flag will
1s,&,.
position 10 front of the high school building
OF our village. 1t will give to all of our citi-
zens VINO see 1t, silent, but impressive OBJ
Ject lesson. By its immediate presence il
VIII lmpart to those seeking an education
the true spirit Of its historic mission. This
flag is free offering from our respected
townsman, Judge Waterman, to school dis
trlct NO. ! OF the town of Gorham. 1t is
another evidence of his generosity and re-
gard Tor his adopted town. Similar testimo.
mails Oh private benefcence have heretofore
ADDED much to the moral, educational and
material prosperity of our town. for which
our citizens are very grateful.
In Denalf OF this school district, | extend
TO the donor unanimous and hearty express
sion OF sincere thanks, for this practical evil
dence OF forethought and generosity. also
we thank him for his admirable address.
rms sentiment will meet the approval, and
is voiced by the lofty cheers of every man.
woman and child of our beloved town. We
snould all initiate the example and appre-
clate the blessings which result from unset
fish gifts and patriotic utterances. The AGA.
DENY, seminary and normal school buildings,
were erected largely by the contributions of
the citizens OF G0rham, representing many
thousands OF dollars. May the example,
words ana purpose Of today stimulate the
rising generation OF Gorham, to SO act as to
become tower Of strength in upholding
and perpetuating the loyal and generous
character Oh our people. This is sureto fol
low just appreciation of the blessings of
cur Tree institutions, sustained by religion
ana education under the American flag
There is no better camp of instruction than
directly under The flag of our nation.
Before the battle of Bunker Hill was
fought, we had no national flag, other then
me blending together Of the cross of st.
George and st. Andrew, which represents
British tyranny. This was repudiated by
Gorham patriots. and at the first battle of
the Revolution our fathers rallied under a
RED nag with our pine tree in the centre.
Red was color, according to ancient Ro-
man authority, which represented valor, and
White signifed peace.
Many OF the inhabitants of Gorham who
were born in colonial times, contributed
tnelr llVes and property for free and new
TepuDilc, which is alone represented by this
nag. Inc veteran sailors and soldiers of the
flag at the masthead of commerce, or in the
front line Of battle, and never surrender
ed and our own brave sons of the more re-
cent war have indicated their heroism
courage and manhood on nearly every histo-
ric battlefield of this nation. Some are here
today. They fought, followed, and many
died for this flag, and what it represents
and for nothing else. Let us still continue
10 love 1t with holy inspiration. Let us al
stand by our churches which crown oul
swelling hills, and the school houses which
ornament the village green, and raise the
stars and stripes in front of every school
house in the town and nation; then, as now
the proud emblem of our contry will ever
land. now and forever, one and INSOFAR
able"
Excellent impromptu and patriotic words
We're spoken by Prof Lucien Hunt Prof
Il. M. Esterbrooke, Col Fl. R. Millet
which were laudly applauded. All presen