Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-02-07

Merchant at Venice. 4
Mr.. Pr>stdenf aad Camrades:
It's almost thirty years since Augusta frs,
greeted the boys in blue. They we're going /
to the front then. They had not faced |
zri % viaaged war. They we're marching to I
Unknown fields, TO defeats 20 victories, I
some 70 fame, snd some 70 the great be-
yoad. Bat A. you gathered 10 this grand
oil town from farm and forge. from
factory and Office, from trade and col |
lege, you received 10 this city . most
cordial seicome. The girls ran Wild with
delight At tbe ssbt Of your uniform and
the boys we're mad with jealousy. The
fathers ard mothers smiled bentxnediy,
while all shade, Of social p7sirioa tn-olzsi
ycur camp and followed you 10 the tr4tas
8. yon moved forward. waved their aiieus.
gave their God speed, and nothing ~ss too
rieh for you.
And augusta foilosei you ~ith her
prayers aaI bene iictions. Did tefeal
meet you in battle, the lightning Viii 'pcrei
II and the gloomy faces Of Augusta told the
story Of a Bull Kan or an Chance .lcrsvilie
Did VicksDurx surrender to the iron grip
Of Grant or the victory al Getty sburg fash
over the wires, the epic story Vas told Ia the
siaIIss and cheers OF Augusta. And flaiiy,
= len Appomattox vas gwen to history aoi
Sak tattersd banners you returne crowned
xHb victory shat greeting more cordial
han that which Augusta bestowed upon
you?
Augusta has had many sons whom she
has delighted TO honor many ~ho have
hJnored Augusta. From the bar she has
q ven TO the bench Weston, 4 Libby and
VIII tehouse, while her Fuller dignihe.
and zrsces the highest judicial position in
fl,e United States. For Cover .ors of the
; ate she has furnished Williams, 4 Norrlll
a Cony Connor and Burleigh and might
With propriety claim q Piaisted. TO con
sress she has furnished Speaker without
a peer: to the Senate a Bradbury. a Nor
r II and a Blaine. while to the Cabinet she
has furnished the ablest statesmen that the
b story of the country can name. But
lille Augusta is proud Of these names there
is no name which so quickens the pulse and
brings out the cordial and spontaneous vel.
me as that Of the Grand Army Of the Re-
public. To Augusta the comrades have new
er appealed in vain. To their call for aid
her parse striags have always been unloosed
AID her money has flowed As freely As the
sters of the kennebec which sweep on
| Onward unchecked to the sea. And for
Augusta greet you, for Augusta vel
come you.
| Commander | greet you rs the
c Iief Of an army gisnder than that Xerxes
| I'D to the pass at ThermoPylae grander
than Greece the nurse of arms, could
muster when her sons won lioer-
T. for mankind on the field OF Ma
rahon, grandeur than Rome could boast
when her empire embraced the whole earth !;
grander than England coatained WHEEL on
the helis Of Crecy and Argincourt the
English banners were led in triumph over
tie chivsIrous hosts of France; grander
tan Napoleon inspired. when on the ned
OF Austerlitz he hurled thirty thousAbd OF
tie enemy into the gates OF fiuto' sent the
| tussian bear ho"hng 10 us dcn, ana COM
Tslied Austria to instant terms OF peace ;
2rander than Wellington commanded "heo
be crushed the power OF Napoleon 10 r rance
lad gave Waterloo fame; grander imam
we're the armies OF Mcclellan, or HOOKER
Enrnside, or Meade, Thomas, sherman or
trsht. or all that sailed under the grand
I ames of our naval history, Tor your com
Iiand embraces them all You have attained
70 eminent distinction IN civil life and may De
destined, as pray you may, to receive s'iit
| igher honors. But whatever position you