The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-10-29
hope will open them in that everlasting nome

hope will open them in that everlasting home
where the light shines on forever.
Sons OF the Veterans; we greet and well
come you. You are here by an indefeasibls
right. the right Of Inheritance. The pious
objects OF your order commend 1t to all loyal
hearts; to keep the memory Of the fathers
green, to aid the Grand Army Of the Repub-
lie In caring for the helpless and disabled
comrades, to protect the widows and orphans
to inculcate patriotism and love of country
among all the people Of our land. What
nobler purpose and aiml May you and your
sons aud your sons sons. have the strength
and courage and will to hold your banner up
and pear 1t proudly on.
You bear an honored name, the name OF
one. who to the graces OF his person, the
brilliancy OF his intellect, the fervor OF his
eloqnence, his fame as a jurlst. added this,
he was true and tried soldier, a patriot, the
peer OF the noblest and the best. Cherish
his name and live worthy OF It. Few II any
Of you remember the war, and the lesson OF
this monument for you Is to look ss3yward
rather than back. II commentaries the
fathers. 1t bids the sons be worthy Of them.
10 the veteran it means Victory, to you 1t
means Peace. Your order Is self continu-
Ing. you have provided for succession.
Inc Grand Army will cease TO be. Soon In
their feebleness they will lean on your
Strength. Yon walk together now to place
tne nags and flowers on the graves. soon You
VIII go alone, but so long as one veteran re-
mains, help him, be gentle with him, patient
with his frailties, charitable for his weak
ness. and when the annual commemoration
him and guide his tottering steps to this
monument where he may p ace his tribute Of
affection, not for one soul departed but for
all the loyal dead.
Children Of the public schools. we greet
you and thank you for coming here, your
presence makes this night indeed festival;
In the exuberance OF your young life, sad
thoughts should have no place; IL the leaves
are falling, spring time will come again and
summer with its flowers. Think no more Of
cruel war: You may read In your books OF
the great battles fought to save this land of
ours and make Ii what it is, one country with
one flag. but that was long ego. It cannot
be possible that these men you have seen
standing here helped to make the history
you read. Yon look at them with curious
eyes. you look upon them with respect. and
so you ought, for they are old men 10 yeu
and they nave done their daty. Still they
are far away from you. You are young, and
youth and hope are what the country needs.
This monument has been placed so that
you can see 1t every day. So should be placed
the statues OF great men and the memorials
Of great deeds. Glad are you, we know, that
1t Is finished; as you walk to and from your
schools, 1t stands and will stand before you,
imparting some good influence to your lives.
You cannot learn its full lesson now, but
as the days go by and you draw near to
womanhood and manhood. all that 1t can
lHCdu w tuUoC WIN lUFc uUtu6 anu 0dtlV6
land 1t will mean to you. These girls will
live to be the brightest jewels In the civic
crown, and these boys, taking on their citi-
.zsnship as an honor which requires service
viii viii place themselves, II need be. where
fray; the guardians of the Nations honor,
the defenders Of its life.
To all OF this great gathering, welcome. |
do not believe there Is one person here who
does not now approve the decision and meas
ures ana method which have ended In this
grand result. This monument has been
placed In tho centre and hustle Of the city's
life so that 1t may be a familiar and daily
sight. A noble work such as this Is digni-
fies its Surroundings and beauties and bene-
fits the town. There let 1t stand, symmetri-
cal, beautiful. majestic. speechless yet speak
Ing In words that must touch every loyal
heart
1t is one of the subtle mysteries of the
sculptor's matchless art, that the inert mat
ter which he fashions with his hands be-
comes when 1t is finished instinct with spirit
and life, and imparts to those who love art
and study these great creations, somewhat
Of that life the master gave 1t: to each
different emanation. a different emotion,
different story.
This monument means to the veterans,
victory; to their sons, peace; to their chill
dren. the Joy OF living; TO all, Ii means 10y
atty, sacrifice, union. strength; whatever we
deem best in national life that 1t typifes.
llChO ~ obduucf DO othuQ5 cN6IyWQcTe,
throughout our boundaries, In every patriotic
heart, thesgenius of our land The shell has
dropped from Its guard, the sword Is In its
sheath. the fair face is unruffled and serene,
the perfect form Is noble and digni6ed In its
repose; but look once more, the eyes seem to
gazs into the distance, way to the front, It is
the repose OF watching, and waiting; the
arm still holds the shield, the sword Is still
at the side and beneath the flowing robes Is
corselet Of mail, and II in. days to come
4rNwrA AAA0 all.
brothers lift their fratricidal hands. or for
egn rivals put foot on our shores, then the
shield will be raised to guard. then the
sword will fash high to strike. Once more
the call to arms. once more the thronglpg
hosts, once more the rally around the flag,
obedient to the cali, obedient to the end,
Associates Of the Committee. at your re-
quest have spoken here In your name, and
have spoken for you; 1t Is my duty and priv
llege TO speak TO you and of you. do not
believe that ever men working together in
such an enterprise as this, have worked
more faithfully, more conscientiously, more
harm0ni0usiy than you have. Five of your
number began their active connection with
the association eighteen years ago, five more
since the Incorporation, nine years ,asoo.
Some have been obliged by pressure OF al
fairs to retire from active committee WORK,
and some are among the h0nored dead. In
these years there has been no division; tnere
have been honest differences, but tnere mas
ALWAYS been kindly forbearance. on have
been patient under criticism and silent when
there has been unmerited blame. You have
had steadily in view one purpose, to this you
have given of your time and yo1I strength,
sacrifices that cannot be rewarded and can
not be acknowledged. You have helped me,
more than words can tell, you have helped
each other, and has IL not seemed at times as
If the noble work, growing from nothing,
under your watchful care, belonged to you,
was your own work? Il is not yours, 1t be-
longs to the great constituency who selectad
you as their servants, and satisfied with your
service have kept Won In Yonr nlaca these