Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-06-01

cries Of the battlefield snd camp
Ere viii reyer grow old, nor does
time hnve any eEecS IN lesseniDg their ir-
ssress. They sfe the topic Of convefssffnu
about the modern s'caDp ase' and IN the
pest room, where hatfle-scafIsd veterans Of
the vsr meet to rehessse tn stirring scsnes
through which they have parsed in by-go,e
yeaTs.
There are those Who say ''ies by-scnss
be by-eones,r and tell n that We ought 70
forget and forgive. bus cannot endoess
any such sentiments. This sdvics eomss
- . rule from that class Of eiti-
zsns Who sre always ready to oppose the
granting of pensions. and 70 sssiss
info POSITIONS Of power men who in the
dark days Of the Rebellion stood with folded
arms ready to embrace the cause Of the
victorious party, no matter which il might
prove to be. Such men are also the ones
Who ct the commencemens Of the var
secuted the idea that IL vas patriotism, love
Of country and loyalty to the dear old hsg
that caused 20 many Of our brave boys 70
volunteer in its defence, but who thought
that il ~. excitement and lack Of know
ledge Of what they we're to pass through.
Ny answer TO this is that in
ali my association With the vster-
sns Of the var ia the last twenty FIVE
years, no matter how badly they were
suffering from dissase or wounds - . re-
suit Of their service or how macy times
they had applied for . deserved and prom
issd pension and b,en rejected. l have
y to fnd the frst man who would part
h his war record for any consideration,
or who has expressed the fret word Of re-
D, ret that he volunteered to serve his count
y In the time Of her greatest need. II
thi wss not patriotism there is no such thing
uuder the sun
During the lster months Of the war and
fer several years thereafter numerous posts
were formed for the purpose Of
cooperation or commemoration.
The first of these was the Third
Army Corps Union organized in 1868 for
the purpose Of providing means for sending
home the bodies Of the officers Of the corps
sho were killed in battle. 10 order that they
nigh, not occupy rsmelets graves in the
South The second organization during the
war period was the Society Of the Army of
the Tennessee. formed shortly before the
disbanding Of the army WITH the leading
idea of patriotic eommemoi alton. and its
stated objects, so far IS they went, were
Identical with those adopted later in the
Platform Of the Grand Army Of the Repub'
lie The first macs meeting Of the q. A. X.
was held in Springfield, Ill, july l2sb,
1866. In its first yesrs it was looked up
on as pol :icsl orssrizA'.on and had
bard struggle for existence but finally TIL
umptsd. Helpfulness was the key note to
the organization. The superlative degree
of friendship is expressed by the word.
'sComrade." Not until 1869 did the Grand
Army attain to q national org anizaiion, but
since that time its advancement has been
always steady and many times phenomenal,
umil now it is pround to be second to not Q
among the civilizing forces in our day and
generation At tue National En-
campment of 1870, Memorial day
was established and was made 8 legal
holiday at the next mee''ng of Congress.
Its observai on has been continued since
that time.
During the war noble work was done by
TIE noble women Of our county in the
organic alton Of SOLDIERS Aid Societies
which sprang up all over the country.
The record Of the Grand Army posts OF
cur county if fully writ n would give
many an instance in which the prompt aid
rendered by 'he poet has saved life and
hope 70 the comrsde o'hersise broken
down and discouraged aud would tell
Of many q dying veteran whose last
hours were spared their keeoest agony by
the assurance that his comrades would care
for the helpless wife and children which he
must leave.
The need Of womaa's assistance in car
rying on the work of the Grand Army was
rendered more and more apparent with the
advance of years and the "Womsh's Relief
Corps" was organized. dow nobly they
have performed their work thousands can
testify. God BIS the roble women Of all
Relief Corps aud prosper TIL in their
noble work. 10 closing the speaker urged
upoa the comrades Of the post the neces-
sity Of faithfully keeping alive the memory
Of departed comrades by proper observar .
of Memorial day in years to come, and in
so doing exemplify in the highest sense the
purposes and objects for which the organi-
zation was instituted.
The address was one long to be remem-
bered by those who heard it as one Of the
fl rest ever given before the post.