Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-08-27

al, shall, each year have An opportunity ot
greeting such OF their distinguished leader.
Of the var as still favor the association With
their presence from year to wear.
| Annually meet The Governor and Com
msndsr-ia- Chief 81 the grand State Of Maine,
the State that each of our worthy comrades
so b,avely represented upon the many bat
tlehelds and nsvai fight, Of our wars
Meet and heartily greet the honorable and
distinguished gentlemen who look after and
protect your rights in the Congress Of the
United States.
Meet ard heartily greet each ether, and
| for brief time live over again the days Of
danger and hardship that have long since
psssed away and seem but as IN ugly dream
Ou, comrades have earned the right to such
privileges. and they should have them and
9 erstefu! people will not keep them from
anything that they have earned or that will
add to their happiness. that 10 within the
bounds Of what 10 Just and reasonable.
And il is but reasonable and just that all
should have the pleasure of joining in one
grand reunion during one week in each
yesr, and that the association should have
a camp or home for that purpose, and the
location Of that camp or home is . matter
| that you have to pass upon ri the business
meeting to be held on Friday OF this week.
II ID not the mission Of this association to
DO away with regimental reunions, but to
encourage tht m by hAving xll regiments
and batteries hold their reunions at one
time aud place. elect their officers, and
elect one member Of each regiment or bas'
tery to serve SIS member Of the executive
committee Of this association. All sea-
MAJ shan al fpyp, aaarntnfiou and
elect one Of this number to be one Of the
executive committee Of this association and
as many associations can be formed ~ there
shall be represented upon the executive
committee, which committee has general
charge of all matters pertsiniDg to the
Maine Veterans Association.
As to the president and other officers OF
the association they are 10 be elected each
year by ballot, ard each member of the
general association who is present ut the
meeting on Friday will have the right to
vote for those officers.
II will be seen that Reginental Battery
ard other minor associations each occupy =
similar relation to the Maine Veterans As
sociation after they join it that the several
companies Of regiment do to n regiment,
or that ihe several regiments do TO the
brigade TO which they belong, with this
exception, that the executive committee
made up as it is here have the general man
sgement of all business relating to the
general association.
II does not seem 10 require very much
study to satisfy anyone that 10 this union
there is great strength AZ thus uuited you
can do much good for your worthy INDECENT
comrades and at the same time benefit
the Sc of you who do not need financially
assistance by a general large saving of
time and money.
Let us then unite and have one grand re-
union each year and at each gathering give
to the rising generation lessons as to The
duty that they owe to our government to
themselves and to coming generations.
Teach them that the highest type Of gov
erDmeDt is self government and self gov
eminent recognizes the principles OF justic ;
in all affairs thst our laws are based upoo
morals as revealed in the wise experience
Of the nations or in the dictates of conscience.
That self govern ment demands the intelii
gence Of the people who are the mselves
governors Of this republic, men not only
capable of governing themselves but doing
it, are on a far higher PLAIN than mea VINO
must be governed. That our republic is
safe only as Its people are self governing,
That our free schools are the gardens in
shich liberty is fostered and the republic
strengthened.
Teach them the reason and mission of
the military is not cor fined to its glitter and
par ,de ths. the sword has its place in civic
affairs. That the battle fields Of the war
were the thunderous clashiDg of ideas that
some one first advanced. That the mouth
Of the cannon has Murdered forth what
human lips have spoken. That the mighty
army that marc he'd under the command Of
our hero, General Grant, repeated to the
world in voice Of thunder, the immortal
words of President Lincoln at Gettysburg
that "Ths government OF the people, BY
the people and for the people" sball mol
perish and be no more.
Teach them that the decay OF the military
tpifit is eviderce of a nstional decay.
Teach them that more than q million
precious lives were sacrificed to make The
foundation upon which our republic rests,
and that since that foundation was made, b J
our forefathers, 1t had cost more than
smother million precious lives to maintain
intact that grand government that estsb-
lished.
That it isa precious legacy that was
placed in your hands and that in turn You
will place in their hands and they must BE-
tsugh. to guard il as they guard their life
and honor.
Our republic must and shall be matt
tanned until the end. The hero Of sll this
broad land is the father of his country,
Washington. His name and memory are
dear to every citizen Of our grand republic
and it is with the greatest pride that we can
all stand here today and proclaim to the world
that our government, that he did so much to
help establish. has not lost one acre OF it-
surface since he bade farewell to his brave
army. 1t has stood the strain Of more than
one hundred years, and during that time
star after star has been added TO our flag
The foundation Of our government has rest
ed on people whose intellect has been
equalled by their loyalty in times of dan
ger as was most fully illustrated by that
great conte ct iha. ragged fr, M 1861 to 1865
A citizenship whose thrift has been tested
by its ability to guard with the sword
in one hand, what the axe, spade
and pen has been gaining in the 9th
er. When the life Of our grand repub
lie vas endangered by those who desired to
sever the union Of states, an army OF more
than a million Of brave men from all parts
Of This broad land, gathered under its ban
ners and hurled the foe over the abyss
where he Can never arise again.
That army Of q million Of the brave'i
men that ever faced the enemy upon the
field Of battle, has dropped out from vie~,
and each of the survivors thereof has
returned TO his home and resumed hi,
former peaceful pursuits in life.
In looking ever this broad land we are
able to e1clsim tina, far greater than any
army with all that is connected with
it, is q mighty people With 3 patriot.
i,m deep as the lssl drop oi
blood that if needed will be shed to maintain
the truth as proc aimed by President Lincoln
At Getty sbu'g; That 1.-The government Of
the people, by the people and for the
pc opls" shall not perish but shall evei
stand - q lasting monument to the bravery
Intelligence, honesty and patriotism Of oul
people.
Rsmsrks OF General Boynton.
Comrades Of Many Batfiefeids; In behalf
Of the patriotic people Of augusta, and oi
Msine. and Of all lovers % our country,
greet you sil With = hearty welcome. We
come here for hand shaking and for hear
gre eiing in the sacred names Of patriotism
and old friendship. Amid the giofies oi
this day. when our country is at peace. snd
prosperity attends our people, we meet again,
still all loyal to the Union.
We come. not as once with arms in cut
hands to fight an enemy. but With our hands
extended to grasp the hsnds Of cordial com
rades Very dear to US Ia our war cemented
friendship.
You have gwen to your children . saved
Unions blessings. which sons and daughters
Of veterans will transmit 10 posterity. We