The Portland daily press., 1891-06-01
were enacted more than quarter of a GEN.
tnrV ago ara still fresh in the racnllactinns of

were enacted more than a quarter of a GEN.
tury ago are still fresh in the recollections of
many, yet there are among us those who can
nardiy appreciate the magnitude of the con-
tiict waged for the preservation of the Amer
lean Union. 1t is part of the history of
our country, and many have learned it from
the lips Of their fathers and and mothers;
ana their interest centres In the day which
Is set apart for the decoration of the graves
OF the dead heroes; and, happily, the old and
young join In this common tribute of respect.
This day is classed with "the cnnsecrated
days that have come down to us from the
Pilgrlm and the Puritan, with the BIRTH days
OF washington and the American Indepen-
dence" 1t Is day sacred to justice, liberty
ana love OF country; and as we look over our
broad and favored land, advancing in civili-
zatlon and power. with happy and pros
porous people, strong, united, and capable Of
contending elsher In war or peace, with all
OF the governments of the world, we see
those little mounds of earth that mark the
resting places OF the brave men who fell in
action, and we should do injustice to their
memory did we not look back upon the his
tory OF the country and refer to the scenes
of strife that then imperilled the nation and
in which they bore SO conspicuous and brave
a part.
On the twelfth day of April, 1861, the first
gun in the memorable contest which took
place for the preservation of this American
Republic, was fired at the American flag
floating from one of the forts of your gov
ernment in the harbor of Charleston. That
shot was heard, not only throughout the
American continent, but in every civilized
country in the world, and there came from
across the water the declaration that our
American system OF government was delu-
sion and failure, and that the time had
come when 1t must perish from the face of
the earth. Such was not the feeling of the
loyal and patriotic people of America. That
shot awoke the people of the country to
sense OF Impending danger, and there sprang
forth from the hills and valleys, from the
farms and the work shops, from the great
mercantue and manufacturing establish:
ments, from our colleges, our schools and
other institutions of learning, young men
ready Tor action, and as brave and fearless a
Dody OF men as ever formed in lins of battle.
NO Drawer, no more patriotic, no more loyal
IMAM the young men OF to-day; but then was
the occasion, then was the hour for heroic
and immediate action. They came from
patriotic motives and at the urgent call of an
lmperilled country. For four long years the
people OF this Union felt the shock of artil-
iery, and the earth trembled and shook with
the tramp of contending armies. For four
years you, comrades, touched the elbow and
stood shoulder to shoulder, and fought In
soild phaianx for the integrity and preserva-
That grand and mighty army, of which you
were members, was composed of intelligent.
resolute and thinking men, who believed
that this great nation had the power and the
country, to preserve its own life.
" was long and fearful conflict. con-
nlct, waged for the preservation of
the union OF the States of this North Ameri-
can Republic, and waged on sea and land.
Ii was not war waged for the extermina-
tion of a race, it was not contest for the
acquisition of new territory, but for the
preservation OF the government that was
established on these shores to escape tyranny
and oppression. more than twenty-five
nd -fAAa .A--4 n-TA
their homes and peaceful pursuits to defend
the honor Of the nation upon the battlefield
and upon the ocean," and the elevating infiu-
ences and patriotic spirit of the loyal women
OF this Republic went with them. Three
hundred thousand graves mark the number
killed in action. That patriotic band faced
snot ana smell, grape and canister, bayonet
ana bullet; they c0ntended with strong
hearts and willing hands. At Gettysburg,
Cnancellorsyille, and among the clouds at
Lookout Mountain, at Fredericksburg, Spott-
sylvania and the Wilderness, along the Mis-
slssippi and in the Carolinas, and on the line
Oh Sherman's march to the sea, and on the
flag.
And on the ninth day of April, 1865. when
the defeated army of northern Virginia sur
rendered its colors to the vic torious hosts of
the Union, the sun casts its rayS upon
stronger ana purer government than its
founders had ever anticipated. government
fASSSA .SN anu oatCu Ny tuo otIouBtu anu Tie
gallantry of the American soldier and sailor
Many fought in that contest who did not
live to see triumph the cause and principles
Tor which they contended; many In the
flush OF youth. fell by the way; many, by
reason of the hardships and exposures Of
war, have since gone to join their comrades !;
put the gallant and patriotic services rem
dered by those men, their unswerving devo-
tion to duty In the hour Of danger, when the
lberties Of the people and the life
OF the nation were at stake, the great sac
Tifices they have made, will live forever, and
pc appreciated by the patriotic and liberty
loving people of America.
The exercises at the hall closed with the
singing of america" by the audience, and
after the benediction by Rev. A. FL. Wright,
pastor of the st. Lawrence street church, the
audience quickly dispersed. Since no exer-
cises were sarranged for the evening. this
ended the official observance of Memorial
Day in this CITY