The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-05-30
SERMONS TO VETERANS.
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE,

sought to rend the nation in two. On
April 10, 1861, Fort Sumter capitulated
to the nations enemies. Three months
later Union army of $1,000 were in the
field, and continued to grow. On Jan.
1st 1865, the last year of the war, the
nation had nearly 100000 defenders
under arms, and when the end came 1T
had force of 2, 254 ,063 enrolled soldiers,
and it was not only civilian but vol
unteer army. So small q fraction OF
drafted men did it contain that it is
truthfully said the draft was a farce.
Not by prescription or by press-gang
was the Grand Army of the Republic
created, but by the love of country, and
loyalty to duty in the nations heart. Ut
that vast army 10000 nearly were soldiers
OF Maine and 1922 Of these brave sons OF
Maine persisted in the conflict: not in
Guiding those who died of wounds and
disease. Surely our commonwealth bore
her portion of the awful sacrifice which
purchased the victory.
Those four full years of terrible war
have been followed by twenty-eight years
of national prosperity, during which
North, West and South have been re-
united in peace which promises to be
enduring. While the sacrifice of sorrow
is not wholly offered, while each return
ing Memorial day evokes afresh the
moral agony of that cruel war, yet no
enmity or bitterness is revived. The
nation is one, and the bands of unity and
fraternity are strengthening. This is
the grandest fruitage of the war. This
is victory that nothing but successful
war could have achieved. For all time
it has demonstrated that no state has
legal right to burst the bonds of the
nations political unity. What else but
successful war could have SO completely
settled and adjusted the doctrine of state
rights, with the nations sovereignty?
What else could have vindicated the
sacred right of union, and and blasted
forever the fallacy of the right of Sc
cession?
But if the preservation of the Union
was the greater result of the war, the
extinction of slavery was only less greater
The viper that was the cause of secess-
ion was crushed that the Union might be
preserved and perpetuated. The death
of slavery was the outcome-the logical
result of the war 1t was providential
result. You, comrades, did not go to
war to put down slavery, Abraham Lin
coin did not call you into the service to
do that. But God sent you forth from
Lincoln was not thinking of the emanci-.
patton of the slaves, when he said to his
friends before leaving them to assume
the magistracty of the imperillled nation:
IA duty devolves upon me which is per
haps greater than that which has de-
yolved upon any man since the days of
Washington Posterity will say that
Lincoln was raised up to be the emanci-
pator of American slaves. And in dis
tant ages, when Africa is a civilized con-
tinent, and perhaps consolidated Re-
public, Lincoln will be remembered and
eulogized by Africa's sons as one of the
worlds greatest benefactors, not because
under his administration the American
Union was saved, but because he pro-
claimed liberty to the captives. Not
until Gods providence made it necessary
for him, as a war measure, to break the
shackles of 100000 human beings did
Lincoln understand the unconscious
prophecy of his own words. How solemn
sounds the sentence that closes that
mighty instrument, Upon this act l
invoke the considerate Judgment of man
kind and the gracious favor of Almighty
God" Both have been accorded the
plaudits of humanity, and the benedic-
ton of the God of nations. Lincoln's
name in Americas heart is inscribed by
the side of Washington's and posterity
will never change that verdict.
1t was not Africa's wrongs that made
the Emancipation Proclamation the
greatest state paper of United States
President, more than Americas shame
1t purified the countrys flag and vindi-
Gated the nations right to regard herself
as 1.-The Home of the Free" Well do
remember how, when a mere lad I was
stung to the quick on my first reading of
Campbells apostrophe to the American
flag:
..1rn;tad States vour panner wears
TWO enblems.one Of fame;
Alas, the other that it bears
reminds US OF your shame.
Your standards constellation tvpes
White freedom BY its stars. y -
But what's the meaning OF its stripes?
1ney mean your negroes sears.
The stigma was deserved, but, thank
God, no national bard shall ever again
reproach our purified banner. The
shame of the past has been atoned for
by an incalculable sacrifice.
Comrades and friends, on the morrow
we shall be reminded afresh of what it
cost to wipe out the nations dishonor
and preserve the integrity of it's govern