The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-05-31

ANSS otiC luSL NUllcy DIT lu6
retreating confederacy. A colored SER
geant of that regiment received into his
flesh the last rebel bullet fred at free
dom.
The French Emperor suddenly con-
GUIDED his army was no longer needed in
Mexico. Perhaps Sheridan's appearance
at the Rio Grande may have quickened
his mental activity. Poor Macmillan.
A bullet sent him from his Mexican
throne, to his best chance for throne
on high.
The politeness of foreign governments
became largely and suddenly increased.
The boys in blue came home. They
took their places in civil life without so
much as ripple of disturbance to the
country. Their habits of overcoming all
obstacles gave a mighty impetus to the
development of the nation.
l never knew what became of those
gentlemen who wore butternut buttons
and copperhead badges during the war,
cursed old Abe and cheered only when
the Union forces were defeated
There were some in '6l, but as often
as meet one l then knew, he tells me
he is the man who carried on the war
E The boys in gray went home, not to
homes of plenty and communities we'll
organized. Many of their homes were
deserted and in ashes. They were not
accustomed to working with their hands
as we were before the war. You taught
them that. Unfortunately for them, not
enough of their old political leaders had
been killed, but were still alive to him
der reconstruction. Quick communica-
ton, the school teacher, the unequaled
example of prosperity in the North have
been at work. They have been reaching
out and acquiring our ways and our
school systems. They are like a con-
verified sinner The things they once
loved they now want no more. They
have found out that they never wanted
the slavery they fought to keep. They
have learned that when you struck the
shackles from the slave you set his mas
ter free.
They are finding out that an educated
black man is better citizen than an
ignorant white. They are reaching out
after Northern enterprise and capital and
getting both. The South is just begin
ming to prosper.
Comrades: A few of us have been
permitted to remain to behold the glory
of our land this day. Thanks to your
courage we dwell in a whole land with
one government over all. We have the
same old flag, and there it floats over
whole nation of free men, not a stripe
effaced, not star gone, most beautiful
and glorious among the banners of the
earth.
Steam and electricity are COMPRISING
the earth. The nations stand shoulder
to shoulder and touch elbows in the
march of time. Ignorance and isolation,
the parents of barbarism, are becoming
impossible. Oceans are become as riv-
nrc Ta,a Il
ton is more in peril today than when
you were born. There is a cloud of dan
ger npon orr horizon larger than mans
hand. The people Of the Old World are
beholding our prosperity. Every pinch
of want, every rumor of war, every polit-
ical revolution is sending them by tens
and hundreds of thousands to our
shores. The rush has only begun. The
attracting powers of this country and the
repelling forces of Europe are both null
tiplying.
To this land are coming
hordes of men to whom
thesword liberty means only license.
Their ignorance and superstition makes
them an easy prey for demagogues. They
are filling our prisons and reformatories
to Overlooking, devouring the morals
and debauching the politics of the land.
Already they are controlling our large
cities. This immigration is fostering
and enlaIrging the rum power, which is
itself a threatening danger to our repub-
lie. Already the annual consumption of
liquor in the United States is eleven hun
dred millions Of dollars.
1t Isl in the hands of foreigners, an or
gained political power of prodigious di-
mansions for corruption, and may. at any
and all times, defeat the popular will.
Who shall say, my brave comrades,
that the Almighty has not wisely APP
pointed those black native Americans to
whom you gave liberty in 1865, to re-
store liberty to your children's children
in 1865. and to deliver them from thral-
dom worse than slavery.
1--WE were comrades together when
the boys marched away" rendered by
the quartette, was followed by Hon.
George F. Emery.
Mr.. Emery's Address.
Mr.. President and Ladies and Gentle
men:
The story of those who breasted shot
and shell in defence of our imperiled I'm
ion cannot be too often rehearsed, and
will continue to be eloquently repeated
as today, SO long as patriotism shall ami,
mate, and loyalty bind the American
heart.
But to limit our admiration to the
patriotism and proves of our soldiers
in the field, and of their devoted allies
on the ocean, would hardly be just to
another class Of worthless whose meritor-
lous service deserves hearty recognition
on memorial occasion. While mind
full of, and grateful to, all who on land
or sea defended our threatened nationali-
ty, we do well to remember also the
quiet but spontaneous and generous
deeds of our women in behalf of our
side and wounded, whether in hospital
service, or in providing here at home in
rich abundance for their relief and COM
fort.
If we had not our Joan of Arc to lead
our martial columns we did have our
Florence Nightingales to visit the bed
sides of the sick, minister balm to the
wounded, and breathe hope in the ears of
the dying. Their names were never read
in the daily dispatches from the battle
field, nor have they been emblazoned upon
the public records. But the prayers they
lifted are registered in heaven, and their
tender ministries will never he forUottan