Daily Kennebec journal., 1893-06-01
Judge Nails Grafton.

Veterans ofthe Grand Army ofthe RepuI-
lie:
1t is better to be nobly remembered than
to be nobly born. II Is the honorable acts
Of men themselves, and not the deeds Of
their ancestors that make men noble. "a
nations history" said Henry Clay, lis but
the sum of its splendid deeds. They con-
stitute our nations inheritance, "A common
patrimony. They awe foreign powers and
animate and inspire our own people"
What American does not feel an inspira-
ton from a rehearsal of the splendid deeds
of his country men of the geLerations past,
in founding, in making Independent aud in
sOiidifying the Union and making free all
its people! No nation ever prOspered long
whose heroes were suffered to be forgotten
and no people ever failed to win grandeur,
power and reDown whose heroes memories
were preserved in stone and brass and
enshriucd in poetry and song as priceless
legacies to the ages to come. Tits il was
which gave power and prestige to the old re-
publics; this constituted largely the "Glory
that was Greece and the splendor that was
Rome" The granite monument Of Their
mopy le told the story of the 800 immortsls
to 80 generations by its famous inscription :
Stranger, go tell the Spsrtans that we liz
here obedient to their commands inspiring
the ages of Greece for 900 years with pat
riotic self devotion. In the National Gem
etery at Arlington, overlooking the Poto-
mae. we may read in the rough stone Of
py ramid as grand an inscription above the
dust of II 900 Union soldiers "We died
to maintain the laws" From thousands Of
wreatbed graves today has risen the voice
less request: Comrades tell to this genera
zion that we lie here that they may enjoy
the blessings Of free, united and powerful
country" Whatever rights the people pos
sess have been wrung from the power OF 4
despotic minority, with a death struggle.
The price of liberty has ever been the blood
of the brave. The pathway of freedom 10
traceable in crimson from Appomastox
backward through the. ages Of thickening
darkness until lost in the jungles Of des-
potism. The emblems of sll progress are the
| 8, mbols Of pain and sorrow the cross Of Cal
very the Martyrs stake, the rack Of torture,
the empty shsckies Of slavery.
From the foundation of this country to
that shining day when the flag frst meant
y hat Independence Bell proclaimed in
l5sf, Liberty throughout all the land and
unta, all the inhabitants thereof" the day
of the surrender Of beaten Rebellion at Ap-
pomattox. there was no peace in the lsnd,
because there was hideous Injustice Mea
cisimed TO own other men. There was no
concord and union because one half the
country was light with liberty and half
! dark with oppres,ion- Because th. free
half of the people were made cAtchers Vf
| slaves, in their painting flight for freedom,
| for the other half. Between the section.
| lay the Red Sea of war. II was crossed by
the noiIest army that ever challenged wrong
| 10 deadly combat. That army was the en-
| bodied conscience Of land imbued y ith
ideas that originated in New England. II
was the Fiery Gospel" Of Freedom.
as Mrs. Howe sang writ in
FURNISHED rows Of STEEL 1t emerged from
the sea of slaughter and planted is banner
on the cloodless heights Of justice. IL
earned the boundIess gratitude of the whole
country, for, with freedom and peace the
people Of both sections have had ~ years
Of the grandest life any nation ever knew
And more; that army earned the de-
voted homage Of . race lifted out of the
dust
This 10 the day set spsst for the grateful
remembrance Of these acts and the dead
and surviving actors.
Our FIRST duty tonight, veterans. i TO re-
member your desd comrades Of that army.
Their vslor and sscrihces with yoars are
now public Inheritance 10 be gratefully
shared BY every citizen.
1 Some Of them fell by your sides. men Of
the Old 3D. Maine, the regiment Of How
| aFd the second to leave for the var; Who,
within but six weeks from the quiet Of yoas
J GCoasinued - "a pass.l