Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1893-06-22

Flowers for the dead we bring freely
and willingly, but must death close the
eyes and still the beating heart before we
pour forth our gratitude3 The living need
our appreciation and sympathy ere the
tired feet falter and the pulses cease to
beat.
NATIONAL DISGRACE,
Commander Alger once said: "A sur
plus in the treasury and veterans In the
poor house is disgrace to any nation"
Surely it Isl but the plea of any party to
special support on account of its boasted
generosity to the soldier" is deeper
dyed disgrace. II these meu were lying
wounded and manned on the battlefield, or
had fallen by the wayside too exhausted to
go on, would we consider it startling act
Of generosity to care for the wounded and
dying1
Does 1t matter in principle whether they
are dying at home or on the field? And
for any party, league or faction, of what
soever name, sign or shibboleth to use the
war-worn veteran and his needs as a paw
TO rake official chestnuts from political
fires, or to build of that veterans crutches
and palsied limbs battery from behind
which to throw hot shells into its oppo-
nent's camps, is a disgrace so black that
adjectiyes would not do it justice, should
pile them as high as old Katshdin.
Suppose there is no surplus in our
| treasury, that there is an adverse balance
of trade. and we have barely escaped
financial crisis:
There is a surplus Of gold, silver and
! other minerals in our mountains; there Is
a surplus of stones in our quarries; there
is a surplus of lumber in our forest; there
is a surplus OF power in our rivers there Is
surplus of treasure In our oceans; there
is surplus OF wealth in our seas; there is
a surplus of nayigsble waters; there Is
surplus of harbors on our shores there is
surplus of acres in our territory there Is a
| surplus of riches in our soil; there is a
| surplus Of Gods rain and sunshine, and
| shall it ever be said Of the American peo-
love and gratitude In their hearts beyond
self-nterest to make all these natural re
sources yield a surplus sufficient TO render
the few remaining days Of these old
soldiers comfortable: Oh,sshame.
Grateful hearts should only regret that
there Is 40 little We can do. As year by
year these ranks grow thinner, a, year by
| year these steps lose their elasticity anu
all too soon the weary bodies sink u rest,
overcome by disease and wounds, 1t should
| be our greatest pleasure to soOtAc in any
measure the hard aud toilsome way. Ana
| II, perchance, single one has returned TO
US wounded in soul, as wei a. in body,
| shall that be any cause for wlthhoiding2 2
| Oh, no. rather let the soft mantle Of love
wrap It's sheltering folds about the MANNED
and bruised spirit, and ours De the greater
duty more carefully to guard our own ex-
smples and make our streets all the safer
for such wandering feet.
VIVID KEcoLIEcTIuNe
But, men of the Grand Army, members
VA w - "a 'N'N' AN7l' ~ "H'N' N'tA-
teous invitation stand here to-day while
we have been trying to catch something
Of the meaning OF Memorial Day TO our
selves and these children, your thoughts
must have been far different
There is no need tina. We should rcmlDd
you Of the causes Of ;hr bitter strife, IL
intensity, or its suteriugs Every hne Of
1t was enRravcn years ago on 'hr tablets
of your hearts and burned lu', vpur tbrob-
,,,,,, s...i...
80
ne sau anu IeudeI atIE'''7 HI th'S uAy
must ever recall to your miud- The scenes
of those old army davs when th, t.naut.
-, ,t,..., .,.t ,.,,- ..,...,
u ''''
pahiohS III arms.
You are again swept ON by the rushing
chsrya or n,r. th.. I,u, -..,,try,. l,..a, mn.
.,,,-,.-I.,
No' '''' 'A'7' '''' '''''' - "'''' " '-''
longing thoughts OF home and Its dear
ones. Some Of you are standIug AgaIA be-
for, the froynin.. batteries tf tb.. ,.n,,,,-
~
"' III i'i"' 'a'' VI ''A" 1'' '''"N''5
III the east. Inc N'rd OF preparation Is
"hlspeFeu aIouE the 1he'
II is whispered softly but i, powerful
enough TO put that entire line in motion
snd a,,o, ,,o,, ,,o,, u, ,t..,.-..,-,,.,.rl.. 49,,
'ON ~ va
them over Iheui SURRENDER \ c''hf'eVe
succeas-six pieces Of artillery six hun.
dred prisoners The glorious work Of the
| 3lst Maine ln three minutes, while IN front
OF Petersburg.
| Some OF you hear again That memorable,
Forward and rushing on to the heid,
sweep the enemy III confusion before
| you, though the lst Maine Heavy Artillery
| leaves two-thlrds of It's number lying on
| the field of honor, either Killed OF wounded.
| Some OF you are dashlnB INTO the thlck-
| est OF the smoke anu neat, WIN the gal
liant Old sixth Name anu planting your
standard rs the nrst nag ON the enemy >
oreastworks
over The memories ot others sweep the
sights ana sounds or other places anu
| otter victories. And mlngllng with all
the shouts OF victory anu the plaudlts OIL
the nation are those SAD, sad scenes when
| you searched Tor the missing, sent the last
messages home to the loved ones, pr laid
in soldiers graves those who fell at your
side.
THE REAL MOTIVE
And tor what' mat this nation miShl
have a holiday Ihat this governmeut
| should be TOY IN the hands OF fe"
That this land might be safer play