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

ADDRESS BY MISS NJ. G. HUNTER AT
ELLSWORTH. MAY 80, 1898.

ELLSWORTH, MAY 30, 1898.
AsTIRRING PRESENTATION OF PRINCIPLES TO
W. Ii. II. RICE rosT, no. So, u, A. R.-A
PAPER WELL WORTH PRESERVING.
Comrades, Romans Relief Corps aud Ctt-
teens
There can be no more fitting theme for
this hour than the meaning and teschings
Of Memorial Day. know that more than
three decades have passed since, flashing
over the wires, came the startling news.
Sumter has fallen" and following fast
and hard upon that cry came P.esident
Lincoln's ringing call for II. 900 volunteer,
to defend the old stars and stripes.
1 know full well that for more than
our tributes of loving remembrance on the
resting places of those who gave their
lives In response to that and succeeding
calls. and we have rehearsed again and
|
vo,ion. But does the story grow old? Is
| this day losing aught of its sacredness
and meaning? Is there any growing ten
| dency to regard its observance as some
thing belonging To a former generation,
and not something OF vital Importance to
the citizen OF today
1t cannot, must not be.
1t must rather be that this besutiful
| custom of strewing with flowers the rest
ing places Of our dead heroes shall take on
a deeper meaning, more profound ,igni-
cance, as year by year we make these
annual piigrimages TO the silent cities Of
| the vast majority, or pause again sud
again beside these lowly mounds on the
| green hlll>ides aud scattered through the
| quiet valleys OF our land. where the Tiny
flag tells OF some soldier sleeping.
/, must rather be that this day shall be-
come a mighty magnet. drawing 70 itself
[ all that is purcst in sentiment and noblest
in aspiration In national life.
| see in the minglIng throng, met for
the services of this hour, the gray haired.
war-worn veteran. whose thought TO day
| must be of the past, not the present !;
/ sturdy manhood, looking eagerly 70 that
| which lies beyond and lhoughtless child
! hood, Joyous In the present alone
! To each there comes the question ::
what does Memorial Day mean 70 you;"
4
men Of the Grand Army2 What doe, Me
/ nnria! Day mean To YOU, citizen of this
! great republic? What should Memorial
/ Day mean to these children, who are. we
/ trust. TO be citizens OF
SILL GgEAIEK EEFUBiICf
/ By the answers we shall be judged BY
/ our judgment OF this day We judge our
-clve, a. nation and a. ,ndis sidual- Con
/ dcmn ourselves as unworthy to enjoy all
! the benefits won by these heroic dead and
their still surviving comrades. or justify
I our rig ht 10 citizenship in free land?
/ II an American heart beats. to whom
= this day makes no appeal of loyalty and
/ devotion. kiudles no aspiration 70 emulate
/ great deeds, awakens no desire % live
I woTthily Of great sacrifice, We have an
. unfultlicd mis sion. aud such one deserves
Z our de, pest comm reration n d poor all.
| and foreigner in the land of his birth But
| he who would deaie this sacred day by
! partisan speeches or personal ambition
/ has a soul too small to be worthy Of
4 sideratiOn; he Is cana, nHei IlrsadL
/ That ~hich We would honor o.day is
/ pure patriotism, upseif-h devotion, and
1 grand hcroisn, CieaE>ed Of suy earthly
1 dFos, by The blood Of our sons. and putt
4 hed by the nrc- Of battle That which We
would teach. this day, H. the nobility OF
| uuswcrying devotion TO the eternal prin
/ ciples Of truth and Justice. and the tleva-
/ iion OF human brotherhood above self
I Interest or personal ambition. And he
| who would dare even 10 suggest that
( these are ideals, unworthy the serious
! consideration OF rational, practical
I people. is traitor to all that is best and
! nobltst in the human heart
Memorial Day has for lis origin The beet
| sentiments Of every nation and every age,
/ sentiments pure and lofty that they
never have been, and never can be. wholly
/ stiiird or ob.cured by the most sortid or
selfish pursuits Of life; aud He who rules
( the affairs OF nations. as He plans the lives
| of individuals, has bestowed on this, and
succeeding generations, no greater bless
iDgs than may come from the thoughtful
! and proper observance OF this day.
! For surely, the contemplation OF that
action, must raise the standard Of morals !;
arrest the progress Of degenerscy and
ditfuse a lustre over the path Of life"
| Monuments to the greatness of the human
| soul, they point the world to the august
Image OF virtue in its subimest form, from
| which radiate streams of life and glory TO
awaken in us sentiments of kindred ex-
| cellence.
A STORY WORTH REPEATING.
And 50 the repetition of the deeds of the
| Union army and their conss quent results
can never become wearisome or useless
story, though they be repeated year after
year through all succeeding ages. We re-
peat them each Memorial Day
ITO nerve the and fire the heart,
TIL all from selfish ease shall start,
And vow with high uplifted hand,
Like them, to act noble part"
1t is true that these sleeping martyrs
have no need of any tributes of ours They
have received crowns of glory, infinitely
richer than any garlands we can bring, and
in brighter mansions dwelling are far be-
yond our praise or blame. But it is for
us, standing by these graves to-day. re-
calling the achievements of these heroic
men, learning their devotion. remember
ing their suferings; to catch something
Of the inspiration coming from their noble
examples, and be quickened into truer
and more earnest life, and consecrate our.
selves anew to the cause of truth and jus.
tce for which they died.
1t is for US, here, to realize in their full
est and deepest meanings the duties and
responsibilities. as well as the privileges
and immunities of our citizenship, pur-
chased at such fearful cost.
Pericles magnified the greatness OF