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


body spoke as follows:
Judge Peabody's Remarks.
Mr.. Chairman, Veterans, Ladies and
Gentlemen:
On an April day, in 1775, in beautiful
New England town, it is told in Emer-
sons famous verse, that.
''The embattled farmers stood
And fired the shot heard round the world"
1t proclaimed the founding of new
nation upon the principles OF freedom,
equality and justice. Its formative peri
DDS had been slow, but, as it is said, the
diamond only after the hardening of a
million years comes forth perfect gem,
this Republic, product evolved from
the slow events of years, appeared at
length through the upheaval of the
American Revolution.
Although in theory the nation realized
the grandest dreams of political philoso-
ply, and the great charter of the Declar-
alton Of Independence satisfied the as
pirations of men who preferred death to
tyranny, yet there were difficulties not
only external but internal. which re-
quired the most sagacious and conserva-
tive craftsmanship to surmount. The
nation was not yet of perfect mould.
not devise a constitution which by it's
recognized authority would at once bring
the States into the condition of perfect
unity.
Napoleon Bonapartc said, in reference
to this Republic, eve may hereafter ex-
pect rivalries among tie members of the
Union. The considerations which are
called perpetual, only last until one of
the contracting parties finds it is to his
interest to break them.''
Great and sincere statesmen held and
advocated opposite ideas of the rights of
the States and the powers of the general
government.
Andrew jackson, when President gave
on public occasion, as a sentiment,
''The Federal Union, it must be pre-
served" and Immediately the Vice
President, John C. Calhoun, arose and
gave another sentiment, Liberty dearer
than union;" and this breach which I'M
happily existed widened and menaced
the nation. This conflict of political
opinion as to the authority of the federal
government, antagonism of local inter
ests, bitterness engendered by the dis
cussion of the question of slavery, and
| congressional action which sought from
considerations of humanity and patriot
ism to prohibit its extension into terri
tory acquired by purchase and treaty, at
length made enemies of the great sections
North and South.
On another April day in 1861, in fair
Southern city, another shot was fired,
| also heard around the world. 1t was the
signal of the beginning of the Great Re-
| beliion; then came the long impending
crisis, the conf ct between incompatible
| principles of government and society.
and the issue was to this nation the issue
Of life and death; it was the crucial test
of the possibility of free government
to endure. The past, seated amidst the
ruin of nations, declared that this was
| the beginning of the end. The Republic
| shook as if in the earthquakes grasp, and
the chasm widened and deepened
| Among the legends of ancient Rome.
| it is related, that chasm once existed
in the forum. The soothsayers declared
| that only by casting into it that on which
the greatness of Rome depended, could
the yawning gulf be filled. Marcus Cur
thus, youth Of noble blood. proclaimed
that nothing was more necessary to her
| greatness than asbrave citizen fully ac
coutred for battle; and having arrayed
himself in full armor, mounting his war
| horse, he rode into the abyss; and it is
related that the earth closed. The youth
| of this land, the most precious treasure
of the nation that which was most essen
tial to it's greatness freely, for love of
/ country, gave their lives. Slowly the
chasm closed, and the sundered States
were reunited in more perfect union,
cemented and forever sealed, by the
blood of the young manhood of the loyal
north. The finger of God had written
upon the great scroll of battlefields.
THAT government of the people, by
the people. and for the people, shall not
| perish from the earth.''
Bonaparte's hypothesis was proved I'M
true, but the proof cost this nation the
lives of a million of men and twelve
thousand million dollars worth of prop
erty. We cannot afford such costly proof
| to show the falsity of Lord Macaulay's
| prediction that this Republic will be I'M
| able to stand the strain of crowded pop
ulat1on and social distress. His predic-
| ton was perhaps a theory rather than a
| prophesy, but its significance has been
| increased by the problem of immigra-
| ton. The most dangerous elements of
| foreign populations are swarming upon
| this land. And while we would build no
Chinese wall to shut out the people of
other nations, and would still welcome
those who seek here the blessings of free
| government whose antecedents give as
| oulbhCo budU llley Will De ODeOleuG W ldW
and helpful in the development of our
vast resources, patriotism demands and
it is social and political necessity. that
we meet at the shore and drive back
across the ocean the invading hosts of
| paupers, criminals and anarchists. The
recent incidents of New Orleans and Chi
cago were object lessons which teach US
that in these anti-American elements ex-
lists. the danger of frequent instructions
and the possibilities of another civil
war.
! War is dreadful calamity; the mind
shudders at the scenes of the battlefield,
the hospital and, alas, the prison, and it
is appalled, at the ruin and desolation left
in the wake of armies. The war of the
Rebellion, the theme of our people today
in the number of combatants, the ma
chinery of warfare and the area of con-
| f1ict, has never been surpassed. The
Union armies mustered 1885, 900 men.
| the Confederate armies above 100000. an
aggl egate of 3,000,0 900 of men.
More than $500 hundred battles and
skirmishes were fought. There were, at