The Portland daily press., 1894-05-31

ing just as well, and rather better. than
he ever did in his life," but he is get
ting too old to march, that is all.
In the evening,
AT CITY HALL,
tremendous audience, which over
flowed the hall, gathered at the public
exercises. While ChandIer's band played
appropriate airs, the various special
bodies, the Ladies' Relief Corps, mem
bers of the two posts and invited guests,
marched to the seats reserved for them.
Chief Marshal George C. Hopkins, who
presided, spoke as follows in introducing
the evenings exercises:
MR.. HOPKINS'S ADDRESS.
In the history of the world many great
armies have been organized to serve the
purpose of personal am bition or national
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
TO the grand army of the republic
which emanated from peaceful people
in 1861 to be absorbed by it in 1865 be-
longs the unique distinction of being the
first and only great military organization
in which these potent but selfish mo-
tlves were wanting.
return to the conditions of the old
world, continent divided into hostile
nations, animated by mutual jealousies,
each supporting great standing armies in
times of peace, burden upon industry,
an obstacle to commerce, the source and
support of an idle aristocracy, the in
strument of oppression, the great hind
rance to civilization, black thunder
cloud always hanging upon the horizon
and threatening to break and often
breaking with all the horrors of war upon
an unoffendiDg people.
Such is the condition of the old world
now. such has it been for centuries i n
the past and such it may be for centur-
les to come.
Our civil war was the greatest of all
civil wars in the magnitude of it's mill
tary operations, the extent of its cam
paigns and the terrible shock of it's bat
ties. Our armies have never been ex-
celled in the personal qualities of their
soldiery, in skill, discipline, bravery,
heroism and devotion, but their greatest
glory is to be found in the noble and
generous motives which impelled their
action. What other war was ever waged
that the benefits of its success might be
shared by victors and yanquished alike?
When did any other people ever make
such sacrifices for the good of other gen
erations rather than their own? That
which sustained the patriotic enthusiasm
of loyal army and people through the
weary years of the gigantic struggle was
the calm, deli berate, unselfish resolution
that this wide continent should not be
divided into Earring nationalities, but
remain forever united and free, the home
of industry, the theatre of progress, over
which should hover in security the white
wings of peace.
Nor are the benefits of National sue
ooe to1 10 IL
Our government is the first of its kind
There have been SO called repub lics in
the past but never before a great
nation, established upon the federal
principle, il which the control of pub,
lie affairs is committed to the representa-
tives of the people.
AS representative republic it stands
for freedom but only as federal re-
public, the union of states which are in
dependent in local self governments it
creates the dream and hope of peace.
It's formation was the skirmish line of
a new era.
When we consider that it needed only
to be shown by experience that instead
OF being d frail formation ready to fall
in pieces at the first rude blow of disun-
ion it possessed the power of endurance
to ensure its ultimate extension to other
continents, that the stability of the
United States of America gives this
promise of the United States of Europe.
We may change the phrase of Victor
Hugo and say that not Waterloo but
Appamattox was the elimination of the
strife which was a change of front of
the universe, because it has demonstrate
ed that a nation may be free and yet
strong, and from it we may look down
the dim vistas of the future and see the
spread of the principles here esta blished
to other continents, the federation of ma
tions now hostile, the disappearance of
standing armies and favored classes, the
dawn of universal peace.
A prayer by Rev. It's. Sampson fol-
lowed. then the "Star Spangled Bannern
by the Ladies' Cecilian Quartette.
Mrs. Nettie Morrison, who sang the
solo, was encored, and responded with
"The Vacant Chair"
Mayor Baxter was next introduced, and
cordially received. He spoke as follows:
MAYOR BAXTER'S ADDRESS.
Ladies and gentlemen, Fellow Citi-
zens and Friends:
The question has often been asked
what is in a name. and | think that a
proper reply is, sometimes. much in
deed. How much is implied in the name
OF the day we Cele brate-MemOr1al Day
day set apart in honor of the memo
ry of the brave men who sacrificed SO
much for the preservation of the ma
tion.' 1t is memorial day; day full
of memories to those of us who have
reached middle life.
De Quincy has likened the human
brain to palimpsest upon which the
mysterious delineations of grief or joy
have inscribed themselves, and though
like the annual leaves of aboriginal for
ests, or the undissolving SHOWS of the
Himalayas, light falling upon light, the
endless strata have covered up each
other in for getfulness. they may be
brought to sight. How, upon such an
occasion as this are these mysterious de-
lineations brought wildly to view. This
hall. to us almost sacred place, is
crowded with pictures dear to the eye
of retrospection. All of us can recall
them from that last ever memorable
night when we Assem- bled here in honor
of the 90th birthday of the veteran, Neal
Dow. who with something of old-time
vigor, spoke upon this platform, sur
rounded by Portlands' honored men
and women.-a scene which should be
immortalized by the pencil of art-back
of the early years of the war, when men
whose names and deeds have become
historic, stood here before US, living,
breathing men, with the aspirations of
hc0 To& 49, no 1cfA Ill L. r