Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-06-01

louder and more distinct. for war crne
war, was marshalling its hosts for deadl,
conflict.
/ And what Is war?
DO We ever stop to consider how neces
sary and inevitable is this dread agent O
publication, that since the world begar
has again and again, thousand times
peen the salvation of every principle o.
rlght-the conservator of truth and virtue
-and the exponent of progress and ciyili
cation!
war is the natural element of creation
and serves its own great purpose with un
swerving fidelity.
The poet may sing of Peace beginning
to be, deep as the sleep of the sea',-but
sleep Is death-decay and dissolution are
buried In the grave of a continual peace,
ana ever recurring Immortality comes only
through the throes and upheayal of evo.
luton, that most significant and eternal
principle of life
Upon thousand hills today, we have
scattered flowers above the dead ashes
only of those comrades whose "souls are
marching on"
The very spirit of energy and life
clothed in the forms of spires of grass have
gathered sustenance and strength from
consecrated dust, and thrusting their tiny
blades up through the sodden earth, have
kissed the hands of comrades wives and
sons, in recognition Of their faithful love.
| So tonight comrades and friends 1 do
not speak in praise of peace. ] am not
here to eulogize those who from mistaken
zeal or craven fear have plead for COM
promise.
l lay my gift upon an altar made sa-
cred by the sacrifice of million lives, and
ask you all, both old and young to pledge
me in memory of that time when flercest
war swept DER the land; when fathers,
brothers. husbands. sons, forsook the
plough, laid down the zen, took off the
surplice and the gown, and with I'M
covered heads swore meath their bated
breath to save the flag, the dear old flag,
or die.
How well do we remen Der the proud
day that brought us news that Scott, the
hero of Chepultapec, had reached Wash
ington and taken command of our little
army.
| How vivid the scenes following the first
call for volunteers, the rata ia t. tat of the
drum. the orderly galloping through the
| streets, the drawing for uniforms, and the
ludicrous figure that some of us cut try
ing to adjust fortytwo inch waistband,
to thirty two inch waist, or = hat to
a 81 head, and yet amid it all the strong
| undercurrent of stern loyalty that lent
dignity to even the trivialties of the hour
The early morning start for the front,
when hearts were wrung with an anguish
in which fear and pride strove each with
| the other, when arms were twined around
| neckS that would never feel their clinging
touch again.
The march through Boston, behind Gill
more S famous band, with their swinging
twenty eight inch step, while we with six
ty pounds of blankets, brushes, Bibles,
combs, canteens and cartridges, Clippers,
doughnuts and daguerrotypes strapped
upon our backs, felt that like Atlas, we
literally carried the world upon them
And then later, the camp. the picket
line, the single shot, the long roll and all
the stern realities of actual war. And
then, the hospital, the prison pen, the long
dismal days Of lowering 'twixt life and
death.
Thus weeks and months and years I'M
til one day in early spring the news flash
ing through tho land, and victory the
bravest word in all our speech, rang out
with its inspiring sound, victory, the
fruit of war. Shall tell you something
of its meaning here? 1t meant the resur-
rection morning to four million souls that
had been stepped in darkest sleep. Re-
generation both to them and their
children for generations yet untold. 1t
said to that dear flag for which you
fought, float out from every staff and
tower in all the Union undisturbed. Let
every stripe and star on field of blue,
heDceforth forever beckon to the whole
wide earth and say, 4 float above a ma
ton free as air, beneath my folds the
humblest man may vie in citizenship
with any lord or baron, ay or king
My avenues for honest toll and recon-
pense are never closed to him who tries in
right good faith to prove that manhood is
his highest aim and stern integrity his
stock in trade. 1t means q safe and sure
expression of that form of law which
makes the right Of all the right of each.
Where franchise docs not follow COLDS be-
hest nor high estate, but keeps in company
with man S free Thoughts to do his bidding
as he will. 1t means a continent whose
either shore securely spurns the invading
foe and sends glad greeting over the sea
to cheer the patriot heart. Yes, victory at
| last >" Through years of strife and pain,
when men faced death until they laughed
at him and babe him do his worst. When
women in their dumb despair, looked at
their empty cradles, and with breaking
hearts, remembered those once piilowed
| there who now alas, would never more
kiss their fond lips again. Long years
were those to wait, and deeds of valor
| filed them every one. We marched forth
from our homes with our young hearts
filled high with strength and pride.
| How little did we reck the rising tide
of war, or dimly guess whittier our foot
| steps led. And it was well 'twere so. Had
we to face the undiscovered ills that lie in
wait for us from day to day; could we
look out beyond the horizon Of daily life
and see the storms that gathering there
sweep down at times with such resistless
force How soon would hope and strength
and faith succumb and grim despair seize
| every trembling nerve
| So twas in those long years Of war. No
need to tell you comrades of those days,
each brain and heart has its own photo
graph complete Each memory is stored
with incident and deed, that were they
written out would each volume make.
IL Il. 4