Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-06-04

commanding consideration at home and
respect abroad, we can truthfully say
that the winter OF our discomfort has In
deed been made glorious summer
through their and your triumphs and
labors, and
Ian the clouds that lowered upon our house
Are In the deep bosom OF the ocean buried.
And IL, to the founders o: this republic,
the brave and patriotic soldiers and
statesmen Of the Revolution, we decree
undying fame and immortal honor, are
not those who preserved 1t 10 Its great
est peril and transmitted Its blessings to
millions yet unborn, equally deserving
OF the lasting remembrance OF a grateful
country?
To the living, then, let us extend our
sincere thanks and congratulations, and
take good heed that they receive from
the state and nation, In their declining
years, such assistance as shall smooth
the remainder of life's journey.
Frankly, have no patience with any
policy that would deprive the old soldier
OF his pension, which he so richly de-
serves, and which the nation from Its
vast wealth and resources can so easily
pay.
And of the dead slain on many a
Southern battle field, we know that their
lives have not been sacrificed In vain, Tor
they ''consecrated ideas, exemplified
noble virtues, and taught precious
truths"
They have fought the good fight, rich
In honors, bedewed with nations tears
and blessed BY every lover OF liberty aud
free government throughout the world,
departed 10 that undiscovered country,
from whose bourne no traveller returns.
And while we leave them in their lonely,
silent graves, and again mingle with the
busy, bustling world around US, we can
fittingly and feeling exclaim:
"soldiers rest. your warfare Ger,
| Sleep the sleep that knows no breaking,
| Dream of battle fields no more
DAYS OF danger. nights OF waking"
ION Fame's eternal camping ground
Your silent tents are spread.
And Valor guards with noisclcss round
| The blyouac OF the dead.
The soldiers OF the war OF 1861 were
actuated by the highest and noblest
yirtues-patriotism and devotion 10 the
country and its flag. All money con-
siderations were OF secondary impor-
lance. When, with domineering AFRO
gance and passionate blindness, the
South fired upon the dag and sought to
destroy the nation, they rose up in their
might, and in the language Of the Scot
tish Chieftain, declared:
There are hills beyond Pentland.
| And friths beyond Forth,
He there lords In the Southland,
There are men In the North"
This spirit Of patriotism and love OF
country Is deeply and intultively i'm.
planted In the human breast. The land
of our birth has charm for us that no
distance can dispel or time fully efiace.
Its institutions, its customs, its language
and its laws, have surrounded Us from
| infancy and become q part OF ourselves.
Other lands may be grander and richer; ;
other skies may be fairer and brighter;
vet they can never supplant IL In our az
| fections.
The liberty-loving Englishman, on
whose empire the sun never sets, wher-
ever he may be, turns with fondness and
pride to that small but beautiful island
the cradle Of the race. The chivalrous
and meIcurhl Frenchman worships
Paris and vine-clad republican France.
The Italian boasts the bright skies Of
sunny Italy. The German loves the Fa-
therland, aud his soul Is stirred by the
"Watch on the Rhine" George kennan
assures US. that the Russian peasant
clings to the steppes of the Icy North
with n tenacity and love which few of US
can fully comprehend. This sentiment
40 universal among all nations, has been
beautifully stated and immortalized by
Sir Walter Scott, in the LAY of the Last
Minstrel"
In the great Civil War in which the
loyal legions Of the North we're finally
victorious, not only our national exist
tence and prosperity, but constitutional
republican government were on trial.
The political rights and liberties OF the
common people, whom Lincoln said he
thought the Lord loved best, as he made
more Of them, were threatened by an
arrogant slave-hoiding oligarchy.
Your victories settled-as we believe
for all coming time-those vital issues
in the interest Of humanity and progress.
and have secured for yourselves, your
fellow-citizens and posterity, the bless
| ings of free government, individual
liberty and the equality of all men be-
| fore the law.
The hydra-headed monster OF state
rights YOU shot TO pieces on hundred
battle fields and finally buried II at APP
pomattox.
You struck the shackles from four
millions OF slaves, and that part OF the
Declaration Of Independence which de-
clares that all men are born free and
equal, ceased to be a "glittering general
ity" and lie in our land-and became in
deed verify.
You decreed that this republic should
hereafter be nation, not mere con-
federacy united by a rope OF sand.
And your victories were instrumental
in effecting radical and beneficial
changes in our constitution and govern
ment.
With the return Of peace, the energy
and enterprise OF our people caused US
| 10 enter upon career of progress and
prosperity unprecedented In the history OF
nations. We have made vast strides In
wealth and population. We have pro-
yided for better and more general
diffusion of education and knowledge
among all classes, In many states, and
have placed within the reach OF all peo-
pie the comforts and enjoyments OF
civilized life-conditions which the an
clients often dreamed OF In their Utopian
philosophy, but which they sadly failed
| to attain to or realize In practice.
We have covered our land with net
work of railways and other improve
mcnts, spanning the continent. with iron
bands.
By the aid Of steam, electricity, the
telegraph and telephone, we have almost
annihilated distance-bridged the oceans
made those living In distant states our
neighbors and brought their products to
our very doors.
Our abundant harvests-vast agri-
cultural, mineral, and other resources
our crowded, busy marts Of trade-the
blaze of many furnaces-the clatter OF
thousands OF looms-the hum OF myriads
of spindles, all attest that prosperity and
plenty sit within our borders.
The scientific researches and achieve
ments of this nineteenth century have
indeed rivaled the tabled wonders OF the
Arabian Knights. And the end is not
yet-the march is still Onward-and 1t Is
very possible that even now In most OF
the departments of investigation and
knowledge the unknown and unexplored
transcends the known and mastered.
You and your dead comrades fought
to preserve the liberties and promote the