The Portland daily press., 1896-06-01

amid which people live. The beating OF
drums and the waving of flags; this thun-
der of cannon and tho call of the hugle;
the tramp of many feet and the long
lines OF Uniformed men; the marching and
the BATTLE the victory and even the de-
Isa5; the passion of the strife; how all
bneee Stir the SOUL and impel man to
give himself utterly to the service of his
country. IN days Of peace however, pa
Vrlotlsm Is not aroused and stendied to
any great extent by outward ciroun-
stances. People have little to ilnpel them
10 WORK ana struggle for their country
save thelr own sense of obligation. And
tnen lt is great thing If, in the absence
OF All externa! excitement, they still
sorve it with the might of reason and
conscience and love. IL is grand to die
for ones country on the field of battle
and it Is no less grand TO live for 1t in
shop and store, in office and study. in
pulpit and court room, in legislative
hall and executive mansion. 1t is mag
niticent when man lays his body down
upon the altar of his country as a willing
and glad sacrifice for its welfare; but il
is no less magnificent when one lays the
mind and heart upon its altar as q Nyipg
sacrifice for it's welfare. 1t is In less
magnificent to stand patiently day by
day, month by month, and year by year
fo- The principles upon which the perpet-
uity. the prosperity, the progress and the
glory of the country forever rest. And
this is the patriotism that is demanded
of us all to-day.
The day may come when the patriotism
that dares to face the foe on the armed
| field will be again demanded of the men
Of our land / wish, however, that I
could feel sure that such day will not
come. | wish I could feel sure that TIE
dreams OF iarge-minded and large-hearttd
men were about TO be realized, and that
board of arbitration would soon be es-
tablished by the great nations of the
earth, which would settle all interna-
tionel difficulties by peaceable means,
and make war from henceforth and for
| everinore unnecessary. | fear, however,
that we are not yet ready for it. | think
| that some OF us must have been fairly
amazed at the excitable, the infiammahle
| the passionate temper which was mani
tested here in our country last winter. 1
| think we must have been startled and
| shocked by the light and careless way in
| which so many talked of war, as though
| they scarcely thoughtful what an awful
thing war really is, but regarded it SIM
| ply as q trial OF strength, or an adyen-
ture from which orr nation must issue
exalted and glorified. Oh friendsi such
Is not the temper that ought to possess
and actuate the people of our land. 1t
ought not be encouraged and fostered: it
ought to be rebuked: it ought to be
checked, sudbued and repressed; it ought
| w
tivity. We ought to be possessed and ao-
tuated by better temper. We need
truer and higher type of patriotism.
We are strong people: and just because
we arc strong we are under solemn OBJ
legation to use our strength in a high
and noble way. Because we are strong
we are all the moro bound to make our
strength minister to JOY and not sorrow.
to life and not death, to what Is the most
distiDcuively human in US, and not to
what links lis to the benst. Our ideal is
not the cowboy of WIS West. whose belt
is filled with knives and revOlvers which
he Is ready to use any moment upon the
least provocation. 1t is such self control
and repose of character as appetrs in the
face OF Washington, @ Lincoln, or a
| Grant, whose last words almost were
prayer for peace.
| The patriotism that is needed today is
the patriotism that longs and iabors to
| free our country from social ana civil
evils. and make it distinguished for its
intelligence. its equality, its fraternity,
| its liberty it's honor and righteousness.
A thoughtful writer across the sea has
said that we Lace civic conscience. I
think that this is true. We need pro-
| founder sense of our civil responsibilities
and a more thoughtful and conscientious
fulfillment of them. We need patriot
ism that does not stand aloof from poll
tics, but performs it's political duties as
hest it can. We need patriotism that
rises superior to craftsmanship, and be-
lieyes with President Hayes that, "He
serves his party best who serves his coun-
try best" We need patriotism that
says, First of all and foremost of all.
we are not Republicans. we are not Dem
ocrats, we are not Populists, we are not
Englishmen, or Irishmen, or FIenehmeu,
or Germans; we are American citizens,
and living and working for the material
and spiritual upbuilding Of our country
We need patriotism that stands distinct
ly and aggressively for the higher con-
4 victions, the higher sentiments, the
! higher aims and ideals of the national
character and life.
Let this be day. not only of com mem
Grafton, but also of conservation to such
convictions, such sentiments, such aims
and ideals. Let the memory of those
} who battled for the unity of our county
} inoite US to battle for its purity.
Let the remembrance of
those who wrought to keep it one and
indivisible move us to live and work to
make it incorruptiblo in its integrity and
sanotity. AS; we think of what they
did, let us indeed dedicate ourselves
} to the great task remaining before u.s."
Let US take increased devotion to the
country for which they gave the last
} full measure of devotion; that govern
} ment of the people. by the people, and
for the people shall not perish from the
earth"
The Memorial day committee, Messrs.
81. S. Meloher, John Williamson and G.
, ". Hadlock, are entitled to great credit
for the entire arrangements of most
successful day.
Memorial Day in Westbrook.
The usual exercises were carried out
J in Westbrook Saturday. The patriotism
of the citizens of this city was manifest
cd IN the almost universal display OF
flags and the large contribution or HoW-
} ers for the soldiers graves. The parade
was on par with that of any previous
Memorial day and was credit to those
in charge. 1t formed on Bridge streat
promptly at O'Clock and was made up
as follows:
Platoon of Police.
Westhrook Wheel Club.
American Band.
Marshal VIM. Ii. Holston, Aid Perley
Hunt.
Wade Camp, S. of V.
, Cloudman Post, 6. A. r.
Carriage-Mayor Cutter. q. Fred Murch..
Rev. VIM. Mann.
Carriage-City Council.