Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-06-01
bear hbihewatd to my brothers in the

ana TINS, NY protnefS, is the mes
sage which ! bring,
These our brothers who have fallel
have no need Of tears today. They ii
not wish to see us weep. Their spirit
are not pleased to see sadness on on
faces or tear-drops In our eyes. The,
would not exchange places with lis /
they could. Conflict and toll and suf
fering have ended for thefti. The re
cord of their lives has closed. Thei
fame is fixed In glory. No vicissitud,
of fortune, no temptation, no circum
stance can dim the honor or make t,
| fade the lustre OF their lives.
Nor wreck, nor change, nor Winter.
blight,
| Nor times remorselcss doom
/ Shall dim one ray of glorious light
That gilds their glorious tomb
Happy and thrice happy are the,
who fall az did these men at the full
tide of life with honor untarnished. ii
a cause like that for which they fell
So long as fame shall keep her record
or honor shall point out the spot where
valor sleeps, their glory shall not be
| forgotten.
| Think not. my brothers, that these
our sainted dead have need of our
tears. Think rather that as they look
down upon us today from the eternal
heights of heaven they send their ben
ediction and let fall their tears for us
| who have yet to bear the heat and the
burden of The day and to prove our
selves worthy of the heritage which
they have left us.
They can see with clearer eyes than
We, the tremendous responsibilities
which you their comrades and we your
SUCCESSORS must bear as citizens OF
this republic and their hearts beat ir
sympathy with ours and they are say
ing to us tonight from Arlington, from
Gettysburg. from Raleigh from yon-
der heights and from thousands OF
known and unknown graves, BE We
faithful to the trust which we have left
to you. Garry on with honest purpos,
and high resolve the work which w.
began. BE faithful to the flag foi
which we fought. Keep unstained its
folds of glory and undimmed it's star.
of gold. Suffer no cause to threaten
the integrity or the Respondent glory
of the country which we love Weep
not Tor us. Look toward the light and
guard well the priceless freedom ant
the mighty nation which we pur-
chased with our blood and sealed with
| our lives
My friends, we can pay the deepest
gratitude, the sincerest reverence. the
highest honor to our patriot dead only
by finishing the work which they be-
gan; by faithfulness to our duties and
privileges as citizens. by pure living
and righteous doing. by ever uphoidin.
the cause of liberty and humanity anL
by Keeping the watchfres of the re-
public burning bright and clear Sc
long as time shall last.
: .
l realize full well that this occasion il
not time for expressions of partisan
ship or politics. This day is too sacred
for such things but it is not too sacred
to bring before our minds some ques-
tons that are above the level of politi-
cal opinion and concern most deepi,
the welfare Of our people and nation
There are great questions, problems
big with Importance which demand thu
attention of honest men of every party
True patriotism, honest purpose. an6
intelligent thinking We're never NOR,
sf,rely needed than at the present time
And | ask your attention for moment
~ we shall briefly consider few OF
these questions.
OF them all one which stands among
the foremost in Importance and in neeo
for honest, conscientious treatment is
this: What are to be the future mutua
attitudes of North and South?
1S To =
nation, or must it forever be divided by
sectional lines and feelings? Must the
old war spirit always remain under
that flag which is or should be the
symbol of union and liberty now an6
forever. one and inseparable? This
question should have no connection
with politics. 1t goes deeper than the
springs Of political action. 1t is g
question of patriotism and it can nevei
be settled until hatred and bitterness
and policy are put behind us, and see
ing clearly the true interest of the re
public we sacrifice our prejudice to oW
patriotism 1t can never be settled
untils Vact the generous part and
advancing half way. but with NJ
sacrificeAT principle, we extend to oul
hrotherSGof the South the hand OF
sympathy. forgiveness and helpfulness
It were not wise for us to be less
than generous in this for by withhold
ing we shall defeat the very principle
for ewhiclEN5ir brothers fought and fell
that of 4Rtiona! unity. If i mistake
not, then did not fight primarily to
abolish slavery but to save the Union
said President Lincoln in his letter of
Aug. %, 1862, replying to Horace
Greeley's criticisms on the conduct of
the war. MY paramount object in
this struggle is to save the Union, and
it is not either to save or to destroy
slavery If l could save he Union
without freeing any slave, l would do
| il: and If I could save it by freeing all
the slaves 1 would do it, and if / could
save it by freeing some and leaving
others alone | would also do that
What | do about slavery and the col
ored race do because / believe it helps
to save the Union, and what | forbear
l forbear because | do not believe it
would help to save the Union. l shall
| do less whenever | shall believe what
| do more whenever | believe doing
more will help the cause
| 1t was Lincolns supreme and actual
| ing conviction that this is an indi-
| visible and indestructable nation 1t
| was to maintain this principle and to