The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1896-06-04

bunting, emblems Of HAT 9rdrr. and
/ potted plants. ono pcee #a,seI.es
! more than passing note i'm. .aI.e
cross Of White fo~ers. asoIHed The
stage, patheucaily Inscribed - e1Ae
Unknown. Tie ladies Of tie Eei.ef
Corps also attended u The making 81
the "feaths and bouquets foI tie deo1ra-
tons d the graves and b0utonnieres f8f
tie veterans, involving much labor a.
well as skill and the exercise u TASTE.
These loyal ladies perform their par
III observance Of the day With fidelity
and zeal which the veterans fecogulze
and appreciate
The exercises were impressive
throughout, and the audience large aud
attentive. We are permitted TO maxi
extracts from Gen. Bangs admirable
address as follows.
70 more remarkable contest was ever
wagcd in the history OF Tie world than
that from ISL TO 1sGj remarkable flom
the character OF the strife tire principle,
involved. the enormous expenditure 81
lie and treasure, the intelligence Of the
actors III the bloody struggle; remarka-
Die ~ that IL taught armed Europe an
SEA and land new rules in the ar 81
war and placed new and uuheard Of
. value on simple eaIth-WoIks and iron
clads tor offence and defence. Hore re
markable that il called men from
every rank and pursuit in lie 10 become
veterans III a few months and heroes IN
history; #)3 remarkable that these
men should return from was demoraIi-
cation to the peacefs pursuits Of civil
life; So readily resume their various
calllngs and a>simlate So VondeiluH1y
with the quiet communities they let
at home.
Memorial Day with is hallowcd
associations, is our creation: ours the
duty of perpetuating the memory
: and history OF the dead. whose graves
are the shrines Of our annual pilgrimage.
aud OF those tens of thousands OF III
known and nameless graves On battle
; llelds made hi by their Yalof and
devotion, or who persisted 50 miserabIy
| IN the prison pens OF the South ia the
skeleton clutch of famine. Ours the
duty, as our lines are thinning. 10 close
up, preserve the touch OF elbow. and
} perpetuate the fricn ishipS OF the camp
and the march. that we may travel to-
: gether as comrades down TIM road that
leads to the camping ground of the
Grand Army If the lmmurtalS We
know that an association that draws IT,
members from one generation must
soon pass awaw. But history will do
impartial justice to the men who saved
our country from anarchy and our Hag
2 from dshonor.
Comrades. ITo ara falitu. 1,i...,..,.
in fraternity that knows no party
lines, no sectional feelings. 10 bounda-
ries OF states: that union Of hearts and
hands that nurses on loyalty, eultiyates
fraternity. teaches us that blessed
charity that binds us together. Let us
forget the ugly memories of the past,
for can we not see the auroral dawn
that shall battle our land in the bounte-
Gus sunlight Of peace, happiness and
prosperity.
The Grand Army of the Republic is
the standard bearer of the Nations
loyalty, 1t has spent more money in
transformations charities, has allefiated
more suffering and priyation IN the
families of the veterans OF the War of
the Rebellion, than all other charitable
organizations in the land combined.
There is no other organization in the
world like it. There never was There
never can be. 1t is the grandest civic
organization on the globe. cod bless
the Grand Army of the Republic.
The Woman's Relief Corps has been
the left hand to our right. To distribute
aims, to alleviate distress, to nurse the
sick. to clothe the naked, and To en-
courage and animate our zeal. as its
members did during the dark days of
the war. oh, God, how the loyal
women of the land suffered then. in the
agonizing suspense of waiting fearing,
hoping, as the long campaigne followed
each other. leaving behind their trail
OF waste, ruin. and of lonely graves.
And when battle was on, and victory
hung in the balance, they listened with
silent premonition for some unknown
"Angelus'' to summon them to mourn
ing, while they prayed for faith in God,
hope in his mercy, and strength to
bear their pain, or fer new armor to
guard their hearts from the hurts of
the weary days, of the joyless weeks. of
1he tedious months of the war
For four long years that army was
the sword and shield of the republic
for four long years it held in its grasp
not only the destiny of the land, but
the fate of liberty and good government
throughout the globe. 1t was an army
which knew no law but loyalty, no
thought but obedience. It served under
as many commanders as it fought cam
paigns; yet it marched as cheerfully
and fought as Loyalty under the new
commander as under the old. 1t was
an army that fought over more miles OF
ground than most armies had ever
marched over. 1t was an army baptized
in blood, consecrated in tears, hallowed
in prayers; an army whose memory
will remain green in the hearts of a
grateful people as long as manly courage
is admired and heroic deeds annaled.
A celebrated English statesman said,
mo war ever left country where il
found it This Is emminently SO of
our war. 1t found slavery, it left free
dom; it found treason, it left loyalty
it found the leprosy OF secession, il
left redeemed, regenerated, reiuve-
+ mated icountry; it found the name of
. american citizen confusion and a
, by-word, it left the name 'Americln
citizen the proudeSt boast a man can
i carry through the world.
5 Here on this peerless Continent where
f the Master hand has worked its mar
f yelonS schemes Of beauty and heneti-
} eence whose ample latitude holds the
sun of well-nigh all the elimeS. and
-, offers to the world OF man the scene
] al. .,,r, +I. F.,l o,,l go, ~.