The Portland daily press., 1897-05-31

addresses of Mr.. Reynolds and Gen. Mat
tocks and Miss Dyer's poem follow:
PRESIDENT REYNOLDS,
How The Monument Was Erected and Its
Meaning.
After giving brief history of the I'M
dertaking Mr.. Reynolds said:
But the burden of the undertaking is
now past; the most of the labor is over;
What we have struggled for since 1891. is
ours today. This occasion emphasizes
that fact.
L will make a confession of something
OF pride in this event. 1t seems to be one
OF the epoch making periods of our town,
VI character unusual in her history,
all her citizens.
Inc record which our soldiers and sailors
mace IN that terrible civil war is written
III III the annals of that time. 1t has long
since been sung in song and told in story !;
yea more, it is stamped forever in the
hearts OF men. 1t is the old story of hard
snips, prlvations and sufferings, at which
13oay we marvel; the story Of lost liyes,
OF ruined health, of sorrow and despair,
but never of failure. Even personal loss,
was universal gain, even from the
Illumination OF defeat was wrought 8out
uncnallenged victory; even death itsslf
brought life Immortal. We say: Z Wi
"They never fail who die
In a great cause the block may soak
their gore,
Their heads may sodden in the sun; their
Be strung to City gates or Castle walls,
But still their spirit walks abroad.
Though years
Elapse, and others share as dark doom,
They but augment the deep and sweeping
thoughts,
Which overspread all others, and conduct
The world at last to freedom. -
1t is with loyal hearts that we meet here
today, to evidence our appreciation ofEthe
life and character of those, who. in the
time of the country's need, risked life
that this country might live.
1t is true that nothing can be said or
done which will add to or detraet from;
ACCOMPLISHMENTS . of 5 Cape, Elizabeth
sons in the time of our nations peril, in
the time OF her great trial, of which it
can be said ~
How old recollections come,
At the beating of the drum,
Of the battles mad fantasia, the throb-
bling and the hum
VI the rifles rataplan
In the forefront of the van, az
Where the drumstick was a bullet and
the parchment was man.
1t was not my privilege to be a partici-
pant in the struggles of the great conflict,
which resulted in the overthrow of slavery,
In the unification of our nation 1t was
not my privilege to understand even that
there was struggle which was trying
out the hearts of men, which was threat
enlng the stability of our National Gov
eminent. To those of my age it is not
q a 6poo ic niI. Ivy a,,I \
~ history, a tradition. But from his
tory and tradition we have learned with
reverent thought the story of the sacrifices
OF those who became the guardians of the
life and great interests of this Republic,
and in guarding those interests, lost their
lives, or living suffered more than death.
These sacrifices are the wonder of men,
They have brought in their train, through
many years, meaSureless burden of
grief to women and children, but they
have won for those making them, the
enduring gratitude of people, who de-
clare themselves free and independent and
whose appreciation we value above all
things else. 1t is not for mexto repeat the
history of those days, of those stirring
events, or to search out their lessons for
you. We have one here to do that, one
who has known all of the hardships of
camp life, of the forced march, of the
road to the prison pen, which proved to
be the path to glory, whose body was the
sought for resting lacep of bullet and,
shell. The eyes which in time of war
gazed upon stricken comrades upon o. the
field of battle, witness today the honor
which we pay to the memory of those
comrades of his; the voice which com
manded to duty and perhaps to death,
today, in time of peace, will tell you in
its own eloquent way, the history of those
days of wars alarms.
But tell it as he may, embellish it as
perchance he will, awaken your enthusi-
asm as he must, it will still be but the
story of noble life.
OF our appreciation of such life we
have tried to put some evidence in en-
during form. Upon South Portland soil,
but loving tribute shared by Cape Eliza
beth as well, we have placed a plain
monument, simply inscribed, but because
simply. fittingly we believe.
And here upon spot, the most fitting
in our town, a place { beautiful for situa-
tion," it stands as silent yet eloquent
teacher of the true worth of patriotism to
the children of men.