Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-03

resulted in the sinking Of the Maine
And ] would caution you to let no ac
! Of yours cause spot or blemish to MAJ
the beauty Of this emblem Of freedom
| Capt. Shurteleh for Co. IL, responded
in a few words Of thanks, giving thu
flag to the charge of Corporal Aucha
who finally carried the flag to Augusta
| McCone, the Journal representative, al
OK -onicio Of the National Guard. wha
addresses the company as follows:
Capt. Shurteleff, Officers ana Members
| Of Co. H.:
| ] am glad of the opportunity to speal;
to you, on the eve Of your going 10 Au-
| gusta, to depart thence perhaps, to the
| front, for the field of action, in the ser
vice Of your country. ] cannot think
Of any particular point upon which t.
address you. This is a time for action,
words are only useless, unless they bs
be those that you are TO obey. II
speaking to you of what you are to Dc
and of where you are to 90 | would say
that you are to 60 to The front and t.
state of things in the island Of Cuba
For years we have bcheld the sad
spectacle of old age and infancy fee
ing hand in hand before the ruthless
invaders Of Cuban homes; we have
seen the heavens grow black with the
smoke ascending from Southern home:
now lain in ashes; we have noted tht
fearful havoc created by a siren anc
relentless war; we have heard the erie.
Of the wounded, nournfully terrific
swelling up from the field Of blood. i'm
plering our aid: we have listened to th
heart rendering means of our own citi
zcnS, butcheFed in cold blood by thu
Spanish ficnd and coward. who shoot.
best when his victim is bound and help
less: our hearts have been torn and ou
whole nature TRANSPORTED by that hell
ish crime Of the century, the destruc-
ton of the battleship Maine.
We have looked upon gaunt starva
ton we have bacn told If the rayaee
Of pestilence: W. have known that tn
hiack-hearted feelinaless soldier
butcher, 4 counterpart III whom is no
contained in hen itself. has destroyed
virtue. Knocked at honor. violated chast
wrought An this W. have seen an,
more, we have allowed il to continu,
until finally an patience ceased. al
virtue al principle marty lost, anc
civilization ahriekcd for an end t. it all
You rcpr resent I'd" highest STANDARD
~ civilization ana you represent III
United States. As We have been rich
M NE wars Of the past, We viii ~ right
In this one. God has always heen viii
thu American people upon the field q
battle Mono surely can doubt tina
tn" spirit III Almighty God moved Oh
the dark waters Of the Rcvolutionars
struggle IN that His Divine will was il
that sublime destiny which brough
out Of the darkest night Of oppression
III" brightest star Of empire, a natioi
free in every sense of the word. cuba
fair, crushed and bleeding Cuba. ma,
have come 70 believe that the Almighty
had deserted her hut ii is not SO. for il
this display of martial force We st,
TIM working If the Divine viii Of God
and il proves that when Ills children
are striving for the right and for pro
grcss. He never turns away the light OF
His counteneuce.
riot, Gomez. standing on the north
shore Of the afflicted island with the
singled starred banner of Cuba Iibr,
in the one hand while with the other 1t
points to the struggling little band at
patriots. antagonizing fearful odds.
see look Of determination upon that
grim face. He has looked 50 long anG
he has had no help. But l look away
10 the north, across the Straits OF
Florida. ana / seem to see a cloud ap-
preaching. 1t comes nearer and ii
seems to take the form of q giant man.
and soon. on the south shore of Florida
this man. for it is a man, and it is youl
"Uncle Sam" stands He raises his
hand trumpet fashion and | hear the
words that he shouts to the waiting
warrior. Hold the fort for I am com
ing" And Gomez hears and his heart
is made glad
Boys in sending YOU to the field. we
send YOU there with our hearts filled
With fear and trembling: we know
something of the dangers that YOU will
pass through. but reu4ember that we a
home are hoping and praying for you
will come to us daily. We expect you
success; that we are Watching YOU
through the medium of the reports that
10 fight and to fight to win. And now
in bidding you goodbye, and God speed
we give You the slogan. written in the
signal flags of the gallant Comodort
Schley. Remember the Name Let
the inspiring strains of the "Stu
Spangled Banner" and of Dixie" a
combination that no number of ma
tons can rend assunder. inspire your
souls and quicken your footsteps
through the island. for the sake OF
"Cuhle Iihre," for the honor of your
native land, for humanity and for God.
God he With YOU till we meet again"
The mon cheer and the crowd cheers.
The parade is forming. The time is
come for the boys to say their last fare
wells, the silent pressure of the hand.
the parting kiss and the soft goodbye.
They step proudly into line and the
| command Right forward, twos right
is given and then
Q, how beautiful their faces
AS they left their fire sides
And went drifting from our kisses