Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-12-27
IN DAYS OF OlD
WHEN HEARTS WERE BOLD :,

IL is said that one Of the interesting
relics Of the war In the possession OF
Adiutsnt General Richards, Is file Of
letters he Is keeping, and IL likely To
keep. They are q good deal more In
terestipg even, than the historic flag
Of the Signal Corps. They were writ
ten when people felt timid, or at least
when some Of them did, and when the
residents OF every seaport town ex-
pected the arrival Of u spanish msn-of-
war. General Richards Was begged and
implored not 20 neglect the defense Of
little places he had hardly heard OF be-
fore. They wanted forts, men, artillery
and mines. And then how they protest.
ed against sending the lst Maine from
the state. Couldn't General Richards
see that II was simply suicidal to de-
prive the state Of its brave defenders
He couldn't, and he didn't, but went
right on Just as IL no letters had been
written by anybody asking for help.
Possibly the writer's Of some OF the letters
would gladly withdraw now II they
could. but General Richards has them
all, and there may be smile on his lips
when he glSnces from that file Of letters,
10 the "wis-~sg" flag that told to the
admiral Of the fleet that the war was
over on the land. The comical thing
about the letters, was the fact that every
man seemed 20 think that his special
little place would be the very, very first
to be pounced on by the Spsniards, and
the exact spot General Richards ought
TO fortify. Very likely some OF the toe
timid souls wish now that they hadn't
volunteered advice 20 the general. IL
those letters only could be published
they would make interesting reading. IL
this counectiouit may De said that Man OF
Randall Of Portland, when asked why
don't YOU appoint a committee OF public
safety replied blsnkly, Because
don't happen to be fool"
NO PENSIONS FOR coNseDERATeS
Bills 20 pension ex-Copfederste sol
diers and the dependent relatives Of such
deceased soldiers have already been In
PRODUCED in both houses of Congress
This Is going too far in response 10 Pres
ident Mckinley's suggestion that tn,
North share with the south in the car,
OF the graves of Confederate soldiers. TC
use slsngy but expires language, IL Ii
crowding the mourners. To help care fo'
Confederate military cemeteries and have
Joint annual memorial service would be q
pretty act Of sentiment expressive Of the
fact that the sectional hstchet Is buried
the bloody chssm closed and the country
reunited; but 10 tax the nation for ths
support of living men who fought 10 de-
stroy the Union is out OF the question,
during this generation at least. The part
Of the country that stood BY the Union
and that sealed its LOYALTY with It's blood
will not consent 20 proposition thst il
considers unjust. in bad tssts, dangerous
aud Unconstitutional. The pension hill
already calls for yearly expenditure o.
sl45, 000. 600. To admit the Confederate.
would threaten TO bankrupt the treasury
Furthermore, by the 18th amendment OF
the constitution il il provided that
"neiiher the United States nor any State
shall assume or pay any debt or obligs-
ton incurred In aid of Instruction or
rebellion against the United States,
but all such debts, obligations and claims
shall be held Illegal and void" In letter
this may not apply directly 10 the case
OF Confederate pensions, but in spirit IL
forbids the assumption Of any such
moral obligation Is the payment Of pen
sions 10 those who aided rebellion sgsins,
the United States. The country Is will
ing TO let bygones be bygones, bat line
must be drawn somewhere. The intro
duction Of these bills is ill-timed and ip
bad taste.-Portlsnd Advertiser.
COST OF TRAvEIINC ON BAD ROADS