Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-05-31

AprRoPRIArE OBSERVANCE OF TIKI
DAY By WV. X. KIMBALL POST.

n RCN4h3A NhtCAO6t ottaNtsV5 ~ tss
observance OF Memorial Day this zeal
There are this year more graves to b
decorated; two hundred and sixty vic
tins of the Maine disaster are to be n
membered; and 4 very few heroes o
the present war are added to the list
How long that list may be by anothe
Memorial Day, God only knows. Will
there are none Of the victims Of the pres
ent war that claim special remembrance
from rs Of Oxford County-and ma,
there never be-yet the war cloud whicl
hangs over Us can not but add, here q
everywhere else In our country, q pc
culiar interest to the ceremonies Of tn
dsy.
The day was observed by Vim. X
kimball Post at South Paris much In tn
usual manner. The procession wa
formed In the square Monday afternoon
and at precisely hslf-past one stsrte'
for Riverside Cemetery. The Norwa,
Band led, and following were VIM. X
Klmball Post and Relief Corps, escorte,
by A. o. Noyes Co., Uniform Rank, X
Of p.
At the cemetery an appropriate selec
ton was sung by Messrs. Sessions, How,
and Briggs, and PRAYER was offered BY
Rev. |. A. Bean, following which tn,
graves OF eighteen veterans Of the civi
war and three Of the war Of 1912 wer,
decorated by detail of the post.
From the cemetery the line Of march
was taken to Moore Park, past tn,
soldiers monument, and then TO New
Hall for the exercises Of the afternoon
The hall was appropriately decorated
for the occasion with flags and bunting
portraits Of Lincoln, Grant and Nc
kinley, a tent, guns, and other equip
ments.
The assembly was called to order by
Capt. II. y. Bolster, who spoke briefly
He referred to the fact that our Maine
volunteers were then on their way TO thu
South, and contrasted the reception
which they would meet there with
the reception met there by the
Union soldiers In the years 81 TO '65
spoke In congratu!story terms Of the re-
union OF our country which Is being
cemented by the present conflict; and
referred briefly to the peculiar feature:
Of the days celebration.
Prayer was offered by Rev. X. j
Haughton, and n short programme OF
exercises WAS given, comprising q num-
Der Of appropriate selections by &
quartette consisting OF Messrs. Sessions,
Howe, Gerrish and Briggs, fine read.
ings by Miss Grace Stuart, Miss Alice
Garland aud Miss Ollie Stuart, and three
songs by a chorus Of children. These
some over forty In number,
had been under Miss Lesch's training, In
for this occasion, for some
weeks, and their singing was one OF the
most pleasing features OF the program.
They did credid TO themselves and their
and were heartily applauded.
The speaker OF the day, Rev. b. 5.
Rideout Of Norway, WAS then intro
duced by Capt. Bolster. Mr.. Rideout
spoke about fifty minutes, holding the
close attention OF the audience which
filled the hall to over flowing. We have
space for only brief abstract Of his ex-
cellent address.
The speaker began with some refer
ence 10 the beauty and significance Of
Memorial Day.
Victory or Westminster Abbey"
cried Lord Nelson as he donned his jew-
elled decorations with the words, "1n
honor | won them, In honor | will die
with them" and went to victory and to
death Mt the battle Of Trafalgar. But TO
the plain undecorated actor In that same
battle was only the cold phrase, England
expects every man 10 do his duty"
France craved the ashes OF the first
Napoleon and with mighty pomp" laid
them to rest beneath the msgniticen,
Dome des InvAlides In the heart OF her
beautiful capital. But where Is West
minister Abbey or the Dome des Invalides
for the private soldier who fought under
the red cross Of England or the lilies OF
France:
Under the mounds which We decorate
with the flag OF our country and the
flowers Of spring sleep as true and rs
great heroes as any who ever wore the
badge OF the Legion OF Honor, or had
placed upon their breasts by empress
hand the Victoria cross.
The speaker then gave a graphic per
picture OF the opening OF the great civil
strife. No one not living at the time
Fort Sumpter Was fired upon can have
much idea OF the effect Of the appalling
news on the people OF the North. State:
began 10 secede from the Union. Com
municstiou WAS cut off north Of Wash
ington. For time the capital Was In
gloomy silence. Bridges north OF Bslti'
more were burned, telegraph lines were
cut. Troops were called for, and the
whole nation was In the throes OF ar
awful war.
Then came the scenes Of parting a
fathers, husbands, and brothers hurried
away TO the front. Bull Run was fought
and heavy gloom settled down upoI
the North. Those were times which
tried the hearts of the stoutest men
With u mighty patriotism the men OF thu
North rose mp TO resist disunion. Fol
four long years the awful tide OF wal
rolled on.
Jan. /, 1853, Abraham Lincoln ISSUED
his immortal Emancipation Proclsms
ton. The shsckles fell clsnking to thu
earth from 1000, 600 human beings. Tit
sound echoes around the earth. This
Was indeed the LAND OF the free and
the home Of the brave" The awful
tide of war rolled on but Appomstto,
was at last reached.
The speaker next gave somewhat
extended account Of the beneficial results
of the war 10 the South. Her naturs
resources have been marvelously de
yeloped. Her mineral resources, by thu
aid Of capital and railroads have beer
msryelously developed. Her soil ma
been cultivated. Her forests have beer
made to yield their rich gifts TO tn
country. Cotton raising has added to tn
wealth Of the country more than S9,Ooo,
OOO. 600. The coal and iron output hal
sstonished the world. Manufacturing
has gone that way. Better than all, tn
thrice sccursed institution OF slavery ha
been wiped out. The coiored peopi
have accumulated $500, 0OO,OO OF tax
able property since the war. Hundred
of thousands Of children and youths hav
been educated and Christianized.
North and South have been foreve
united. This present war has orough
out the mighty fact that we are one ant
indivisible. There Is nothing like 1t i
the history of the world. IL looks nov
like q great Anglo-Sax0n Union whic
would hold the balance of the power
the earth. The glorious results OF thes
two wars has enabled the United State
and Eugland to accomplish this.
wherever the stars and stripes ar
planted there must be freedom, the en-
ioyment of civil and religious right;
Justice, education, peace, prosperity, JOY
The close was cursory review OF Ia
duties which we face as American cit
zens, not only to remember our herol
dead, but to preserve our institutions 10
all coming time.
The meeting closed with the singing
two verses of America by the audient
and the benediction.