Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-08-12
A Monument to Kew.

granite pedestal was unveiled over his
grave where
The clustered spires of Frederick stand
Green walled by the hills of Maryland
From the time of Keys death, more
than half century ago, until two
years ago, Congress was deluged With
petitions for an appropriation for
monument to the author of our great
national anthem, but to all the petit
tions our national Legislature turned
deaf ears. In 1895, a few patriotic
women and men contributed $4,000.
and commissioned Mr.. Alexander Doyle
to design and erect the monument
which was unveiled this week. The
pose of the statue represents Francis
Scott Key, standing upright and gaz-
ing toward Fort McHenry, where
Colonel Armistead kept the flag flying
throughout the long night when 1000
bombs We're rained upon the fort by
the British squadron.
The original Star Spangled Banner
which waved in glory over Fort Me
Henry on that memorable September
IA, 1914, was draped upon the statue on
Tuesday. 1t is in an excellent state If
preservation, and is the property of
Mr. Edward Appleton, of Yonkers, N.
Y, whose mother, nee Georsiana
Armistead, was the daughter of the
gallant veteran of the War of the
Revolution, who commanded Fort Nc
Henry during the bomhardment. She
was born in a easement of the fort.
just as the dawn's early light revealed
to the bafiled British and to Francis
Scott Key in his happiness that the
flag was still there The remains Of
Francis Scott Key rest within few
yards of the grave of Barbara
Freitchie, who on the day when Leo
and Jackson marched through Fred
erick, waved Il Star Spangled Banner
in defiance over their heads and who.
when a squad of young Confederates
fired at the flag, said:
''Shoot if you must this old grey head.
But spare your country's flag" she said.
The unveiling of the statue was a
grand affair with elaborate and i'm
posing ceremonies. The orator of tho
day was Colonel Henry Watterson,
a1itpr of I
nal, a gallant eX-Confederate, who now
has three sons wearing the blue uni
form under the glorious Star Spangled
Banner Of reunited Union. His
Grafton was a scholarly and eloquent
effort worthy of preservation. In con-
Guiding Colonel Watterson spoke Is
follows:
Since the 'Star-Spangled Banner
was written nearly century has come
and gone. The drums and tramplings
of more than half its years have
passed over the grave of Francis Scott
Key. Here, at last, he rests forever.
Here, at last, his tomb is fifty made
| When his eyes closed upon the scenes
of this life their last gaze beheld the
ensign of the republic, 'full-high ad-
vanced, it's arms and trophies stream
ing in their original luster, not a stripe
erased or polluted nor a single star
obscured.
IF, happily, they We're spared the
spectacle of a severed Union, and a
land rent by civil feud and drenched in
fraternal blood it may be that some
where beyond the stars his gentle
spirit now looks down upon a nation
awakened from its sleep of death and
restored to its greater and its better
self, and known and honored as never
before throughout the world While
Key lived there was but single para
mount issue, about which all other
issues circled the Constitution and the
Union. The problems of the Constitu-
ton and the Union solved. the past
secure, turn we to the future; ne
longer a huddle of petty sovereigntie;
held together by rope of sand; No
longer Il body of mercenary shop
keepers worshipping rather the brand
upon the dollar than the eagle on tn,
shield; no longer a brood of provincial
| laggards hanging with bated hreatE
upon the movements of mankind
afraid to trust themselves away from
! home, or to put their principles to the
test of progress and of arms; but
! nation, and a leader of nations;
world power which burst face i'm
; perialism upon its own ground with re-
publicanism, and with it dispute tn,
future of civilization.
1T is the will of Cod let not man
a, galnsay. Let not man gainsay unit
the word of God has been carried t,
the furthermost ends of the earth; no
until freedom is the heritage of all Hi
s creatures; not until the blessing
il which He has given us are shared b.
= His people in all lands; not until Lati,
g RIGHTEOUSNESS, fostered by moder
/. wealth and culture and art, has bee,