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


a cur who is beating a helpless child.
The child is Cuba. We are AT war with
Spain for the same reason that the
community is at war with brute who
persists in maltreating his family and
disturbing the peace. We have not de-
clarcd war with Spain. We have or
dered her to quit the scene of her long
continued misgoVernment and hidcous
failure.
She refused to quit and 50 there Is
war. Her career In Cuban has resulted
in condition utterly abhorrent to
humanity She has failed To afford
protection for peaceful industry. which
is the first function Of government.
She has failed even to maintain condi-
tionS toIerahle for human life This.
therefore, is no war for increasing the
business of the railways or raising the
price Of commodities; neither is il war
OF acquisition or even revenge. 1t is
war rather of rescue and deliyerance;
deliverance not merely Of the starving
reconcentrados but Of cuba itself
| repeat | am proud 70 IT, an Amcri-
can. | am proud to 10 the fellow citi-
zen and neighbor Of these men. | de
NbhliS itot' tIlf'lI UAlSFIilSli EtdllltNtSit
will be utterly disappointed. deYout-
ly hope that before any Of them reaches
the seat of war these distressing dis
orders will have been set at rest. But
should it he that they must face the
enemy. may they and their comrades
50 carry themselves that the Spaniard
may swiftly and distinctly realize the
truth of General Sherman's definition
Of war.
Fellow citizens We bid you God
speed. May your absence be brief Re
member that whatever may be said as
to the time and the form Of this war
motive and purpose are born Of God.
Through this struggle humanity will
surely advance a long stride. War may
be hell and. please God, ii shall soon
utterly disappear from the face Of the
earth but so long as nation f. found
that presistently sets itself against God
and man there will be war and the
right will win.
You are responding to call unpre-
cedented in history. There never was
a situation like 1t. Truly said one of
our journals the other day: The United
States is setting forth for Cuba with
a loaf Of bread on the end Of its bayo-
net. Its warships are loaded with houl
and shot. Its banners have been pre-
coded by the Red Cross flag and will he
followed by school books and Bibles
God be with those who go. If more
are needed there are more to follow.
Music by the band. playing of the old
song Marching Through Georgia fol-
lowed, and then Gen. J. 5 Bangs, Vet
eran Of the War If lhc Rebellion was
introduced and he said:
Comrades. Fellow Citizens:
We have Joined in these ceremonies
to show our appreciation Of the patrio-
tism OF our boys in blue" who are the
first among lis to volunteer in defence
of our national honor, They go away
from us full Of youthful ardor. full O.
courage, and of hope. We are here to
encourage them by our presence. to bid
them God-speed. and wish them safe
return.
Comrades of Company II, you have |
the honor Of being the first to repre- |
sent your own city and home in the |
war Of 1898. / congratulate you, for |
myself, for my fellow citizens. and the |
old soldiers whom | represent; each of |
whom was n unite in some one Of the |
y Itot ~ ilIltH vi tiit it.iubilC llidl SdN tt |
it from dis-union and saved our flag |
from dishonOr
respect your courage and your pat |
riotism, You are trying both more than |
you know. For q soldiers service is |
one of hardship and prIvatlon, of self
denial and self-sacrilice. 1t has it's |
compensations in the satisfaction of |
duty faithfully done and in the COM
radeships Which you will form; ties ce-
mented by common trials and dangers |
that will outlast your lives.
You will carry with you each his |
shield without device, like knights of |
old, and must win each his own en-
blazonry for It. Remember that the
SureSt way to achieve distinction is to
deserve ii,
Thank God | have lived to see this
day. not to rejoice that We are once
more at war. but that ] may see this
generation stand where we stood 81
years ago, when the cali ito arms was
sounded-a people that love liberty
better than ease and their country and
flag better than life
An April morning, SO years ago, we
buried the blood red flag of war. The
w Hllt nag u truce Indt came over the
hills Of AppomattoX meant victory; it
meant peace; 1t meant home. 1t meant
reunited nation 1t meant that upon
the awful arena where giants had
struggled for four long years, the
Stars and Bars of the Confederate flag
had done down on secessions day of
dispair. Our flag was unsullied Ameri-
cans will keep it So No star I'M
dimmed. No stripe erased. 1t makes
glad free air-landing it's light and
its sheltering folds to blue and gray
alike: the protector of liberty and
union, the guardian of beneficent law!
Today over Cuban waters that glori-
Gus trinity of colors floats for human
ity and under its starry folds the
starving and homeless will find food
and shelter. while we are prpparinp IN