Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-06-22

upon his arrival was an auction sale Of
negroes. He stood looking upon the
strange scene for few moments, and
then turning to his companions, he said :
"Boys, II l ever get a chance to hit
that thing, SO help me God I'll hit it
hard"
God gave him the chance, and gave him
the G. A. r. to help him-an army that
physically, intellectually and spiritually
lowered above every army that ever went
into the field-and together they struck
that foul thing, slavery, such blow that
1t has never been heard OF since, and,
thank God, never will be. Righteous in
deed was the cause, honored every one
who fought under the stars and stripes,
for the sacred cause OF freedom and equal
rights for all men.
| Diviney inspired was he, our noble
Gen. Logan, who inaugurated this day to
be kept in precious memorial throughout
all our generations, in which we not only
strew flowers on the graves OF our fallen
comrades, but place there the banner that
they put back into its rightful place and
made it indeed the proud emblem of the
free. By this flag "they being dead yet
speak,. No one can pass a soldiers
grave without knowing that a soldier lies
buried there. 1t tells it's own story of a
| life given in sacred cause, a sacrifice
that is more than gold, frankincense, or
myrrh.
| BLESSINGS OF THE WAR.
Not only should we hold them in re-
membrance, but we should perpetuate
what they purchased at such great cost.
Let me appeal to the sons of the veterans,
to the rising generation, you who are en-
| joying what these men fought for, and
ask hat you hold with deathless clasp
the blessings that are ours to-day-free
schools, free speech, free press, a free
| ballot
| fear that we undervalue them as we
undervalue the price that was paid for
them, for though the war is over and
peace long ago declared, our enemies are
not all dead yet. There are those who do
not love the 'tlittle red school-house on
the hill'', or the free speech we enjoy in
pulpit and on platform Especially if it is
woman, or the free press that has be-
come as the lightning that "shineth I'M
der every part of heaven" showing up
the hypocrisy and vileness Of many an
| iniquitous system. There are those who
would like to say who should vote
among Americas citizens, and deny the
right to those who are not Of their party,
or politics, or opinion.
Why bring such things into such day
as this, do you ask? Because l see two
pictures always before me. The one the
battle fields OF 1776 where little band of
heroes gave their lives for freedom, JUS
tice and education; and on the same can
vas | see battle-tields of '61, scenes OF
blood, carnage, starvation and DEATH and
l realize that these, my brothers, were
| fighting for the same as my forefathers
fought. look at the other picture and |
see the greedy eyes, the narrow selfish
souls OF those who would make our land
the counterpart OF the old World-the few
rule, the many poor grow poorer and
more ignorant, and injustice become the
portion OF the weak end helpless. While
single foe, of whatever name, threatens
the glorious institutions OF my country
|
love OF country within me, and freedom,
equality, and justice We're stamped upon
every drop of blood in my veins.
suppose must have been one of those
to whom Wendell Phillips referred when
he said that "the true American was one
| Who il you cut him in a hundred pieces
and boiled him down, would be all Fourth
of July.
l call upon you who have the power
now, and you who will have it in the
years to come, to hold fast that which has
been twice purchased by blood. Guard
this day against every hand raised to de-
spoil it of its sacredness and deep signiti-
cance-guard our free institutions; our
schools, which are I he foundation stones OF
our government; our freedom to worship
GOO according to the dictates of our own
consciences our flag, the emblem OF
equality and justice guard all these as
you guard your honor and your homes.
OUR WAR WITH SPAIN.
And now let me refer to the present
campaign inaugurated against the Span
| ish power. Who could have foreseen that
in less than two score years from the time
that peace WAS declared, we should be in
the midst of another war? Even now it
is hard to realize. Does it not seem to
you, who were soldiers in the war OF 81,
that you are reviewing your own expert
ences? How the scenes of your own
struggle must rise before you as you read
the news from the front, the regiments
marching to the south, the battles foug hit
| by sea and land!
This, too, is righteous cause. The
voice was the voice of God when it said,
concerning butchery, starvation and tor
ture that characterized the war on Cuba S
soil, this has become uncomfortable it
must cease! The destruction of the
"Maine', the murder of more than 26O of
our citizens, was a tragedy that shocked