The Portland daily press., 1899-01-05

drew no idle pictures, for the national
guard of this state was found ready and
anxious to offer thsir services ut the out
break Of the war with Spain. 1.-THE
courage and bravery Of those men who
offered their lives Mt their country's
call. but saw no service" said Mr.. Laugh
lin, sis as true and bright as was the
courage Of those who fought at Ell Caney
and San Jaan Those who lost their
lives In the hospitals at Chickamauga
were no less heroes than were those
men who died by Spanish bullets In
tropical cline. They differed in their
opportunities. but not in courage" !:
Mr. Laughlin's remarks were frequent
ly interrupted with applause. and at the
close of his eloquent speech he was given
an ovation.
The POSTMASTER then read a letter of
regret from Col Q. q. Morton, U. s.
A., and then introduced Mayor Randall,
the first speaker, as the man who had
done so much for the soldier boys, ana
who was ready and willing to do u great
deal more Mayor Randall was cheered
most enthusiastically when he rose to
speak.
Mayor Randall grew reminiscent In his
remarks and told of the old High School
Cadets of 1859, organized by the boys Of
the old High School on Spring street,
during the war lie told of how this
command, In which he ranked as orderly
sergeant, escorted the heroes OF '6i-'65 on
their way to and from the front. Especi-
ally he remembered the return home OF
the 18th Maine regiment after the battle
of Antietam and the enthusiasm which
attended their march through Portland.
He spoke OF the 18th Maine regiment,
which went to the front under the COM
mand of Col. 4. A. Roberts, with young
lieutenant just ont of COLLEGE, in the
ranks, aud OF the return OF that regiment
a few years later with this same young
lieutenant riding at the head of the regi
ment as its colonel, with brevet rank of
brigadier general for bravery. This
man, of whom l speak, WAS Gen. 9. +.
Matt ocks. (Great appl ause.)
"a few months ago had the honor
of bidding him adieu when he went TO
the war again. this time as the only gen.
eral officer to be appointed from the state
of Maine. He has, believe, the unique
honor of being the only man who served
as general officer In two wars In this
state. (Applause.)
| The Mayor closed his remarks by hap
Ply reference to the pride the city takes
in the Portland Cadets, among whose
members, past and present, are many of
Portland's most influential and respect
cd men HE was cheered heartily at the
conclusion of his remarks
When Gen. G. y. Mattoeks was intro
duoed there was more cheering and more
applause. He too became reminiscent to
degree. and told OF the organization of
the Cadets in 1870, with Lieut.. Trott Ms
their first drill master. He spoke of the
time when the Cadets defeated the Port
land Light Infantry, which he then COM
manded, In prize drill and his allusion
to this affair caused no little merriment
Then Gen. Mattoeks spoke of the yolun-
teers, saying that ne believe thinking
men. with good positions at home, made
| by far the best soldiers. Many men who
entered the service for the Spanish war
didn't realize what was before them. They
suffered much, but bore their sufYerings
like heroes. de said the most important
duties of soldier seemed TO be the hardest
10 acquire, viz. that of taking care of
themselves. 1t was hard 10 teach the
volunteers TO care for themselves at
Chickamauga. 1t was mistake to place
that camp at Chicknmauga In the first
place, but had the First Maine been al.
lowed to remain there few months
longer and gone into Alabama they would
have been better of. But the First Maine
was never heard TO complain and with
death staring them in the face they never
asked TO be sent home or made any COM
plant. One of the best results OF the
war In the opinion OF Gen. Mattocks was
the good feeling IL engendered between
the north and south. Gen. Mattocks in
closing paid glowing tribute TO Mayor
Randall
Hon. William Ii. Looney made a
charac teristically witty speech. After re-
ferring to ths old days of the Cadets, MIR.
Looney said that he thought the fighting
in the future would nearly all be done by
the regulars, who were trained to light.
he thought that the national guard was
most important and should DO III ost
ificiently Differed and equipped. The
military spirit should be encouraged in
this country because while we are not a
military nation we must at all Ntimes be
ready for war.
Captain j. II. Dow read a paper on the
Cadets and his illusions TO Captain Neal
Winslow, the lest captain the Cadets ever
had, and to thei other past captains and !
members of the Cadets were most happily /
received and created no end of laughter |
Major Charles Collins was given a
warm welcome when he ross to speak. lie
tonk exceptions to what Mr., Looney had
aid about the fighting In the future be-
ing done by regulars. and thought that
-. ixxtuv hav hai