The Portland daily press., 1899-05-31
Eloquent Grafton by Gen. G. P.
MattOtks.
Music by Two Hundred
Children.
The Opening Address of Rev. DIR.
Burrage.

There was not a seat to be had in city
hall last evening when the Memorial Day
exercises occurred Hundreds were unable
to secure seats and great many were
forced to stand The exercises were in
many respects the most Interesting and
impressive of any that have been hel d in
late years. On the stage were seated over
ECO children who sang several patriotic
songs in manner to arouse the enthusi
sam of the vast audience to the highest
pitch.
Besides those who participated in the
exercises of the evening the following
distinguished invited guests were seated
on the platform: Mayor Robinson, Col
whitcomb, British Vice Consul Heating,
Capt John bennett of the revenue cut
ter Woodbury., Lieut.. John Berry of the
Woodbury., Alderman Lam son. Bishop
Nealey, E. p. Chase, Hon. John W.
Deering aud many others.
Rev. DR.. Burrage presided and after the
chorus of children had sung with great
effect America and Old Glory" with 40
compartment ty Chandeliers band and
prayer had been offered by Rev. William
5. Bovard, DIR. Burrage called the gath
esing to order and spoke as follows:
MAJOR BURRAGE'S ADDRESS.
We have come to the closing exercises
IN connection with Memorial Day, 1899.
10 some this thirtieth of May Is only
holiday-a day for sports and far what
ever can minister to physical enjoyment.
On this account, in recent years, not IA
little has been said concerning better
observance of the day, and our legislators
have been asked to enact laws which shall
secure In all of our cities and towns and
villages such an observance of Memorial
Day as is in harmony with Its design.
| need not say that am in entire SYM
pathy with those to whom Memorial Day
is sacred senson. To me as to you, COM
rades and friends 1T is n day hallowed by
the precious memories of the unnumbered
dead of the Civil Wharf.-The fathers and
brothers, the husbands and sons, who
shared in the conflicts of the battle years
| 1851 1866, and now rest in soldier graves.
We remember what they did, and we
hold them in everlasting honor.
And yet we must not forget that the
great struggle in which these bore part
occurred more than a generation ago, and
that to an increasingly larger number of
our fellow citizens no such thronging
memories come as crowd our minds and
stir our hearts. As little can they enter
ITO our feelings as conld We in our hoy
hood enter into the feelings of the veter-
ans of the war Of 1912 who were still
among US, and from whom we were wont
to b sar stories OF the conflict with the
mother country. Let us, therefore, not
be unmindful of the changes which the
revolving years have brought, and instead
of Gliding those whose hearts are not at
tnnad rather
phatio expression TO our gratitude that
after 80 many years Memorial DAY every
where throughout the North finds so
many who recall lovingly the deeds of
our heIo dead, and seek to make the day
sacred TO their memory.
There is a use just now OF Memorial
Day, however, which cannot but depfe-
cate. 1t Ia such use of the day as makes
1t the occasion of criticism Of the atti
tude of the u nited States with referen CO
to the Philippines Whatever view. We
may hold concerning our occupation of
these islands, and there can be no doubt
but that the great body Of our people
give hearty suIp port to the administration
in Its plans and purposes,-l profoundly
regret that any of our countryIpen
should be willing to have n part In an
agitation which can have no other effect
than to cause the Filipinos TO perseyere In
armed resistance to our forces. Not In
that way, / am sure, can we best promote
the cause of peace and righteousness.
Certainly, when my country Is at war,
l will not give aid aud comfort TO her
enemies.
Many of you still remember the pontoon
bridge,a Germanna Ford on the Rapidan
over which so many regiments OF Gen.
Grants army marched on their way to
the Wilderness in May, 1854 One OF the
officers in my own regiment. as he looked
upon The long blue line of veterans of the
Army of the Potomac descending to the
stream, and heard the tramp of feet upon
the bridge on that memorable day, said
he could think OF nothing else but the
words of the old familiar hymn,
Part of the host have crossed the flood,
And part are crossing now"
That narrow stream became to him
that emblematic stream which so many
of our comrades wers soon to cross never
TO return. And row, asswe come to this
Memorial Day, aud recall the comrades
who long ago passed from our sight, and
then in our thoughts call the roll of those
who have left us during the year now
closed, some OF them within the past few
days, With what added significance the
words OF the same old hymn come back
again,
"part of the host have crossed the flood
A nd part are crossing now"
us We know only too we'll. AS the tie of
comradeship, always strong, grows strong
or while our numbers steadily diminish,
let us do as we did in battle days. Then,
though comrades fell at our side on the
right and on the left, the line was never
allowed to remain broken. There WAS
no need even OF the order, "Close up.
Without the word of command, silently
but resolutely, the men moved toward the
oolors until elbows touched, and the
shortened line presented still an unbroken
front.
1t Is SO, am sure, with us here tonight.
As comrades We touch elbows once more
But we have not forgotten those VINO
were. with us in the long ago and are not
with US today. They still live ia oui
thoughts, however, and we have placed
on their grassy graves the fair, fragrant
flowers of this opening ssasen As the best
expression of our affsctionste rsmem-
| branoe.'