Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-05-31

a'"eu from its long sleep tn,
ne't't OF Nature Is throbbing with !,
new ne. The birds have come bac.
" 'he'r nests. the orchards have burs,
mo qua and blossom. and the hin,
nave thrown over their shoulders thai,
60 OF emerald. Again has been full.
,,iiea the covenant, Il will make al,
things new" al
season Tor thoughtfulness. fit sea
, son 'o' grateful hearts. for the reviv,
VI s'creo memories and a repledyinp NJ
The VOWS Of patriotism.
we catch the inspiration wo taor IN.
call: and putting aside carkinr care
checking the restless ambition fn,.
getting the ills that so easily beset ne
we pause TO pay the tribute of respec,
70 the heroic living. our reverence &c
the memory Of our martyred dead
an" JON. IN glad acclaim. at the
triumph OF the principle for which thcy
MADE the last great sacrifice.
- wondrous spectacle. A sovereign
people on its knees! A republic crown.
ing its defenders! Flags and flowers
smiles and tears, gloria and requiem
And why?
you young men and women. can Won
tel me why? Yes: but to you It's a
rear from history. You stricken faith
ers ana mothers. can you tell me why?
Yes; because you shared in the
sacrifice. You uc-coated heroes can
you tell me why? Yes: because twas
your blessed privilege to be the chosen
instruments of Almighty God, in the
perfecting of his divine plan.
L need NOT manfinn
not instance specific acts Of gallantry
whether you were called to serve
where shot and shell were thickest. or
only to stand and wait, you did your
duty nobly; You We're heroes, every
one.
Nor need | detail the story: it comes
to YOU with a freshness like that of the
sprinStime. You remember how, under
the leadership Of that simple. patient
Man of God" men hcralded through
out this northland the edict Of the
Almighty. TIL every heart was aflama
with patriotism and every hilltop
alight with the fires of freedom.
And then the clash of arms-the hell
of war: bivouac and battle: hospital
and nrison-pen; taps and farewell,
.. the struggle. Q. the sacrifice, o,
the glory.
Manhood redeemed-iustice en-
throned-God triumphant,
War for ACKNOWLEDGMENT? No.
War for conquest? No.
War for principle? Yes: for the alb
solute self-sovereignty of the human
soul: for the unquestioned right of
every child of God-within the limits
n a ~
ulate his conduct III accordance with
the dictates of his own conscience and
the light given him by his Creator
All the world watched. all the world
waited. all the world wondered.
1t was the supreme test of the self
redemptiVe power of human govern
ment: and its triumphant conclusion
sceptered the hand of this Young Giant
of the West, and starred his kingly
crown with glory.
1t would indeed seem strange, If in
this transformation. no errors We're
made: but if made. and at the worst.
they were errors Of the head and not of
the heart. II may be. as is claimed
that because of the fever of victory.
we failed to discover that. from a
practical standpoint the establish
ment of principle did not necessarily
mean its immediate and full applica-
ton. 1t may be, as is claimed that
those men. whose minds. as we'll as
hands. had been shackled from their
birth, We're not capable of fully enjoy
ing and rightfully exercising their
found power. But if any part of
the body polite has suffered. because
Of the policies then adopted, it is the
natural opera ton of the inflexibe law
of recompense: it is the inevitable
ack-swing from years of oppression;
an oppression which so stirred mems
minds and hearts that they could be
satisfied with nothing less than the
sweeping application of an abstract
principle. No halfway policy. no
scheme Of half manhood. could ever
have aroused and united this people.
The ideal was necessity; its decree
unalterable. Unalterable? Yes. for
twas writ in the blood of martyrs;
the hand that penned it was the hand
of God.
/ do not consider it necessary to dis
ouSs this question. a little time. lit
tie forebearance, a little faith. and all
will be we'll We shall discover that
education is better than notification;
that the schoolhouse is better than the
pibbet: that the Golden Rule is better
than Mosaic law; that Booker Wash
ington is greater than Judge Lynch;
that the work which we did, at the cost
of rivers of blood and heaps of treas
ure. bears the imprint of divinity.
NV veteran friends what you and
your companions did for the world no
man can measure '-Storied urn and
animated bust" cannot compass its
greatness. Statutes cannot determine
yo,r reward. God only has provided
the recompense; and that is the con-
seriousness of duty done. This mighty
and united people-strong and pros
perous at home and respected abroad
is your best memorial.
Terrible as were the measures which
yo,, adopted. they We're fully justified
| in their results. War is sacrifice; wal
is suffering; war is hell: but it is
also progress The wars of history
mark the up-steps of humanity! They
have been the grOanS and travail cries
that have told of the birth of new
greatness and a new glory!
The American civil war was no eX-
! ceptjon. We became greater than they
who taketh cities; because we had
ruled our own spirit; We had con-
o,ered ourselves; our voice had been
! heard round the world.
! have heard it said that these cele-