Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-02-15

."e noiee WAIVER ana the eye moisten,
but the fellowship is sweet-everything
is transmitted to joy.
The war OF the Rebellion was fought
py young men. How well do | remem-
| Der the appearance OF the soldiers az
they lined up in battle array Who COM
posed the armies? The American has M
peer In those ranks during the wildor-
ness campaign were the. future Presi
dents, Rutherford B. Hayes and orr Ia
! mented martyr, William MCKINLEY ,an-
plause). Each man was an indeperdent
I free-thinking man. He fought not for A
king They were the men who have filled
every office of trust and filled them with
credit. Today, we can truly say that
there is no North, no South. no East, no
West. We are one people, following one
flag.
I 1T is one of the proudest moments OF
my life that j can see this union Of
thought and purpose. This has been de-
MED to those who fell early in the fight.
But they had the faith Of Abraham ana
i could see the end from the beginning.
You never saw one of them mangIed and
bleeding, who regretted that he had Civ
en- his life, and his sole desire was that
his comrades might carry home to moth
er or wife the tidings that he fell with
his face to the foe.
Il wish the young could understand
what it has cost to make this nation
what it is II does not seem possible that
this country could ever have rent or torn.
What did Maine do for the preserva-
ton of the Union? She gave 31S officers
who died 10 Hell ne hat
gave. 3i4s men who fell dead or mortaliy
wounded in the ranks. Almost $500 lives
did Maine give 1t would take 10 DAYS for
the great army of the Union to pass 4
given point. The land Is beloved with
their graves. And their glory is our heri-
tage, the richest heritage that a nation S
loyal defenders can give 70 their sons
and their sons sons
Through the days of four long wears
the soldiers of the Union army went ont
to do their duty that the country might
live. No wonder their memory is honorei
by you AS the representative Of the
Grand Army of the Republic, | am pleas
ed to notice that they are respected and
loved by the people
Maine has grand record She sent
'2,ooo men into the field and no regiment
IN the cavalry service had a grander rec
ord than the First Maine Cavalry. The
First Heavy Artillery from your State
also had grand record. At the battle
OF Petersburg its loss was twice as great
as that of any other regiment in the war.
And so, likewise. your batteries and your
light infantry regiments made a splendid
showing during the days from 81 to 50.
And Maine, today, maintains the same
characteristics of valor and honor"
He counseled the women of the Relief
Corps to assist in the erection of the Nc
kinley memorial at Canton. "A dollar
from the Grand Army he said, will be
more gladly received than thousand
from any other source. If the Grand Ar
my does not contribute to this cause the
monument will be lacking that fine streak |
Of gold which comes only from the loving |
hearts of his comrades
Gen. Torrance closed with an appropri- |
ate expression of his pleasure at being
here, and his final words were ferven,
God bless you all
Chairman Lane next introduced the
newly-elected department commander,
James l.. Merrick of Waterville, who said
in part:
THE Growing glory of the Grand Ar
my of the Republic is fraternity without
regard to former rank. 1t has received
added emphasis, today, in my election a.
department commander for the ensuing
year. At the seventh annual encamp-
ment of the Department. of Maine q
years ago, Seden Connor, colonel of the
18th Maine Regiment, was elected to this
honorable Office. Today, from the ranks
of the same regiment a private soldier
has been chosen. Comrades, | thank You
for the honor you have conferred upon
me-
Commander Merrick then spoke Of the
G, a. r., as the grandest civic .organiza-
ton the world has ever known, its three
important principles being fraternity,
charity and loyalty-a fraternity born OF
war, yet a child of peace IA loyalty that
honors the flag, and a, charity that recogi
nizes all comrades.
Gen. Selden Conner of Augusta was in
troduced and warmly received. He said
that his Introduction reminded him OF
these new-fansled envclopes-''pul either
wire'-and he supposed he would have 70
open up. aat.5 . ,-4-
1T is a queer campfire he said. Elm
stead of the light of hickory rails we
have electric lights. But we haven't a |
cup Of coffee on single bareback. II
takes time to drink coffee, when it is
drunk from the cup in which it is made
0aughter>, and you know that eating
bareback is like the mills of the gods,
which grind exceeding small Qaughter)
He expressed the pleasure which he had |
in welcoming the COMMUNICATIVE chief,
who ought to fell at home, for he comes
from Northern state where they have
pine trees and snow and baked beans
such as we have in Maine.
He referred feelingly to the days when
old men dyed their hair and assumed the
sprightly step of youth, and young boys
forgot the dates in the family Bible that
they might join the ranks of the nations
defenders This was no fitfu burst of
feeling. 1t was an earnest patriotism
which permeated the whole northand.
Gen. Connor paid a beautiful tribute to |
the great heart and master mind of Lin
coin, the leader of the nation In the days
when the integrity of the nation was
assailed. at is our honor, our pride and
our glory that we followed this great
leader in the war for advancement and