The Somerset reporter., 1902-06-05

the busy ladies the day before May 30.
The ladies also had charge of the taste.
full decoration of Coburn Hall. This
also requires not only time and hard
work but skill and taste.
The column was formed on Water
street under direction of Comrade A. f.
Bickford, marshal, in the following order
Norridgewock Cadet Band, C. n.
Staples, leader; Co E. National Guards,
Skowhegan's contingent of the States
military forces, Capt. F. G. Dunlap; Rus
sell Post No. SO, G. A. r. and other vet.
Grams, Edward W. Wilson, commander;
Wildes Camp Sons of Veterans, Milford
Withee, captain; Veterans of the Spanish
War, Lieutenant Edward Spear COM
manding and RussellN Ladies' Relief
Corps.
The procession moved to Coburn Hall,
where the following exercises occurred,
Capt. F. Fl. Wing presiding:
Music, Band
Prayer, Rev H. F. Huse
Singing, Male Quartet
Reading of Roll of Honor, sergt. Maj. Varney
Brief Address, Chairman
Music, Quartet
Reading of Lincoln's Address, C. HMilis. Esq.
Memorial Address, Rev. Daniel onstott
Music, Band
Singing of America. Quartette and Audience
The quartette was composed of j. n.
Smith, Earl Smith, <. E. Harris and
A. W. Watson, with Miss Yosmus, &C.
companist.
The audience was large one, filling
the hall completely, floor and galleries,
but not crowding it. The bodies FORM
ing the procession were seated in the
body of the hall in seats reserved and
the officers and past commanders of the
Post were seated on the platform. The
exercises were impressive, the music
appropriate.and the audience. attentive.
Il. The Grafton by Rev.. Daniel Onstott
was admirable in the spirit of patriotism
that ran through it and in the apprecia-
ton of the soldier of the Civil War and
his work.
Following is an imperfect epitome of
the address noted by representative of
the REPORTER:
Two men, said the speaker, will not
appreciate this address, the man who
wants TO hear of party politics and the
man who deprecates the meeting of old
soldiers who get warmed up over the
affairs of the war of 1861.
Americans have the reputation of be-
ing great dime-chasers and dollar get.
tiers. Europeans have found out that
they are something more, that they
can fight. Never was a nation more
surprised than Spain ar the fighting
qualities of the Americans. Young and
old men crowded the places where enlist
ments were made to join the army to
fight for the release of Cuba from the
tyranny of Spain. There could have
been no "Boys in Brown but for the
"Boys in Blue Roosevelt could not
have been, had not Abraham Lincoln
lived.
Our country Is a large country with
magnificent resources but it is something
else. 1t has quality. Our men and
women have the quality that has made
our country great
Money making and business enterprise
is all right in its place but it is not the
only thing. Men who will leave home,
business ard family and go to the front,
endure the hardships, dangers and sui.
ferlng, of war for $l3 per month have
some other than the pecuniary motive.
Such men do not hold money as the
chief thing 10 the world.
AT this point the speaker enlarged
upon the debt we owe to the men who
fought the battles of our country, repre-
sented by the remnant living now, the
Grand Army, and the great struggle In
which they engaged 80 many years ago.
The extent of the undertaking was not
appreciated at the beginning. The fight
ing qualities and resources of the South
were not comprehended, nor was the
force of their convictions. They had
cause as dear to them as though it had
been righteous one. They had some
thing to fight for. They were in error
but, were as sincere and confident of sue
cess as the men to whom they were OPP.
posed and whom they faced in so many
fierce battles. Men of the same Anglo
Saxon blood, conscientously fighting for
theories or principles, made the struggle
long and bloody one. Why did the
men of the South go down before the
army of the nation? 1t was because
God Almighty could not permit repub
lie to continue upon the foundation of
human slavery. This does not detract
from the honor or valor OF the soldier OF
the civil war, the men who went forth
to save the nation from the curse Ut
slavery.
The Speaker said he had the right to
wear six different buttons, but would
lay aside all readily for the little brown
button veterans of the Grand Army are
authorized to wear. 1t means more than
them all. 1t means that they went forth
to work with God for the salvation of
the nation.
Since the close of the great rebellion
our nation has made remarkable strides.
1t has been growing rapidly and is des-
tined to grow. 1t has taken its place al,
the front among the great powers of the
world. 1t is In position to do better
work for God and for humanity than
ever before and than any other nation.
The Grand Army stands as safeguard
of the Republic. The National eeme-
teries are bulwarks of peace. No nation
that keeps up with the times will ever
fight against our country. Some mean
man may speak sAghtingly of veterans
and of what they did, but you need not
care Your honor is assured and credit
unmpeschabe.
If this nation is wise and expects to
endure, it must treat its soldiers well.
Prior to 1876 soldiers Of other countries