Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-01-03
A SUCCESS.
Continued from page 81

mindful of the generous dealings winch
are heaped upon the few favored ones
by our government. The high rating
bestowed upon the officers, and the few
places filled through preferment to the
privateS, are as it should be; but What
about the many thousands upon thou-
sands who are now suffering lifelong
pains brought upon them by camp lie
in malarial swamps, by forced marches
and deprivations incident to the rank
and file in a greater degree than was
visited upon those in command? Com
rades, we are made to realize this par
TALLY. We know that these things
are so; and it sometimes seems to us
that this state of affairs must remain
until the day when only one old SOL
diet will be left. Perchance, If he
should clear the poor house he may be
called upon to defray his own funeral
expenses. 1t seems to me that there
is only one way, only one hope left
which can bring relief to our burdened
hearts, and that is to keep Fraternity
alive in our order of the Grand Army
OF the Republic.
This opens to me a moments theme,
in mentioning briefly the greatest need
i noblcr organization than the Grand
Amy Of the Republic, and to us here,
tonight. there never was and never will
be a better opportunity in assisting one
and another in righting some of the
wrongs heapcd upon us, tsan by sew
orally observing the tenets OF our OBJ
legations. sacredly given when we en-
tered Seth Williams Post in the spirit
Of Fraternity, Loyalty and Charity.
We need more than anything else IN
the world to make Seth Williams Post
what it can be, frst-class, strong o.
ganiZation, to come together in great
numbers. with zeal and enthusiasm
pointing to success. We have $50 men,
bcrS belonging to this post, nearly all
residents Of this city, and If one-half
OF that number were in this room twice
Il month, we should find our influenc2
for power and helpfulness greatly en-
HANGED. We have numbers in album
dance, and ability sufficient, which ii
cXcrted in the right direction, persist
entity, will greatly help to change the
attitude of the government, and cause
the powers that are, to see that oul
claims upon the country are just and
right: and that to assist us in our old
age, (the few short years remaining
u.s.. to live with as little pain to us Gs
possible, would be to make a stronger
and a nobler government. 1t is debt
due to us; for without us there could
never have been a government pre-
served.
Since the War Of the Rebellion and
the subject of the "irrepressible con-
- a tiVaG of
nation have been able to devote their
entire ability and talents in the direc-
ton of aiding in the material develop
ment of the ineXhaustible resources oil
this country, and to the furtherance oil
humanitarian work.
Their success has been most extra
ordinary, and iustifies the belief thai
they Will soon undertake the difficult
task of building a bulwark of protec-
ton around the sacred rights of every
individual in the land. however humble
chat individual may be.
With advancing years the veteran j:
confronted by the stern fact of dimin
ishing income. No longer able to earl
a livelihood in the mad rush of tn
nicrCilcss competition of this age, NJ
must step aside and give place to
more vigorous man. To the govern
nlent in whose defence he barred hi:
breast in the pelting storm of battle
he turns as a rock of his sure defence
as the infirmities of age steal upoi
him. and asks for bread. to find I
stone, and while he grows older the
average rate grows less, which is re
vcrsal of the principle of all law, ano
more especially is it 50 Of the unwrit
ten law Of obligation so eloquently ano
furcefully phrased by Abraham Lincoln
in his immortal address at Gettysburg
| realize that | am wading in deeI
waters. and | may be ostracised fol
expressing in such strong language my
mind on subject. which does not en-
ter into the affairs of this meeting. Blu
the Grand Army was a tremendou!
power in the days of 81 to 60 We were
Il power when we suppressed the mos
gigantic rebellion ever known in his
tory, and we have ever been, and Ger
tainly are. today. a power in this land
in hclpirg to alleviate the intense suf
frrings occasioned by the war, in whicl
we sacrificed every comfort. and every
thing dear to us. that our government
might he perpetuated unsullied and un
divided. our power should be felt l.
the halls of Legislature. more poten
than ever before, and ii will be felt
we continue to live up to the obliga
tion under which we live as unit 10
Fraternity. Loyalty and Charity.
We must keep alive our Post organ
ization ana press our claims continu
ally through this channel, if we hav
any desire to reap in the near futur
the reward which belongs to us. n
better opportunity is provided to Sc
cure this result, than to commence i
our Post meetings. Let there be en-
thusiaSm here. which comes mainl
from we'll attended meetings, an
proper plans inaugurated for maxim
the meetings interesting by its officer
and committees, and it Will be felt i
our State department and forcibly eX
tend TO the National Encampmen'
This result reached and made clear
should very soon be fully realized b
our laW makers, and that the presen
prosperity of our nation is directly du
to the principles established on tn
fields of battle by the army and nav
in 1861 and '65. This is what our or
ganization represents. and will eve
stand for. until we receive that recog
milton in the payment of pension