Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-06-01

to picture. and the tongue fails to
describe your deeds of daring. All the
world looked on with admiration, at a
spectacle the grandest of all the years.
million of men gathered together Of
their own accord, fighting for freedoms
sake and freely sacrificing their lives
upon her holy affairs.
You veterans, whom Gods allwise
providence spared to return were
there, those brave men whose graves
you have this day decorated were there,
your husbands, mothers of Augusta
were there, your sons and brothers,
wives and daughters of this fair city
were there. Liberty almost passed
from earth, freedom trembled on the
very verge. the destiny Of the nation
was saved by your bravery. What
suffering, what agony does the thought
Of home produce in the last moments Of
the dying hero. Yet the grander
thought Of liberty and j union brings
peace to his mind. when from the noise
Of battle he passes to untroubled
sleep. e
The patriotism of the heroes of 81 is
| written upon the vacant chair and the
desolate hearthstone. It is not per-
| mitted to them to march with that re-
turning host that bore it's torn and tat
tered flag back in triumph to the ma
tion's capitol, and we do not wish them
back today, the glory Of their deeds is
complete. The fittest place for man to
die is where he dies for man. The
world can never forget their heroism
and the Muse of history will weep that
she has no words to express it. They
need 10 costly monuments of marble,
stone, or bronze to perpetuate their
memory, for when these shall have
crumbled into dust the history of re-
united nation will be waited down the
corridors of time by the recording angel
of valor. Sleep on thou brave soldiers
in they unknown grave, thy work Is
DONE The union is saved and wherever
| the hallOwed earth may conceal thy
form, be assured that the clanking
chain of the bondman will never dis
turb thy rest, no bloodhound will ever
cross thy mound i'm the track of a fugi-
tive from human thraldom, and the
| footsteps of no slave will ever mar thy
last resting place. Your spirits cir
cling to the realms of light have made
the air too pure for a single slave to
breathe.
The war is over; and the constitu-
ton with its three great amendments
is for the first time consistent with the
Declaration of Independence. The last
barrier to progress has been removed
and in its place stands the Southern
church and schoolhouse with their
heavenward pointing spires. The old
flag with not one star erased floats over
the dome of every capitol. The hum or
industry and the anthems OF peace
swell the chorus Of a restored union.
While North and South together brought
Shall own the same electric thought,
And side by side in labors free and I'M
resentful rivalry.
Harvest the fields wherein they fought.
Our constitution, the great bulwark
of American liberty embodies the wis
dom of ages, but we can never know
the price the ages have paid for it. We
read it's cost penned in crimson on
every battle field. We read its cost in
the haggard countenance of every
mother whose son fell on picket guard.
unseen save by the pale moon and
sentinel stars. We read its cost in the
paIlid face of the widow, who this day
has bent over the grave of kind hus-
band and mingled burning tears with
l
green its earthly covering. We read
it's cost in the sad look of the orphan
whose father above the clouds of Look
out Mountain ran bravoly into deaths
embrace. Yet we know not what man
has paid that man may be free. Ask
these brave men whose hair has been
traced with the silvery pencil of time
how much IL cost to snatch our flag
e nnn
silent tears stealing from eyes filled
with patriotism makes known 10 US
better than words. the cost OF war. the
price of peace. the value of liberty.
While they fought the bondmans
shackles fell and liberty stepped forth
into the full light of day. She behcld
the price being paid for her ransom
and weeping, mingled her tears with
their blood: and while she wept the
great ocean hearted Lincoln passed
from earth.
The price had been paid and our
country was free. Our flag Is the
symbol Of all VIC were. and are, and
hope to be. II has broader and
grandad meaning than the banner of
any other nation. 1t stands for free
hands, free Iirs. and Individual rights.
1t means that the government derives
its Just powers from the consent of the
governed. 1t means that the highest
possibilities are before us. II blazons
this broad meaning on every sea. Every
people looks with admiration upon its
proud folds; gladly remembers the les
son 1t teaches and longs for its protec-
ton. How fitting this day to place
above the graves of patriots In our
midst these tiny emblems Of our coun-
trys unity and grandeur. In the tenn
pest of war the strong arms Of those
who sleep beneath, saved the nations
flag from dishonor and defeat, so these
little flags seem to look with gratitude
upon these grassy mounds; and as the
gentle zyphers softly sweep to and fro.
their little folds will unite with the
murmuring forests to chant a loving
requiem to the patriot dead. How fit
ting this day when the bursting beauty
Of leaf and flower, the swelling song or
the birds, the gentle purling Of brooks.
witnessing natures resurrection from