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

England, but here was little to make
| profitable the rude labor of the I'M
tutored African. The people of the
/ North were engaged in making homes
in manufacture, in shipbuilding and in
commerce. The South had less diver
sified Industries. She relied wholly up
| on cotton and other tropical products.
| Fully q quarter of a century before
the agitation of the slavery question
/ it was apparent that there was grow
| ing up In this country two dissimilar
! opposing civilizations. Trace the
| national legislation from the begin
| ming of our living together as one
rational family and it bears abundant
evidence of this fact. The manufacture
crs of the North wanted high tariffs
| that they might sell for better prices
their goods in Southern markets, the
farmers of the South wanted low tar
ifs that they might buy more cheaply
the goods made by the artisans of
ssachusetts. This opposiaion upon
one revenue schedule after another
increased. Then between the two al
ready opposing family factions the
question of slavery come. At the time
OF the Missouri compromise no man OF
commanding abilities had proposed
such n thing as the abolition of slav-
cry. What brought the slavery ques-
ton more to the front during that
creative period of public sentiment
was the jealous contention of political
parties lest one should secure some
advantage by the addition to the union
Of slave or non-slave territory. These
strifes had the tendency to crystalline
public sentiment in the South for, and
in the North against the institution
of slavery. But ever in the North the
people were not ready for abolition.
In 1885 William Lloyd Garrison was
mobhed in the city of Boston for max
ing anti-slavery speeches. Undaunted
he advocated with all the great energy
the total abolition of slavery. To his aid
came the orator and scholar. Wendall
Phillips. They saw with vision clear
and far-rea ching that the policy of
slavery FLASHED with the principle of
freedom. Then came the bred Scott de-
cision. Many felt that the death blow
to liberty had been struck by the
supreme court of the United States.
But reaction was greater than action.
There was mighty uprising of public
Indignation throughout the North.
The Republican of 1860 met in Chi
cago. 1t was the convention of party
but the heart of the Union was beat
ing there. They went into the back
woods of Illinois and brought out a
re-blooded great hearted, aboriginal
American. n man comparatively I'M
known. no dashing cavalier. no polish
-, a,,l
interrupted Of wealth, a man who
could be sad when others wept and
cheerful when others were discouraged,
whose great heart was to go out to
n hundred-thousand mothers, and
whose tircless brain was to watch a
hundred battlefields over which the
American flag was to rise and fall and
rise again.
Such was the character of Abraham |
Lincoln, when on the fourth day OF |
March 1861. he registered in heaven an |
oath to preserve the Union.
How soon he was called upon to |
make that promise good you remember
On the twelfth day of April this dear
old flag here was shot from Fort Sum- |
ter. Major Anderson, with seventy
men, surrendered to seven thousand. |
Then came call for scvcnty-five
thousand volunteers. From every town
ana hamlet of the North the best
blood of the Union sprang forth.
Slavery was the cause. but the Union
was the issue. The story of that war.
with all it's hell. l will not repeat.
These veterans here carry it in their
flesh. Mcthinks 1 see now your minds
"a hn !or1
marches, the wet and dreary nights,
often hungry, often wounded, lying I'M
der the open canopy of the universe,
your VOWS on the altar of your coun-
try and your prayers recorded in
Heaven. What conflict of feelings are
aroused as YOU recall the first and
second battles of Bull Run and Gettys-
burg. rs you contemplate the Army Of
the Potomac undcr Mcclellan in 1862,
and the Army of the Potomac under
Grant in 1864, as you smell again the
foul and fevCred air of Libby Prison
and Andersonvillc. as you remember
how on the eve Of battle many COM
rade sat upon the ground and wrote
a farewell note to loved ones at home
How your eyes light up rs memory
brings to you the surrender of Rich
mond on April 9Th. only to be over
Swallowed by a great sorrow eight
days afterwards. q, pitiable rccollec-
ton. The man who for four long years,
through tircless days and slecpess
nights. had guided the destinies and
guarded the liberties Of his country
was struck down by the hand of the
assassin. Abraham Lincoln was dead,
but out of the womb of death came a
newborn Liberty. The gentlest men,
ory in all the world had passed away.
but the eternal principles of Lexing-
ton, Of Bunker Hill, and of Valley
Forge had been rc-established.
Is it any wonder that the glad and
loyal hearts of the American people
have set a day dedicated to the MEM
DRY OF the Union soldier? And on this
recurring anniversary, at a season of
the year when all nature is bursting
into joy and gladness it is well for US
to gather here to honor the dead and
pay homage to the living.
1t has been custom through all the
ages for man to visit the graves Of
loved ones who have departed. Mem