The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1904-06-09

ShOlC 10 uOL COmIduC PAOSOhV Wills
afternoon but can recall some KIND
deed or act by the sisters OF charity or
the nurses in field and hospital. And
these loyal women performed their
acts of charity without money and
without price, and after the war was
over these patriotic women formed an
order known as the Woman's Relief
Corps, an auxiliary to the Grand Army
of the Republic, and their work has
been something wonderful. Why, in
1908 the Woman's Relief Corps paid
out in charity over 100000 and since
their organization they have paid out
two million dollars and over for charit-
able purposes. Just think of il, COM
rades. How many glad hearts that
must have made in the homes of the
old veterans. The Woman's Relief
Corps has been, as it were, the back
bone of the Grand Army, with it's enor-
nous relief fund; but the money is not
all. Just think of the sympathy of
these loyal women, who give freely
their help, aid and assistance in times
of sickness and trouble. That cannot
be estimated in dollars and cents. God
bless them.
we all know the government has been
liberal in the matter of pensions, and |
believe the people OF our country will
never see the old veterans suffer in
their old age. Now, in closing, let me
say, comrades, that we have great
deal to be proud of; for after the war
was over foreign nations shook their
heads and said, what will you do with
your dlsbanded army, intoxicated with
military power? But the veterans of
81 and '65 were different from the SOL
dlers of the old world. No other army
ever held so many thinking soldiers;
none ever represented so high a level
OF intelligence or SO lofty conception
of duty, as did the Union army; and
when they were disbanded they went
back to the same avOcations as before
ana soon resumed the peaceful pursuits
OF citizenship, and we today are proud
OF the record of the boys who wore the
blue. There has been taken from our
ranks presidents, senators, cabinet Of
TIGERS, heads of our great departments,
governors and congressman, and as we
look at the country and contrast
what it is now with what it might
have been, do not you, my comrades,
feel that your marching, fighting and
what you gave of your young manhood
was not given in vain. Instead of
divided country, a confederation of
States, we have the mightiest republic
on earth. We have country that is
the richest on earth, and more than
that we have united country, and the
Stars and Stripes can be handed down
TO those who come after us better and
brighter than we received them, with
more stars added to its field, and today
~ f1oatS where the sun never sets upon
it.
Comrades, our flag which floats over
tins hall today means a united country;
means a country where all men are
born tree and equal; means a country
where slaves do not exist; and COM
rades. although | was born under for
elgn flag | am proud that | can stand
under the folds of the star spangled
banner and say that | am an American
citizen.
Now, my comrades, we are all going
down the western side of life and soon
we will all be gone to answer the last
roll call; but | expect in that grand re-
view above, when all nations and peo-
pies shall stand before the bar of God,
there to be judged according to their
works, | expect there will appear in the
distance a long line of boys wearing
the blue. There may be no sound of
the drum, no waving of banners, but l
expect that when the line passes in re-
view before the Lord, the righteous
Judge of all men, He will say: ''NNell
done, thou good and faithful servants.
thou hast been faithful over a few
things, | will make thee ruler of many
things. Enter thou into the JOY of thy
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