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

the myriad hosts of barbarism. Rome
conquered the world and added Jaw to
liberty. When the law degenerated
into tyranny the hardy Germans
crushed it and gave Europe the vigor-
GUS stock on which has been grated
modern civilization. At Chalons and
Tours the allied forces Of Christianity
successfully withst0od the shock OF
the maddening Pagan and remanded
them forever to weakness and subordi-
nation, and left the star of empire
free to move on it's westward course.
When the same Christianity, perverted
to ignoble ends attempted to reduce
mems souls to bondage, Professionalism
having its stronghold in England and
its supporters in the sturdy descend
ants of the sound minded Saxons. met
its treacherous foes with invincible
courage and humbled them with crush
ing defeat.
In America purged from Eastern
barbarism. freed from Catholic suprem-
acy. removed from the formalities of
the English church, every restriction
to thought banished, our fathers began
to build. In the Declaration of indie
pendence We read the principles and
motives that prompted them to act;
their principles were beautiful; their
motives sublime. Study the Declaration
of Independence and we learn the
grandest lesson man has ever taught.
They said Governments derive their
just powers from the consent Of gov
erned." For this principle they fought
and wOn but of those who then lived
and loved, fought and suffered and felt
the sweetness and mystery of life not
one remains. Yet today the nation re-
members with gratitude the heroes of
the Revolution, and 10000, 600 of people
pause and turn aside from their labors
to do homage to those noble men VINO
suffered and died that all might be free
ard equal. Like the stream winding
here and there. yet keeping one general
course, seeking the sea, the struggle
for liberty of earnest, patient men,
though oft Eaffied and delayed, eventu-
ally wins the goal of human freedom.
In this age when the throb of the iron
civiliZer is heard in every land, when
the electric current, annihilating space,
brings men of every race into close
communion, when the voice from the
printing press is heard throughout the
world. when the sun of intelligence Is
breaking through the clouds Of ignor-
ance and prejudice which have OPP
pressed the humane mind, the battle
Of right against wrong, of liberty
against tyranny, whether fought in Ire
land of the North, or the Transvaal of
the South, in Armenia of the East, or
Cuba of the West, evokes as never be-
fore the sympathy of the great liberal
heart of mankind.
We remember those brave men who
fought in the second war with England.
and with pride we remember our sail
ors. We see the magic change of for
est to conquering fleet on Lake Cham
plain: the flag with matchless bravery
unfurled on the Palmetto fort in South
Carolina. The grim heroism displayed
at New Orleans browning victory. And
again peace comes. We remember our
soldiers matchless gallantry on the
burning plains of Mexico. How they
bore the flag from the Rio GrInde
through the gates of the Spanish
capitol, even to the halls of the Monte
zumas.
Freedom for all was the watchword
of the Revolution, but when peace
came they forgot half it's meaning and
thought it a boon to be preserved for
themselves. They were not great
enough to realize the grandeur CT the
principle for which they fought. They
made slaves of men, they legaliZed a
crime; they planted the seeds of an
archy. Let us gratefully remember the
good they did. Let us leniently remem-
Der their mistakes. 1t is their bravery.
who seeing American sailors robbed OF
citizenship. tear the English flag from
the mast Of piracy and force her sea-
men to recognize the citizens OF
America in the remotest corners of
the earth. And now with free land
and a free sea our country bounds
forth into an era of unparalleled pros
perity. BY n single stroke OF valor
California is won and a golden star Is
set in the nations banner, and a coun-
try that two mighty oceans kiss, thrill
ing with new life. opening new re-
sources. increasing its population and
wealth. forging chains to steam and
lighting. and Harvesting the very winds
to her triumphal chariot, this country
commands the admiration Of the vof ID
and merits the devotion OF all her sons
and daughters. Our future seems Sc
cure.
Over Atlantic's northern slopes, from
the green fringed lakes of Maine to the
sunny hills of Maryland, was heard
the murmur of struggling waters as
they toiled for man: and In harmony
with the music of machinery blended
the glad voices of peace and plenty.
Toiling unpaid in every Southern field,
chased back to chains by fierce blood
hounds. and scourged by masters
fiercer than their brutes, was husbands
and wives, mothers. sons and daugh-
ters, wanting only fair skins to make
them men and women. How many
nights the brilliant Southern sky has
bent it's jeweled arch in pity to listen
to the walls of men and women and
children fastened in chains of merciless
bondage. The mistakes Of our fathers
grew with our growth and strengthened
with our strength, till the traffic in hui
man flesh had blighted the last hope for
the slave Crime uncorrected never
becomes a virtue. Our free govern
ment is but half free. The nation is