Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-06-01
THE PRESIDENT
Delivers the Memorial Address
at Gettysburg.
Notable Words Spoken Nearly Where
Lincoln Gave Memorable Speech.
Many Thousands Greet Chief Executive
on Historic Ground.

Gettysburg. Penn, May 31.-On his
toric Cemetery hill, overlooking ground
hallowed by the blood of half a hundred
thousand brave men and in the pres
cnce of thousands who had assembled
to pay tribute to the memory of the ma
tiCn's dead, President Roosevelt, Me-
mortal day, delivered a notable address.
On nearly the same spot, on Nov. 10,
1862 President Lincoln delivered the
immortal address cnunciating princi-
pies which have rung around the world
for more than Il third of IA century.
President Roosevelt was escorted to
the cemetery on the battlefield by Il
body of several hundred veterans of
the Civil war.
The President and his special escort
were preceded by several organizations,
including a squadron of. United States
Cavalry, the 81 United States Artillery
and the Marine Band of Washington,
which had been ordered here for the &C.
CasiOn.
Mrs. Roosevelt and other members of
the Presidential party followed in car
riages. Gov. Pennypacker presided at
the ceremonies, which were held in the
rostrum III the cemetery.
After the Memorial DAY services of
the G. a. r. had been concluded and
the pupils of the public schools had
strcwn flowers over the graves of the
thousands of dead, during which cerc-
mony the marine band played a solemn
dirge Of the United States Senate pro-
nOunced the Invocation.
The President was then introduced
by Gov. PcInypacker, and spoke as
follows:
The place where we now are has won
a double distinction. Here vas fought
one of the great battles of all time, and
here was spoken one of the few speech
cs which shall last through the ages.
AS long as this Republic endures or it's
history is known, so long shall the
memory of the Battle of Gettysburg
likewise endure and be known; and as
long as the English tongue is under
stood, SO long shall Abraham Lincoln's
Gettysburg speech thrill the hearts OF
mankind.
The Civil War was q great war for
righteousness, a war Waged for the
noblest ideals, but wagcd also in thor
ouShGoing, practical fashion. 1t was
oIit- VI tAlt Lew Ndl9 WHICH, illtttii, III
their successful outcome, n lift toward
better things for the nations of man
kind. Some wars have meant the tri-
umph of order over anarchy and Ii
ccntiousncss mesqucrading as liberty;
some wars nave meant the triumph of
liberty over tyranny masquerading as
order; but this victorious war of ours
meant the triumph of both liberty and
n.1n hn f~i1, III nf n,-1n rlt 1lIr
the bcstoWal Of civil rights upon the
freed slaves, and at the same time the
stern insistence on the supremacy of
the national law throughout the length
and breadth of the land. Moreover.
this was one of those rare contests i'll
which it was to the immeasurable in
tercst Of the vanquished that they
should lose, while at the same time the
victors acquired the precious privilege
of transmitting to those who came
after them, as q heritage of honor for
ever, not only the memory of their own
valiant deeds, but the memory of
the deeds of thosc who, no less
valiantly and with equal SINGER
ity of purpose. fought against the
stars in their coursos. The war left
Union has been restored in indestructi-
BILE shape in n country where slavery
no longer Knocks the boast of freedom,
and also the right to rejoice with ex-
ultant pride in the courage, the self
sacrifice, and the devotion, alike Of the
men who wore the blue and the men
who wore the gray.
He IS Il poor American who, looking
at this field. does not feel within him
self a deeper reverence for the nations
past and higher purpose to make the
nations future rise level to her past.
Here fought the chosen sons Of the
North and the South. the East and tile
West. The armies which on this field
contended for the mastery were veteran
armies, hardened by long campaigning
and desperate fighting into such instru-
mcnts OF war as no other nation then
possessed. The severity of the fighting
is attested by the propOrtionate loss-a
loss unrivalcd in any battle Of similar
size since the close OF the NapOlconic
struggles; loss which in certain rcgi-
ments was from three fourths to four
fifths of the men engaged. Every spot
on this field has its own associations
of soldierly duty nobly done. of su-
pre,ne self-sacrifce freely rendered.
The names of the chiefs who served In
the two armies form a long honor roll;
and the enlisted men were worthy, and
even more than worthy. of those who
led them. Every acre of this ground
has it's own associations. We see
where the fight Numbered through and
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