Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-05-31

remarkable considering the oppressive
heat and the natural fatigue which fol-
lowed the successful memorial celebra-
ton of the day proceeding. 1t is i'm
possible, with the crowded condition
Of our columns to do proper justice tt
Mr.. Rradlee by giving a verbatim re-
port. but the outline below given may
serve to give some idea to those who
We're not present of the general trend
or thought and the admirable way in
which it was handled:
"All day long, we have been indulg-
ing in proud and tender memories.
need not rehearse them; / could not il
l would. But they are echoing in the
soul of every soldier veteran before
me-they constitute a wondrOus and
glorious song. A song of battle, but of
battle for the right OF courage, but of
that born of the spirit of self-sacrifice.
a song of memory, yet it is the trium-
phant chorus in connection with the
sad, sweet solo. 1t is the major over
against the minor. as in the dead
March in Saul" There is the subdued,
the touching strain. With reverent
hands you have decorated your COM
rades' graves, and when the stars, to-
night, have set their scntries in the
duSky sky, the flag shall float above
each soldiers tent of green, and dews
descending mOisten fragrant flowers
placed thereon by fingers tremulouS
with feeling and with love. Many of
the comrades who went with you to
the front, came not back. The disband-
ing of the army restored not to every
home. it's husband, father or brother
And some are met, tonight, to COM
mcnIOrate those who fell III the strug-
gle for country and right.
This is Il memorial service, not d flu
neral occasion. We are not here to
weep for our fallen braves. We are
here rather to rejoice that such as they
were given us us sons. and that We
had 1t i'll our power, and were willing
to render so costly sacrifice for hui
nality and our Nations good. The
cause i'm which they engaged was right
and holy. There were great principles
involved. chief among which was the
Divine idea of the brotherhood of men.
These principles were to be maintained
or the very fabric of our nation would
fall to pieces. There could be no COM
promise with those who not only OPP
posed the equal rights and brotherhood
of men, but aimed a blow at the very
foundation of this republic.
''This was Woman's sacrifice. The
mother withheld not her sons; the noble
wives of this favored land, with trem-
bling hearts, but steady voice, babe
their husbands respond to cOuntry'S
call, lovers and brothers were freely
given. But do those women, do you
men. regret this sacrifice? They regret
ted it not who marched to death; these
veterans who sit before me regret it
not. You regret that such sacrifice
was Eeeded. but every man of you
would go through it all again to pre-
serve the Union. My soldier hearers,
your comrades died not in vain. They
taught Il lesson of loyalty that is i'll
tluencing the world, today; they per-
formed Il glorious mission. the results
of which are far-reaching as eternity.
Removed from our visible presence,
they still live. They live in the millions
of freed men, destined to become,
through the educational training they
are eagerly seeking and largely recciv-
ing. Il thrifty and useful people. They
live in the respect and admiration they
have won for us as Il nation. They live
in the pages Of the historian and in the
language of the poets song. They live
too, in the various philanthrOpic and
educational Institutions, inspired or
made necessary by the war, and es-
peCially in that worthy organization.
the Grand Army of the Republic. The
members of this order are fast passing
away, but we rejoice that as the vet
Grams are compelled one after another
to fall out in the great march of life.
the sons CT the veterans are falling in.
The nation will not forget her saw
iors. She will honor and care for those
still with us, and Memorial honOrs to
our patriot dead will not cease with
the lapse of time, but brighten with the
coming of each succeeding year. May
we rcver engage i'm Il seeming COM
memoratiOn of those men. May our
service. in i1emorian. always be Il gen.
uine tribute of affection, and not an
empty form: may il prove each year
not only a reminder of the past. but an
incentive for the future Let us contin-
ue to strew flowers upon the graves of
the departed: but at each returning
anniversary of this hallOwed custom,
may we place ourselves. with all our
powers, upon the altar of our country
and our God"