The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1905-06-08
GEN. WHEELER IN BANGOR.
The Ex.Copfederate Soldier has ROusini


The Ex-Confederate Soldier has a Rousing
Reception.
Gen. Joseph Wheeler's presence was
the feature of the Memorial day OBJ
servance in Bangor. He rode IN the
procession in the afternoon and march
ed to Mt. Hope cemetery, where ex-
ercises were held and the graves of the
soldiers and sailors decorated. At
night the city hall was packed with
$500 people. Gen. Wheeler was given
great reception and frequently inter
rupted by applause when he referred to
Blaine, Reed, Dingley, Boutelle and
Milliken and other Maine men. In
the course of his address he said:
''My recollection is that substantially
all the soldiers from Maine who served
in the civil war fought in the great
army of the Potomac, the operations of
which were confined to the small area
of territory lying between the cities of
Washington and Richmond. Its
record and the record of the army OPP
posed to it, considering the numbers
engaged and the Sanguinary character
of its battles, presents picture of
martial prowess unsurpassed by any
army of modern times"
Gen. Wheeler's only specific reference
to the north and south was near the
close of his speech, when he SAID:
''We have very often heard the state
ment that the people of the north and
south were brought together by the
Spanish war. Inone sense that is very
true. President Mckinley, always
wise and thoughtful, gave special direct
tons that northern and southern regl-
ments should be placed in the same
brigades and in this way many north
ern and southern men were thrown to-
gether in close and pleasing relations.
This was very fortunate and advanta-
geOus, but | think it would be more
correct 20 say that the Spanish war
brought out evidence of the true rela
lions which existed between the people
of the north and those of the south, a
relation which had existed almost
from the moment the guns of the op-
posing armies ceased to resound through
the air." Gen. Wheeler then quoted the
utterances of Jefferson Davis and Gen.
Robert E. Lee after the close of the
war.
Such cheering was perhaps never
known in Bangor as when Gen. Wheeler
closed with: ''There are men here to-
day who recall a period in our country's
history when nations that were called
the leading powers of the world ar
ranged automatically with each other
without considering or consulting the
little republic Oh this side of the At
lantic, but today the weak appeal to
us to use our influence to secure them
justice and prevent aggression, and
there is now no nation on earth, how
ever great and powerful it may be,
that before concentrating any act of
diplomacy does not first seek to learn If
it will be acceptable to this great and
just American republic. You will re-
call that five years ago the armies OF
Russia. England, Germany, France
and Japan were halted in their march
in China by a single word from the
executive OF the White House at Wash
ingtOn.'
Although not planned in advance,
Gen. Wheeler neld an impromptu recep-
ton after the address, and shook hands
with many people.
Gen. Wheeler left on the midnight
train Tuesday for Augusta, where
he and Gen. Smith breakfasted Wednes-
day with Ex-Gov. John T. Hill and
went to the national soldiers home at
Togus, where Gen. Wheeler made a
brief address to the veterans. Later a
reception was held at the State house,
and Gen. Wheeler left for Boston at
about p. m.