The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1905-06-01
Memorial Day Observance.

Memorial Day received the attention
OF all classes, this year to the usual de-
gree, aud the perfect weather which
prevailed permitted the entire program
to be carried out in manuer agreeable
to all, and which must have been par
ticularly gratifying TO the veterans to
whom the day in special sense belongs.
Members of Russell Post and many
visiting comrades from other towns as.
sembled at G. A. X. hall ut ten O'Clock,
and with the members Of Russell Relief
Corps marched to the Methodist church
taking the seats reserved for them.
| Post Commander Sewell w. Smith WAS
master of ceremonies and seated WITH
him on the platform were General o. o
Howard, the orator of the day, and past
and present officers of Russell Post.
First on the program WAS the render
ing OF "Hal Columbia, Glorious Nation
by chorus OF one hundred children
from the third, fourth and fifth grades
of the Skowhegsn schools. They were
their musical instructor, and his work
10 the schools for several weeks past has
been with special reference to this &C.
casion. The presence of so many bright
young faces was an inspiration and their
sweet voices heard in patriotic songs
made ideal music for such an occasion.
Following the opening chorus, prayer
was offered by the Rev. B. B. Merrill
and Llncoln's address at Gettysburg vas
read by S. F. Emerson, chaplain OF Rus
sell Post. The children were then called
to the platform by their, leader, Mr..
Towne, and sang "Glorv Hallelui 4ho
and the Red, White and Blue. There
was also solo by the Rev. l.. G. March,
the Methodist clergyman at Athens.
| Very few in the audience had previously
heard Mr.. March. He has rich strong
voice, filling with ease the large audi
forum of the Methodist church. He
was listened TO with rapt attention.
Commander Smith then directed the
reading of Department orders by Henry
j. Vsrney, following which, with brief
but appropriate remarks, he presented
Gen. O. o. Howard of Burlington, VI,
MS the orator OF the day.
At the outset OF his address General
Howard placed himself in sympathy
with his audience by speaking of Maine
as his own state, the state OF his birth,
ard of the pleasure it was to him to re
with Bowdoin college as trustee and
said that this called him to Brunswick
in the month of June Of each year, but
that he seldom had the opportunity to
come further into the state.
The significance of Memorial Day and
the important things that it is intended 10
commemorate were dwelt upon by the
speaker; 1t was the day set apart to
honor those whose valor preserved our
government and might protitably, in
part, be devoted TO a consideration of
| what that government was Our gov
eminent differs in many ways from other
| governments OF the world. Ii has a
written constitution, so perfectly con-
ceived by the fathers in the early days
of our national existence that it has err
dured to the present time with very little
change. The constitution provides for
the perpetuation of Republic based
upon that principle which is the most
enduring in constitutional forms as its
counterpart, the triangle, is in mechani-
cal arts. The three sides of our triangle
the three branches OF our government,
Legislative, Executive and judicial
we're equal in importance and each
necessary to the other and to the per-
petuity of our institutions; they should
each be preserved with all the powers
with which they were originally vested.
The tripartate form of our government
was in n large measure the gift OF the
| Pilgrim Fathers, as it WAS the plan OF
the government which they formed for
the Plymouth colony before the landing
at Plymouth Rock. The speaker refer
red to the fact thst John Howard, his
ancestor, was member of this famous
colony, and had prominent place In the
councils which evolved the system of
government to which we owe 80 much
and fashioned so well the foundation of
our liberties.
10 this day of memories we should Doi
forget how the life of the nation was
threatened we should recall the scenes
of the opening days Of the great conflict
which was fought for its preservation.
The speaker touched the hearts OF his
listeners by telling in simple, unimpas-
stoned language, of his own departure
| from home at the time he was summon
ed to take command Of his regiment, the
Third Maine. This leaving of his wife
and little ones was his scarifice and WAS
| but the same as that made 10 every home
from which went the brave men to the
assistance OF the nation in its hour Of
| necessity.
Ia our etudy OF the past the speaker
urged that we should find a knowledge
that would assist US TO guard against
the dangers which now threaten or may
| threaten the Republic. OF these dan
gers greed was to be most feared. We
are too much accustomed TO regard the
accumulation of wealth as meritorious
when 1t should not in and of itself be so
regarded. We have men OF great wealth
| like Carnegie who were doing great good,
but the greed through which many OF
the great fortunes are accumus ted Is one
of the dangers Of our day. Another men
ace TO be guarded against was competi-
ton as commonly seen. Competition
engendered III feeling. IL was regarded
by many ss something to be preserved
and fostered but the speaker did not
share this view. He idealIzed the voca-
ton OF the farmer as the producer of the
necessities of life, and following call