Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-08-24
A HANDSOME MONUMENT
Dedicated at Oswegatchie. N. Y.-Ad
dress by Vice Pres. Fairbanks.

Ogdensburg. n. ", Aug. 23.--In the
presence Of Vice President Fairbanks
veterans Of Northern New York united
with Ransom Post. G. a. r., at Os-
densburg, today, in nNeiling beauti-
full monument in Library park. COM
memorating the patriotism of soldiers
of the town of Oswegatchie. who 1ell
in the Civil War. Vice President Far
banks said:
Mr.. Chairman. menbr:'s of the G. A,
r.. ladies ana gentlemen:
l bring you the cordial greetings of
President Roosevelt who greatly re-
grets his inability to Join with you III
the dedication of this monument to its
exaulted purpose.
This monument had lis inception III Il
noble. patriotic impulse. 1t VIII stand
as the symbol of the gratitude Of a
great people for the services and the
sacrifices of brave men. who, more
than a generation ago. went down To
the battlefield to preserve the integrity
of the great republic. 1t has been
raised by the hands of I generous and
grateful people. 1t Will not benefit the
heroic dead. for they sleep beyond the
reach OF praise or ccnSure,' but It
will be an uplifting. b@neficicnt influence
to the living for centuries to come. 1t
will teach :; great and wholesome les
son to the present ana to future genera
tions. 1t will recall the deeds Of men
i'm a supremacy pcrilous hour of our ma
tional history. and it vii! emphasize the
fact that men are honorrd most who
crr,-r host their fpllDN mon
This memorial has get LiEhcr signf-
ican'c. 1t has Il meaning for those
VINO behold il which no formal words
can adequately express 1t stands rs
Il pledge of national unity. 1t stands
for the everlasting .'upr, macy of one
flag. 1t inspires 4 deeper love of liber-
ty. 1t keeps ablaz" III frs of freedom
upon the alters of our hcn,ts
1t signifies the triumph Of Il righteous
cause. Such is now the deliberate YER
dict of history. This is attended by the
common judgement Of mankind Victor
and vanquished rejoice in the complete
rr-cstablishmcnt Of our national soli-
darity
As We stand here in the presence of
this imposing evidence OF Il peoples re-
VcronCc and gratitude we pledge anew
our fcafy to the institutions preserved
hy the valor Of the soldiers and sailors
of the republic As the discharged our
in the ways of peace.
The performance Of civil obligations
may seem tedious and taSt"lcss. There
is nothing of the dramatic about them
The fault finders and the ungcncrolls
may criticize. hut they should not dis
|
charging his civic responsibilities fairly
| and unfaltcrinGly.
| We hear much Of dcfilcat ions. breaches
| of trust. malfcasancc in office, anG
| there are pessimsts who declare that We
| have fallen upon corrupt times; thar
| We are decadcnt; that the public
| conscience is dulled. ON the contrary
| there was never an hour in all of oul
| splendid history when ther" WAS a more
! acute moral sens" among the great
| ma sscS Of the people and more upright
| ness in their relations Of life than there
| is today. Til" standard Of civic duty was
| never higher than it is now. There was
hover morn respect for q lriph grade
| of commercial and professional ethics
; than at present. There IS u widespread
| determine ZION among the people that
| those who pollutc the law shall he com
PEELED 10 answer for It that the laws
shall not hc set at nauEht hy cvildocrs-
hy tn" enemies Of established order.
We dcVuutly trust that WHr may not
| again come 10 d"v;iStato the homes 81
| our country. We pray that h"r shril
| not" may not again summon our EnWtl
| to the field Of Mars. hut v" believe
| yes "" know that. should the cxio"nCH
| arise, the memory of those who's" deed:
We recall in honor today. VIII inspire
| them to VindiCatc and preserve unSulicC
the nations honor. We teach peace
vet we would not h" uuprcpar"d to main
tain the nations good nam" against al
| corners We face the iUtar" with nt
msgvinGS. with no manner Of doubt n:
t. uur ability to make our way in al
tn" paths where honor and safety lies
We have confidence that til" American
people will remember always the sub
line lesson which this monument tniChc!
and 50 remembering. that they will eve
be ready to prove that they arc worthy
Of their rich national inheritance.