Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-06-01

enjoyed"
when we study the sentiments of
our nations life as it has existed in the
past, we find that two conspicuous IDEAS
have been at work. ideas winch are
not only characteristic of the national
history, but which are among the es-
sential qualities Of human nature. We
need not confinc ourselves TO United
states history The Magma Charter,
the foundation stone of our modern lib
critics. WAS wrested from the hands of
King John by our forefa theirs who first
recognized their rights which had be-
come legal. The great ideals which
they originated have prevailed to this
day. Even the ancient Israelites strug-
gled to free themselves from the bond
age of slavery; but, since that remote
time nave the inviOlablc rights of in
dividual liberty and the principle of the
brotherhood of man been practically
kept in the background until they came
TO mature fruition and were saved for
ever to the world when General Lee
laid down his sword to General Grant
at the close of the Civil War.
AT the time when the American
continent was yet almost wholly UNI
explored by the white man, we find that
the whole world was commencing to
swing into line, unConsciously, for 4
settlement of this greatest of issues.
y curious coincidence pointing to this
fact is seen in that while the Pilgrims
were endeavoring to plant the seeds of
liberty in the North Dutch trading
vessel lay off the coast of Virginia, i'm
IF
ally began the implanting Of slavery in
southern soil. At the same time when
liberty was planted in the Bay state
slavery was commencing to thrive In
Virginia, Thus we see that America
was the ultimate battle-ground of these
two forces of early civilization which
were destined, from time inmcmorlal.
to clash Broadly speaking. the his
tory of the United States has been but
the settlement of these two ideas.
when. in the course of human
events, it seemed best for the ColOnists
to separate themselves from the bonds
which held them in subsection to tho
Mother Country, they incorporated into
their PRINCIPLES Of self government the
words Of the Declaration of Independ-
cncc. That was the explanation of the
mighty impulse by which these men
We're controlled and it was under the
conviction that all men We're created
equal that they We're enabled to free
themselves from their yoke of bondage.
Remark the inconsistency. Outwardly
were these men fighting for the princi-
pie of freedom while, within their own
borders they were trading in the lives
and liberties of their own subjects, their
own fellow men. | have yet to discover
In the course Of human experiences,
where a wrong principle, existing by
tolerance on the one hand and AFRO
gance on the other, would not create u
disturbance proportionate to. the
strength of the principle of wrong.
Never did the world see such a conflict
Of right and wrong .as when these two
ideas met in the death-grip of the bat
tie of Gettysburg which was in order
that the old Flag which symbolized
Freedom might be preserved.
when Lincoln first declared war he
really meant. rot so much to annihilate
slavery as to cOnfine it. AS a result,
not perhaps. Of lis Tack Cf foresight So
much as of the power of his associates.
the Federal army was dashed time and
again in defeat; but when the real issue
of the whole contest became changed
and the Proclamation of Emancipatio
was issued, the battle of Gettysburg
was fought. the prayer Of Lincoln was
answered and the country'S freedom
for which it had SO long fought. was
assured"
The speaker then pictured q vivid re-
collection of the battle of Gettysburg
which. from every point of view from
which all Of the worlds decisive battles
have been judged, he claimed was by
fir the most decisive battle in the
worlds history. In closing he said that
it WAS because thousands of men were
lying in their graves today. slain in the
cause of their country and thousands
there were who were still living who
bear marks Of tho awful fight in their
minds and on their bodies ana still
other thousands whose hearts followed
the flag willingly to the front and to
the death. If il need be, that they ask
cd. in return for these sacrifices. to
commemorate their deeds. What
have been able to do to this end. | have
felt. as your Mayor expressed. in his
speech az welcome. is entirely out Of
place for any Individual to attempt by
mere words. but, il | We're asked to
erect a memorial of real Significance
which would bc fitting and appropriate
tn the day I would set M a triumphHl
arch. One column of this arch would
represent the bodies Of the dead heroes
who lie. some in unknown graves. The
other would stand for the sacrifices of
heroic women. I would span this arch
with the martyrcd body of our hero
among men. the greatest Of all Amcri-
Cans-Abraham Lincoln-and clustered
around that arch. | would place the
surviving members Of the Grand Army
of the Republic. Yes. every Memorial
Day is right in its demand for fitting
commcmora ton of these precious mem
cries. We should give our tears for the
dead and our cheers for the living"
The bcnediction was pronounced bv
Rev a. j. Cameron Of Winslow ami
the audience filed out of the hall, feel
ing that the day had indeed been n
Memorial Day. fittingly observed.
GARDINER AND RANDOLPH.
After Appropriatc Ceremonies Veterans