The Republican journal., 1906-08-23
THE CONWAY CELEBRATION.


of the North Atlantic fleet, will bring his
warships to Camden on August 80 to par.
ticipate in the big celebration on that day
The Conway tablet will be unveiled and
Major General J. L. Chamberlain of Port
land will deliver the principal address OF
the day. In connection with the unwilling
there will be national salute of p guns
The exercises will be held at the CamdeI
Trotting Park grounds. The memorial i!
the joint gift of the people of Camden, Con
ways birthplace, and of the Maine Com
mandery of the Military Order of the Loya
Legion. The following poem by Bvt. Majo
Henry S. Burrage of Portland, chaplain O.
the National Soldiers Home at TOgus, hal
been written in commemoratiOn of Con
ways deed:
AT PENSACOLA NAVY YARD.
January u, 1861.
At sunrise, at the flagstaff's head,
Above the wind-swept trees,
The sailor flung his country's flag
Upon the morning breeze.
Fair ensign. of the land he loved,
1t hung against the sky,.
And stirred anew within his heart
A patriots loyalty.
For singing words had caught his ear,
Borne hither day by day
"We soon will haul the old flag down.
Was what he heard men say.
Did some in tears, with faces blanched,
Venture strong dissent,
Their words were lost amid the shouts
With which the air was rent.
AS in an Overwhelming track
Some blazing forest fire
Sweeps on with rapid, angry roar
Mid desolations dire,
SO through the South, d hurrying flame,
Secession made its way.
The Union which the fathers framed
Men said had had its day.
All this the loyal sailor heard
And saw his duty plain;
Should those around him faithless prove,
On him should rest no stain.
So when he raised the flag that morn,
His heart aglow with pride,
There was no trembling in his hand,
Whatever might betide.
The day advanced. AT length was heard
A stir without the gate;
Then came voice as of command,
eve represent the State;
Its sovereign word we herewith speak,
The gate wide open fling;
The old authority is dead,
Another rule we bring"
No one was there to say them nay;
The gate was open thrown;
And then the shouting throng came in,
AS if unto their own.
Along the street they.presSed their way,
With hurried, eager tread,
Their eyes upon the flag that waved
Up at the tlagstatf's head.
An officer who faithless proved,
Leading the noisy band,
Unmindful Of the oath that once
He took with lifted hand,
Beheld the sailor at his post.
"Haul down the flag" he cried;
The sailor stood unmOved, his looks
The leaders words defed
And then forthwith, his eyes ablaze,
The sailor made reply;
"ThiS is my cOuntry'S flag he said,
"And for it | can die.
| recognize no right of yours
In making this demand;
| will not lower the dear old flag,
And stain my heart and hand"
The words like bolts from out the sky
Fell on the throng around,
Unerring to the mark they sped,
And pierced the mark they found.
The flag came down by other hands,
But the dishonoring deed
At once became the trumpet call
Which patriot hearts would heed.
All through the North the ringing words
The loyal sailor spoke
Were borne as on some mighty wind,
And swift responses woke.
The hearts of men were stirred, forth cam
A strong, heroic band
And when the conflict closed, the flag
Was up in all the land.
"Let us have peace the victors said;
And peace with her white wings
Descended on the weary land
The peace love only brings;
Again one flag alone was seen
North, South and East and West
The flag for which our fathers fought
May blessings on it rest