Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1907-06-05
MEMORIAL DAY.
ELLSWORTH PAYS TRIBUrE TO
SOLDIER DEAD.
GOOD DELEGATION OF VETERANS IN
LINE = EXERCISES OF TIE Day
ADDRESS OF cHIEF-JusFicE
l. A. EMERY.

Memorial Day was observed much as
usual in Ellsworth. In the early morning
rain threatened, but this did not deter
the details from VIM. II. II. Rice post from
visiting the various cemeteries in the vi
cinity and decorating the graves Of dead
comrades.
By noon, the skies frightened, and when
the line OF veterans formed for the march
to the soldiers monument, they mustered
about sixty strong. Lynch's band es-
corted the veterans to the monument where
the usual ritual service was held.
The lines was then reformed, and
marched to. Hancock hall for the after
AT HANCOCK HALL.
After the members Of the post had
marched to the seats assigned them, the
doors were thrown open to the public,
and the hall was quickly filled. A selec-
ton by the band, which was stationed in
the gallery, was followed by a well-ren-
dered solo by Miss Maud Trundy, Miss
NJ. A. Hodgkins at the piano. Rev. J. D.
Prigmore offered prayer; Rev. 8. W. SUIT
ton read from the scriptures; bass solo by
Rev. p. A. A. Killam.
Mayor A. w. Greedy then arose and in
troduced the orator of the day in the fol-
lowing words;
Soldiers OF the Grand Army of the Republic:
The war of the Rebellion in which you took
part, and in which SO many of your comrades
sacrificed their lives in defense of the honor.
the maintenance and perpetuity of our
country, and that there should be but one
flag to float over our broad land, ended forty
two years ago--a long time in years, but a
short time in memory.
Thirty mine years ago was established for
the first time the beautiful and tender custom
of decorating the graves of your fallen COM
rades with flags. wreaths and flowers. GUS
tom which. doubtless, win be kept up until
the last veteran Of that war shall have been
mustered into that mighty army which has
passed to the great beyond; custom, too,
which has we'll nigh become universal in our
country.
Each succeeding year of those thirty nine
years, you, comrade& have gathered together
and faithfully fulfilled the rites of your
order. and decorated the graves of your com
rades, thus keeping the memories of your
comrades green.
The highest honor that can be done to the
memory Of the dead and living comrades Of
that war, is, to quote the words Of one OF
the greatest Of Americans:
ut is for us, the living, to be dedicated 10
the unfinished work which they who fought
have so nobly advanced. 1t is for us to be
us-that from the honored dead we take in
creased devotion to that cause for which they
gave the last full measure Of devotion-that
we highly resolve. that those dead shall not
have died in vain.''
Another interesting custom you have fol-
lowed in those years has been-and is-to
listen to memorial addresses You have
heard many distinguished, interesting and
entertaining speakers, but I venture to say
that to none will You have listened with more
pleasure and satisfaction than to the gentle
man who is to address you to-day-our dis
tinguished fellow-citizen and the honored
chief Justice of our State, the Honorable L.
A. Emery, whom now introduce.
Chief-Justice Emery, as he stepped to
the front Of the platform, was warmly
gr1eted. His masterful address, one Of
best ever listened to ON Memorial Day
in Ellsworth, was as follows:
and Feilo1r- Citizens:
On this Memorial Day, though our
country il happily at peace, our minds re-
vert to the awful war now nearly fifty
years past; not in exultation over the vic
tory, but in sorrow over the sacrifice; not
to shout joyful pseans, but to chant
nournful requiems; not to call the living
to arms, but to honor the lamented dead /;
not to glorify war, but to counsel peace.
The most earnest opponent Of war may
consistently join in the commemorative
exercises of this day, for whatever may be
said in condemnation Of other wars waged
by this country, there were two it could
Revolution and that known % the war OF
the Rebellion. Both OF these were purely
defensive wars forced upon an unwilling
people.
It was mot till tie British troops fred
upon the farmers lawfully assembled on
Lexington common, that the answering
shot was fired that was heard around the
world. It was not till the batteries at
Charleston opened fire on Fort Sumter
that the country rose in armed resistance,
Neither attack was justified in the opinion
Of mankind at the time or since. Resist
ance was everywhere recognized as inn
perative, il orr people were to continue
free and peaceful.
The attack by the British king and min
istry upon the people and governments Of
the English colonies in America was con-