Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-06-01
York. listening to a Memorial address

by Senator Blackburn of Kentucky,
himself an eX-Confederate. ASK any
intelligent and predetermined man who
has travelled through both North ana
South and come in contact with the
best sentiment of both sections, or VINO
has ever been fortunate enough to wit
ness Il mingling of blue and gray
veterans in reunion.
When the great Grant said Let US
have peace and when the salnted
Lincoln fell at the hands of an as
sassin, the work of healing the wounds
of the war began. The soothing touch
of time continued the work for third
of a century. Then came the crisis of
1898, when the cause of humanity and
civilization demanded our Intervention
in Cuba, bringing on war with Spain.
That little war,-a minor conflict, IN
deed, in comparison with that in which
you bore a part,-waS fraught with
mighty results. 1t gave relief and in
dependence to a people long crushed
beneath the cruel heel of expressions; 1t
forced upon our country vast posses
sionS beyond the seas, and with them
great responsibilities and OppOrtuni-
ties; it gave the world new
realization of our power and
Importance among nations; and it
showed humanity a spectacle never
seen before, that of great nation en-
gaging in an absolutely unselfish war
in behalf of another and setting it up
as a free and independent republic.
But more than all this, and making it
worth all that it cost that little war
in the spring of 1898 welded the
sections of our common Union closer
together than they had ever been be-
fore, and did more to heal the wounds
of the Civil War than could have been
done in a hundred years of peace.
A million hearts were thrilled in
North and South alike, and the I'M
hidden tears sprang into the eyes Of
many old soldiers in both sections,
when the menace of a foreign foe
brought the sons of those who wore
the blue and the sons of those who
wore the gray side by side in one
army, with the Stars and Stripes wav-
ing above them. Then the country
knew and the world knew that the
bloody gulf was indeed closed up, and
that sectionaliSm was forgotten forever
in the call of our common country
The grandson of Grant served on the
staff of a Lee. The first naval officer
killed under our flag was a son of
North Carolina. The one whose
spectacular deed of daring at Santiago
harbor thrilled the world was son of
Alabama. Our cavalry forces in Cuba
were led by 'Fighting Joe" Wheeler,
the old rebel leader who was as full
of fight as 40 years before, and who
two years ago at this time visited this
city and addressed the veterans at
ToSus. year ago he died and he
was buried wrapped in the folds of the
American flag.
Today the North itself is no more
loyal to the Union than is the South.
The South, to be sure. is still strug-
Cling with problems that grew out of
the war, and it still cherishes extreme
ly active political prejudices. There
is no likelihood that these problems
will be fully solved in the near future,
or that these prejudices will soon be
overcome, but this does not prevent
the South from being proud of the
Union as a whole, or from being glad
that it is still 4 par5 of it, or from be-
ing ready TO do is full share in de-
Tending the old flag, whenever the
need arises. Occasionally the voice
of some political demagogue is raised
in the South, the voice of ignorance
and passion which seems an echo of the
long dead past, with all its animosities
and selfishness and misunderstanding
Such voices, unfortunately, are not
wholly unknown in our own section of
the land, but just as these voices are
far from expressing the real sentiment
Il this section so those voices by 10
means speak for the South of today
That South, the new South and the
true South Of these times, cherishes no
bitterness for the war which freed the
slaves and kept the Union whole. In
its heart there is no resentment toward
the victorious North, and no regret for
the outcome of the struggle. 1t real
ICES and frankly admits that slavery
was a curse and attempted secession
a mistake: that it is better off since the
slaves We're freed, and that its hap
picst lot is as a part Of the undivided
and undiviSible Union of states That
is the South of today. thank God, 1t
is not the South you veterans knew,
40 years ago, but it has been built
upon the buried past of that old South
as q result of the great war you fought
and won.
And there is still one more question
which suggests itself: Arc the sons Of
today worthy of their sircs? Would
they have the spirit to do and die for
the flag which inspired you and your
comrades 40 years ago? To this qucs-
ton also but one answer can be given
The veterans are passing on. but their
sons and grandsons are with u.s.
have already answered the question in
touching upon the events of the war
with Spain and the loyalty of all sec
tions to the reunited Union. I will
answer it further only by referring to
a single incident which is familiar to
many Of you. Each year when the
National Guard of Maine holds it's en-
campment in this city we behold a
most inspiring and uplifting spectacle.
Let me tell it as I saw it a year or two
ago. At the end of the week. when