The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1908-06-04
Our Heroes Memory Honored
Continued rom first page


Continued from first page
of the state were experiencing I'M
favorable weather, the day was ab-
solutely ideal here. The temperature
was about sixty eight and there was
just breeze enough to stir the foliage.
! rhe dust had been laid by the mod
! crate rainfall of the few preceding
days and every condition seemed
ordered for the best for the long
march between the two cemeteries
and the out of door exercises. The
exercises at the Church were impress
sive and interesting and were listened
/ to with the best of attention. Colonel
Bangs Speach, a condensed summary
of which we publish below, followed
lines of thought not often entered
upon in a Memorial Day address. 1t
was evident that the speaker believed
the historical aspect of the war and
The noble service of the members of
the Grand Army of the Republic in
connection there with, had been re-
peatedly presented, and, while these
subjects were not entirely neglected,
they were touched upon mainly as a
text from which to draw lessons as
to the duties of the present and 1t was
the latter to which the major part of
the address was devoted. The
speaker strove to make his hearers
realize the worth of the heritage
preserved to us by the soldiers of
sixty one to sixty five, to point out
some of the dangers which now
menace the nation, and to urge upon
every one the most serious reflection
regarding them.
Memorial Day is the one time of
the year given over entirely to the
lessons of patriotism. 1t was notieea-
BILE that, the present year, there was
heard nothing of the sports and
events which have sometimes broken
in upon it's solemnity in past years.
Its influence cannot fail to be enobl
ing and it's observance, last Saturday,
was well directed to answer most
fully the best purposes of the day.
SYNOPSIS OF THE ADDRESS.
Among all nations within the range
of the historians pen, certain days
have been set apart in which TO COM
memorate great events, and il is not
inapt on this day of days that we
should pause before the memories
cluste ring around our dead, and con-
slider in the light of the past, the
duties of the present hour. But not
the present alone should engage our
attention.
Sweeping through the gates of the
! twentieth century our eyes behold
the rising dawn of such rare POSSIBLE
ties as may we'll inspire the patriotism
which rests in loving radiance upon
+ "a of nd
nestles there betwixt her mountain
peaks, through all the day shines
down in glad surprise on freedoms
widening fields. 1t needs no Pro-
phets vision then to foresee events
which like the waves of the sea come
/ flooding in upon the tide of progress
and sure enterprise, bearing upon
their crest the future nagnificence
of this country. The material pros
perity accompanying these conditions
is beyond ordinary comprehension
and can hardly be computed.
But the most important and far
reaching influence that can be named
is that of the advance of personal
liberty illustrated by freedom of
thought, speech and action following
the establishment of civil rights
among nation of slaves in which the
Grand Army of the Republic 80 con-
spicuously participated. 1t is not
necessary at this time to speak of
that heroic struggle between different
ideas embodied in the war of the
rebellion for is it not written in our
hearts and homes, and in million
graves which loving hands shall
decorate today? There let it rest
reposefully as text and incentive to
those who gather round our hearth
stones and listen with filial pride and
veneration to the recital of those
eventful days.
But war does not always call us to
mortal combat, but oftenest to that
conflict between principles of right
and the power of wrong which has
been since the world began and shall
continue while time shall last.
/ War is natural element of erea-
tion and serves its own great pur-
poses with unerring fidelity. The
poet may sing of 'peace beginning to
be deep as the sleep of the sea-"
but sleep is death, decay and DISCO
luton lie buried in the grave of a
continual sleep and immortality
comes only through the throes of
evolution, that eternal principle of
life.
So today, do not sing the praises
of peace or even compromise; | lay
my gift upon an altar made sacred by
the sacrifices of a million lives and
ask you all both old and young to
pledge me in memory of those who
laid aside the pen, forsook the plough,
threw off the surplice and the gown,
and with uncovered head swear meath
their bated breath to save the flag the
dear old flag or die.
On thousand hills today, we are
scattering flowers above the dead
ashes of those whose souls are march
ing on, and voices that have long
been stilled in death come echoing
back to us with insistent pathos ask
ing us to make war upon the mer-
cenaries who are debauching our
public utilities to their own selfish
purposes, and | seem to hear from
every grassy mound whispering
breath; Ito arms, to arms"
And SO the message that bring to
you is not of peace and does not ad-
vocate obedience to corporate de-
mands the right, the power TO dictate,
hes with the people, and should be used
with no uncertain hand in battling
/ 'gainst evil combinations. Accept no
compromise with wrong that honest
votes can foil, and fight the battle out