Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-01-22
It may not be improper for me to sub
mit-a few remarks; and promise the

| Senate that will be very brief.
| There is pending, before the Con-
/ gress of the United States, bill to
tcreate in the war department what is
termed. Volunteer Retired List and
authorizing the placing upon that list
! with retired pay certain officers who
were in the volunteer army during the
Civil War.
Approximately about $500 veteran
officers are affected by the bill The
smaximum expense will be about $5,-
1 100000. The Acts of 1928 and 1892,
and sailors of the Revolutionary War,
are referred to as precedents for this
bill
When the bills Of 1928 and 1882 were
before Congress, Daniel Webster, who
was then a member of the United
Senate, said in support Of the bills that
the ground for the enactment Of these
bills was mixed effect of faith and
benevolence, Of gratitude and bounty
The country to which these men rem
dered services is now rich and prosper
GUS. They have lived to see the coun-
try glorious. May they not live to see
it unkind!
Speaking for myself, Webster said,
can only give, in support of these
bills, my vote and my prayers, but
those I give with all my heart.
Now, Gentlemen Of the Senate, it is
not my intention to give in detail my
reasons for the adoption of these reso-
lutions; nor do I deem it necessary,
because they are written on the hearts
| in ho Of
triotic American No human scales
can adequately determine the value Of
the services of the Northern soldier.
He lifted four million black men from
| the grinding mills of servitude to the
light of day. He wrote with pencil
Of iron upon the brow Of the continent
that never again should it be trodden
by a slave. He cemented the fabric of
the Union by his blood. Were it not
for him, the Union would today be
rent into discordant factions, and the
Mississippi would be a second Rhine,
with the Blue Watch on one side and
the Grey upon the other. He lifted
mankind to a higher level than it had
ever reached before. Mankind and
the Nation owe to him a debt of graft
tude that it can never repay. How
fttingly, as applied to him, are the
words of Duncan to Macbeth: Thou
are SO far before that swiftest wing
Of recompense is slow to overtake
thee. Would that thou had less de-
served that the proportion both of
thanks and payment might be mine!
Only I have left to say, more is thy
due than more than all can pay"
Now, on account of the infirmities of
age. business reverses and the mis-
fortunes which brave, generous, frank
and noble natures sometimes meet
when coming in contact with the ma
terial, calculating world. these men
are, many of them, in destitute con-
dition and sadly in need of the stipend
and the compensation which this bill
will give.
The states Of Wyoming, Colorado,
Illinois, Ohio and New York, through
their Legislatures, have passed resolu-
lions similar to this Surely the Leg
isiature of Maine will not be less con-
siderate, less humane or less generous
than the Legislatures of our sister
| states.
These resolutions. senators, are in
harmony and consistent with the glori
Gus ana historic past of Maine. Sew
/ erty-tWo thousands of her sons wore
| the Blue. There is not a battlefield of
the Civil War from Bull Run to APP
! " nattny which has not been illustrat-
"a by their valor and c0nsecrated by
! ii il blood. our great commanders,
/ Gerry. Howard, Chamberlain, Dow,
| ~ ssenden and Conner will forever
.rilt! the pages of history and will be
written in inperishable characters high
! anon the scroll OF immortal fame
Mr. STAPLES of Knox: Mr.. PreSi
! dent. nave hncn asked to second the
resolve of the distinguished senator
| nom Cumberland. 1t gives me great
pleasure upon this occasion to say a
few words in behalf of that resolve.
This grand country of ours. with the
privileges that we enjoy, is indebted
to the patriotism of the American peo-
pie There is something touching in the
suggestion in the resolve offered by
the distinguished senator from Cum
be rland: and it deserves at our hands
today something more than passing
notice. We all admire this govern
ment; and 1 am glad, when we come
to a question like this, that partisan
ship is laid one side and that we can
|
and promoting the patriotism of the
American people. We have passed
through a crucial test. the formation
ard perpetuation of this government
by those scar-worn veterans who
fought that we might live-a govern
ment to be perpetuated for all time
and to live forever. Patriotism has
been fostered for a great many years
in this country and it should be in
order to keep up that degree of pat
riotism which is the bulwark of
American liberty of our forefathers.
No child can read history and not be
thrilled with the love of human liber-
ty and with the flag of our country.
No one caI stand under that grand
shaft, the Washington monument,
without thinking of the sacrifice it
means and that made it possible for us
to have a grand government such as
the world never knew. That was erect
ed as an object lesson to the youth of
this country and it has proved a noble
thing. When our forefathers in rs
fought, as they fought for human lib