Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1912-06-05
MEMORIAL DAY.
USUAL OBSERVANCE BY VIM. II.
RICE POST.
ELOQUENT ADDRESS BY REV. R. B.
MATHEws-sUNDAy EVENING
MEMORIAL SERVICE.

Thursday was cold and stormy, and seri-
ously interfered with the usual observ-
ances of the Gay. In spite OF it all, de-
tachments of Grand Army boys, ably as
sisted by friends, visited the cemeteries
and other burial places, and decorated the
graves of their deceased brothers in arms.
Within the limit of Ellsworth about 200
graves were decorated. The post has the
satisfaction of not having lost member
since last Memorial day.
The exercises at the monument were
omitted. At p. m. the post marched TO
Hancock hail led, as last year, by Comrade
H. Nelson Joy, fifer, and John A. Stuart,
drummer.
The hall was handsomely decorated
with spring flowers, evergreen and the
national colors artistically drsped. The
exercises opened with singing by a
quartet, consisting OF B. L. Potter, tenor,
Miss Mary F. Hopkins, soprano, Mrs.
FL. Z. Rowe, alto, J. A. Cunningham,
bass; Mrs. Harvard Greedy, accompanies.
This was followed by prayer offered by
Rev. S. Milton Beckwith.
read Lincoln's Gettysburg address. After
another song His Honor Mayor Cunning
ham introduced the orator OF the day, Rev.
r. B. Mathews, who delivered a master
full address, which,only the limitations OF
country paper prevent us from printing in
full. In brief the speech said.
There are two ways OF observing the occa-
sion; BY dwelling on the great deeds of the
past; by making them and the principles
they represent the inspirations for the future.
The basic principle of the trainers of the re-
public was-life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness-the right OF every man. We pos
sess an individual, n domestic. an industrial.
a social, political life. In each sphere we
demand protection, and the right TO complete
self-development.
There are four historical phases OF the
principle of liberty in this country. /. The
Pilgrims-religioas liberty; 2. The Revolu-
tion-no taxation without representation; no
government without the consent of the gov
erned. 3. The Rebeliion-The rights of each
state preserved only by union with the whole;
slavery incompatible with genius OF the re-
public; the laborer worthy OF his hire. 4.
The Spanish war Liberty q seh-propagating
force; oppression cannot exist on our
boundaries.
The first example needs no discussion; re-
ligious liberty is assured. The second ex-
ample showed the form of taxation which
great monopolies exact from people: showed
the need of a higher ciyiliEing force; of carry
ing finer culture; of conserving nobler prin-
ciples that it may impress its ideals Of civ
ilization on weaker peoples for the good OF
the whole.
The third example set forth that there is
slavery in the lsbo world in the oppression
of the laborer, l. women. of children; that
the laborer is no longer worthy of his hire
when demagogues incite to labor war; when
contracts are broken. When capital and
labor stand at war we are revolving against
fundamental principle of the republic.
The fourth example, the speaker said, JUS
tifes the United States a colonizing
force.
In discussing the pursuit of happiness,
Mr.. Mathews said the Greek philosophy
made happiness and virtue coincident. We
may esteem it as the general good, and
such good is to be obtained by the conserva-
ton of our resources-mep, women and chill
dren; by surrounding life with the utmost
good; by housing; by aids TO health; by bet
ter means of livelihood; by developing in the
young the highest patriotism: by the spirit
of sacrifice; by loyalty to the flag and all
which il symbolizes.
The exercises closed with the singing of
America. Mr.. Mathews pronounced the
benediction.
The post then reformed and marched to
the hall, and partook Of bountifuI coll
lation prepared by the women of the re-
lief corps.