The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1912-09-12
MEETING OF WALDO COUNTY VET.
ERANS.

The Waldo County Veteran association con-
vened in the Knights of Pythias hall at Filing
woods Corner, Sept. S, 1912. 1t was beaut-
full morning and at an early hour the vets be-
gan to arrive. The following towns were rep
resented: Belfast, Waldo, Swanville, Monroe,
jackson. Winterport, Frankfort, Prospect,
Searsport and Swanville. The president call
ed the forenoon meeting to order. which open
ed with singing of America. The records of
the last meeting were read and approved, and
Comrades Stinson, Knowlton and Clark were
appointed committee on the time and place
of the next meeting. Remarks by several of
the comrades followed and thel. the dinner
call sounded and a recess was taken and fine
repast enjoyed.
President Crockett called the afternoon
meeting to order, and after singing by the
choir Mrs. Belle ]. Palmer of Monroe offered
prayer. NoahWilson then delivered the follow :
ing address of welcome and it Vas voted that
it be printed in the county papers and in the
Daily News:
Mr.. President and Members of the Waldo
can not pay the debt Of gratitude that we owe
to the soldiers of the Civil War for the great
work which they accomplished, but we thought
we might show our appreciation by extending
to you cordial welcome. l believe it is the
duty of every citizen to welcome the veterans
on such occasions as this. know Of nothing
that could bind men together with the strong
ties of love and friendship so closely as for
them to stand by each other and face death
upon the battlefield, seeing your comrades
fall around you, and you, whom God has SPAR
ed, the feelings which you must have toward
ach Other when you meet on such occasions
as this is beyond description.
Had the south gained the end for which
they fought we might have met here today
under very different circumstances. The
United States no doubt would have consisted
of several small governments, and the condi-
tons in the southern part of the country
would have been similar to those which exist
in Mexico at the present time; but through
the effort of such men we welcome here to-
day it is possible for you to meet here as citi-
zens of the creates, nation under one govern
ment in the world.
/ have often heard it said that the feeling
that exists between the north and south
would never be the same as it was before the
war, but believe the citizens of the confed-
crate States respect the north. and love the
flag of their country better today than at any
time in the history of the nation.
A short time ago some of the soldiers of the
north and south met at reunion and arm IN
arm with each other they marched through
the streets of the city where they met. Men
who in the strength of their manhood fought
desperately with each other. one trying to
save the government and the flag and the
other trying to destroy them Then after
half century hao passed, and their locks had
turned gray, many of them SCARED and
MANNED by the awful conflict through which
they passed, they met and arm in arm with
each other marched through the streets of
city carrying as emblem of reconciliation
the flag they had once fought over. Such
things seem almost too sacred to speak of.
Again in the Spanish American War the
soldiers from the Confederate States fought
as Loyalty as any soldiers in the American
army, and if they are willing to lay down their
lives for the flag they once despised they
certainly must respect the men who saved
that flag for both the north and south.
And to you veterans assembled here today,
the victory must seem greater than it did
when Lee surrendered. Of course you were
glad to know that the war had ceased and that
it was possible for you to return to your
homes, but your nation was shattered by the
awful conflict through which it had passed,
and when you look upon your country as the
leading nation of the world and realize how
God has blessed the efforts you put forth so
many years ago, the victory must indeed
seem great to you, and as you look upon the
Stars and Stripes hanging here before you and
know that through your efforts there are no
stars missing from that flag. and that several
have been ADDED to it since the war, your
hearts must swell with pride.
We are proud to welcome you as soldiers of
the greatest nation in the world; prouder still,
to welcome you as soldiers of the greatest
State in that nation.
In busy haunts of traffic,
In cabin, ranch, or mine,
Mid southern groves and vineyards,
Where northern icebergs shine;
Far as our feet may wander
Our birthright still we claim,
In the State that leads the Union,
The grand old State of Maine.
Though was not born under the American
flag, yet appreciate the work you men took
part in for the uplifting of humanity, and
consider it duty as well as an honor to help
to welcome you here today.
/ need not speak of deeds of valor done.
There were many on both sides, but the record
that you men leave behind you is one that will
be an inspiration to the rising generations for
ages to come. You need no words of praise
spoken in your behalf. The stand which you
took when your country needed you is the
highest recommendation that any men could
have. Several of the veterans of the Civil
War live in my neighborhood; some of them
near neighbors to me. They are good neigh
bors, good citizens. You hear the same re-
port of them wherever you go. You have
proven yourselves to be loyal soldiers; you
have helped to break the bonds of slavery and
to save the greatest nation in the world from
ruin; and if there is any class of people to
whom we should open our hearts with welcome
it is to veterans of the Civil War. And to the
members Of the Waldo County Veteran Asso-
citation will say, hope it may be your privi-
lege to hold such meetings as this for many
years to come, without your ranks being broken;
and in behalf of the people of this vicinity
extend you cordial welcome.
Mrs. Belle ]. Palmer made fitting and
feeling response. Then following singing
by Mrs Smith and Mrs. Billings and recita-
ton by Noah Wilson; remarks by Comrades
Nickerson, Stinson, Crockett, Ellis and others;
and singing by Mrs. Billings. Mr.. and Mrs.
Noah Wilson were voted honorary members of
the association. The program was then con-
tinued, as follows: reading by Mrs. Mudgett;
remarks by Comrades Dunton. Spencer and
Smith; recitation by Mrs. Duncan; remarks by
Mrs. Palmer and Mrs. Leavitt. The commit
tee on time and place of next meeting report
ed as follows: time. first Thursday in October;
if stormy, the next fair day; place, Comet
Grange hall, Swanville. This is the yearly
meeting, with election of officers. The meeting
proved one Of our best. The hall was very
finely decorated with flags and fowers.-A
Stinson, Sec'y.