Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-05-31
IN HONOR OF THE MAINE.
Continued from Page one.)

rotary Daniels to the heroes of the
battleship Maine, blown up in the har-
Dor of Havana, Cuba, on the night of
February Is, 1898, in an address here.
today. The occasion was the dedica-
ton of the National Maine monument
at the Columbus Circle entrance to
Central Park.
why is it," Secretary Daniels ask
ed, that we seldom see a monumen
erected to a doctor, n teacher, a
preacher. or a statesman, except the
statesman who served in time of war
while genius and art are brought un-
der contribution to give us stately fig
ares in bronze of soldiers and sailors?
have asked that question not few
times of myself and of others. The
common answers are that the enthu-
siasm ana the imagination are kindled
by the bearings of men in arms. that
such men are the incarnation of pa
trlotism, or that 1t is the expression of
gratitude to the men who are the de-
tenders of the national honor
"Either reason would be sufficient to
win the appreciation of the people and
~ make the sailor or soldier the ex
emplar of ambitious youth. But IT,
real reason for the partiality toward
military leaders lies deeper than graft
tude or enthusiasm or patriotism.
has been found in the eternal truths
To which divinity gave its seal of APP
prevail when the Maker of man gave
His Son to die for the race
.'The sailors on the Maine, in Havana
harbor who We're rudely disturbed from
their slumber only to be hurried INTO
what we mistakenly call eternal steep,
were at their places Of duty. They mad
surrendered what is most priced by eth-
or men; they had conseefated their lives
10 the defence of the nation and its
homes: they were the guardians of tine
lives and prosperity of Americans at
home and abroad. How beautiful Is the
life welded to duty. How glorious Is
the spirit of the sailor who gives up ali
to stand watch for his race, unatrald,
he is the man on the tower answering
when asked 'Watchman, tell US of the
night
Il am thrilled" the secretary eontin-
ued, ''as / see with my minds eye that
picture of scene i'm the darkness OF
that dreadful night. of Private William
Anthony saluting Captain sissbee ana
reporting. The ship is blow up, and Is
sinking. sir The incident gathers INTO
a focus the navy's loyalty to the flag.
sigsbee and Anthony are representative
and tpyical-the one an officer of hign
rank, stumbling up from his cabin
through the dark 10 assert ms
command and snatch order out of
the confusion; the other an enlisted
man, faithful unto death and performing
his duty at the risk of life itself, under
circumstances so unusual that failure to
do so would never be considered even as
a breach.
If the navy is the strong arm of the
government, the protector of our homes
and the defender Of the treasury. con-
tinued the secretary. lit is because of the
harmonious and effective working togeth-
er of these two types. In this meeting
on the deck Of the sinking Maine, we
have them brought together In a moment
of glory, in an Incident of heroism that
has permanently lodged itself in hlsto-
ry."
We speak of the heroes of the Maine
as if they Were dead said Secretary
Daniels in conclusion, put ought we not
TO feel that they live always by their
sacrifices, stimulating us to patriotic
achievements"
Gov Haines of Maine bespoke his
states commemoration in the fullest
spirit of respect and patriotism
= Senior Calderon, Cuban charge daft
flares and president of the Cuban COM
mission, expressed his republics trib-
ute. Gov. Sulzer spoke on behalf of
New York state and William r. Hearst
for the committee. Rear Admiral Sigs-
bee, who wash command of the Maine
wheE the explosion occurred. recalled
the February night, in 1898, when the
Maine went down.