Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-05-31

| Throughout the land, lay everywhere
the shadow OF death. and the results
of war, what business there was, re-
Hated mostly to war-everywhere one
turned, you marked all the sadness
land the cost OF the greatest war of
modern times. and with it all, fifty
years ago, there loomeds over against
| Pennsylvania Southern territory
boundary, the terror of an advancing
foe, the imminent danger of the fall of
the government and the triumph of
rebellion and secession Then came
the furious battle of Gettysburg-de-
stined to mark the beginning of the
end of the Confederate cause. Through
three whole days, the battle ragged I'M
| til the failure of Picketts gallant
charge compelled Lees retreat. The
North was saved from the peril of in
lvasion, but at what terrible cost.
Think my friends, we who do not
know the horrors of war, of $4,000 men
dead or dying on the fields of Gettys-
burg, 1t is not strange that our great
Lincoln said, when the II acres about
Cemetery Ridge were dedicated as a
National cemetery, in November lsf
1--WE cannot dedicate-we cannot
conservative cannot hallow this
ground The brave men, living
and dead, who struggled here
have consecrated it. far above
our poor power to add or detract. The
world will little note. nor long remember
what we say here. but il can never for
get what they did here Maine has her
roots deep bedded in that sacred ground.
as in many another tragic but glorious
field The bodies of the 104 known sons
of Maine lie buried. with others. no
doubt. among the unknown dead. beneath
the ground, where one who was there
writes, "in proportion to the number of
her troops in the action, no one of the
is states whose regiments flew the stars
and stripes on this hard-fought field con-
tributed more than Maine to this victory.
Three batteries and seven regiments
made their presence known. Their shots
went home. They stood immovable as
tile granite monuments that now mark
their position. The pine tree Is Il sturdy
plant II is not easily moved. And the
sons of the Pine Tree State We're as
sturdy as their native trees. From the
1st day when Hairs and Stevens batter
les hurled their goblets of first and death
into the oncoming ranks of HITS and
Ewells forces, until the last day when
the 18th Maine. pouring its thanking fire
into Pickett's men. helped turn the tide
in favor of the Union, Maine made a
State record, as we'll as national his
tory
All this, and more is recorded in the
story of the war. From the day when
Gov. Israel Washburn accepted the first
company of volunteers-the Lewiston
Light Infantry, until that day wnen Au-
gusta's own son. Gen. Seth Williams car
ried Gen. Grants first letter to Gen. Lee,
through the enemys lines at the peril of
his life. Maine men We're at the front.
From Bull Run to Appomatox, from the
Wilderness to Baton Rouge; from Peters
burg to Hilton Head, Maine was distin
guished. Now II was the seventh regi
ment. commanded at Gettysburg by the
then Lieutenant-Col. Selden Conner, per-
sonally thanked by Gen. Mcclellan Tor
distinguished service after Williamsburg
or it was Gen. Kearney speaking of the
battle of Seven Pines. who said. ''Ine
brigade has done noby. sir. and the
Third and Fourth Maine can't be beat.'
Her regimental banners bore the names
of many bloody battle and the pages
of war records, the acts of many a ga.-
liant son of Maine
Our history in the Civil War is a brave
tale of heroic days. 1t should be treas
ured in loving hearts and retold to our
boys and girls, that they may know and
love our great Epic as the Greek yout i
did the tales Of Xenophon and Homer
NE cannot build up a nation of patriots
unIes they are fed upon IDEAS and we
are told in the proverb: that nothing
moves men like tales of eioguence and
heroism. Neither Rome nor Greece or
any other nation has more moving
story of moral courage than our IIvii
War brought forth. Shall We let the story
die shall We permit our youth TO for
get what stirred the nation to its very
quick. because, forsooth, We have no time
or thought? Are we teaching them the
strength, the beauty and holiness OF
growth and development as true citizens
OF the land? We may not separate pa
triotism and religion, any more than we
can home and country. The Well known
phrase. For God, for home and native
land, is the slogan that must stand in
this land If we are to create and perpet-
uate the true idealism and spiritua; pow
er which alone can keep us sound and
strong. II is in our hearts and conscion-
ces that the nations energy is stored 1t
Is titanic force assembled 1t can
move the world and send its influence
vibrating down through the cons of time.
But it all comes from our many million
hearts and consciences each making in
iiuenee in his time and place, and that
comes from the inspiration of the Iast
and the idealism for the futupei o,fi eiai
Therefore. it seems incumbent upon us
as good citizens that we should preserve
the spirit, as we'll as the name. of Me-
mortal day by recalling it's memories OF
heroism and devotion, and the great
principles OF the patriotic ideal which
called forth such heroism and devotion.
And finally, last but not least, the fact
that only as We develop the great spirit
uai FORCES OF the nation through its laws
and It's customs can we preserve that al
| lance between God and man, without
which, no nation can long endure.
We should be thankful that we have
| such day. when spiritual and earthly
ideals may be called to mind to our re-
/ freshment. when we may offer our public
1 acknowledgment of what We owe our