Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-05-31
TO THOSE WHO DIED
SERVING COUNTRY.
Thousands of Civil War Veterans
Pay High Tribute to Memory of
Dead Comrads-=-MOnument In
yelled in Honor of The Maine.
IN HONOR OF THE MAINE.

/ ->.----
New York, May 30.-In memory O
the 267 officers and men who were los
with the battleship Maine in Havana
iarbor, ID years ago, the Nationa
Maine monument was dedicated here
today. From dozen American war
ships, units of the Atlantic fleet al
anchor in the Hudson river, salute
Of 252 guns echoed from the Palisades
as the veil was swept aside that re-
vealed the country's tribute-A pylon
10 feet high that stands in Contra
PARK, overlooking Columbus Circle.
Noted citizens spoke words of praise
fer the dead heroes of the war wit,
Spain and for those who live Former
President Taft, the secretary of the
navy, the Governor of Maine and New
York, representatives of the Cubai
Republic and others took part in The
exercises.
A military parade along Fifth ave
hue preceded the ceremonies at tn
monument headed by Rear Admira
Winslow, the grand marshal. 5000 sol
diers and sailors, including the vet
Grams of two wars, marched throug
a lane formed by many thousands o
holiday sight-seers. American infan,
tiI, artillery. navy yard marines, blue
jackets from the battleships. state
militia, Civil and Spanish War Vet.
Grams, Cuban troops and sailors from
the cuba, the island republics nava
representatives, these and others Were
in the line of march.
Gen. James Grant Wilson, who pre-.
sided at the dedication, read a letter
from President Wilson MY thoughts
vii be very much with you as will
a measure the thought of the Who'll
country, the President wrote. .Al
Americans must look back 10 the
tragedy of the Maine with the pro
foundest sentiments Of sorrow for tbs
file men WHO then so tragieally ant
unexpected lost their lives. and mus
always feel that Ia hases heefT tof4s.ssu
tie turning points of our conscious
ness Of what was involved in til,
struggle for human liberty
II was late in the afternoon. when
George Hearst, young son of William
randolph Hearst, member of the
National Maine Monument Commit
lee, unveiled the monulpent. AS the
Heets guns doomed their tribute a
floral counterpart of the cid Maine was
released to the Hudson's waters from
sang America.
Mayor Gaynor accepted the memo
rial on behalf of the city.
Wreaths were placed at the mon
ument's base. One from President
Wilson was laid by the Rev. John p
Chadwick, chaplain of the Maine wher
the explosion occurred
William Howard Taft in his ad.
dress characterized the dedication a.
an enduring witness to three facts.
THE first is the gratitude that ou
country feels toward the men VIII,
went down on the Maine, in that the,
gave their lives in her service h,
declared. The second is the birth O
a new people and the founding of ;
new nation through our disinterestet
aid and sacrifice. The third is the ex
pansion of this nation into wide
sphere of world usefulness and great
er responsibility among the natioa
than ever before in its history"
After referring to the official in
vestigator's report that the explosion
was due to an outside cause and
hostile hand, Mr. Taft paid tribute t
| the men of the Maine
Referring to Cuba, Mr.. Taft declar
ed the Island Republic Is Our foste
child. AS she .errs in the youth o
her national life the United State
| must bear with her and aid her." h
| said. adding:
| I'VE must hold to a persistent pur
l ~ int In,
dent and self-respecting republic. Thi
monument should typify in it's endur
ing character the permanence of tn
new government which it is our dut
to preserve"
Mr. Taft spoke of Americas growt
of responsibility. The wonderful ma
| terial expansion in the development @
this continent between the Atlantic an
the Pacific, the enormous increase i
population and the correspondent
1 growth in national power have give
| US u position among the countries o
tile world that we must recognize an
that we must take with its correspond
ing responsibilities whether we woui
or no." said the former President. Tn
possession G new territory includin
the Philippines, thrust upon the coun
: try. Mr.. Taft concluded, new rela
| tions with the rest of the world that "
cannot escape. 1t gives us an Asiati
, status which brings us close TO Chin
J anG doubles our interest In the Pa
cific. II we would exercise tie infiu
ences we ought to exercise for good
| the world we must accept responsible
ity commensurate With our nations
strength and our opportunities for use
: fulness"
$ Secretary Daniels paid a tribute
!, tile Names dead. reciting incidents {
t bravery when the explosion occurred
. I'm the whole range of patriot
I, story. as it comes to us in tales of Il
: sea, there is no finer illustration {
!. heroism than that exhibited at II
e time of the blowing up of the Maine
Ii This was the trihuate paid by Sc