Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-05-31

ment-unheard Of in democracy-un-
dreamed Of in power, unthought Of In
opportunity.
Again, a few years later. in our very
infancy, and hardly out OF our swad-
ding clothes, we struck for princi-
pie. This was when the kingdoms OF
Europe we're abused, rifled and paying
homage to the pirates Of the Barbary
States. when not one Of them raised
a hand against such barbarism, our
Nation sent Captain Preble from what
is now this grand old State, to show
those Tripolitan robbers that the cap
ture Of American vessels and demands
for American money could not be I'M
pudently permitted and struggling Tor
the principle of freedom. law and
equality. our government freed itself
and the enslaved monarchs OF Europe.
Once more, in 1872. we obtained the
freedom Of the seas from its former
mistress, raised American manhood
and prestige and established rules for
the great common highway" observed
by all nations today. And today the
American people are taking the same
stand for American rights and priVi-
leges on those same seas-Amerlcan
only in the sense of being requested
by Americans. but in reality for the
whole world and civilization.
We can well says with the poet:
NO. Freedom has thousand charms to
show
That slaves.-how e'er contented never
know.
Religion, virtue. truth, whate'er we call Il
A blessing,-Freedom is the pledge OF all.
The open sesame of these United
States is the fair daughter,
who cometh over the hills
Her garments with morning sweet.
The dance of a thousand rills
Making music before her feet
Her presence freshens the air
Sunshine steals light from her race,
The leaden footsteps of care
Leap to the tune of her pace.
Fairness of all that is fair,
Grace at the heart of all grace!
Sweetner of hut and of hall.
Bringer of life out of naught,
Freedom o, fairest of all,
The daughters of Time and Thought"
Between the period of 1872 and the
advent of the great Civil War. the
American spirit if we may call II
American, was purely colonial and al
though since ITS great progress had
been made in amalgamiZing the IL
colonies, yet the bond was loose one.
AS is shown by the Hartford Conven-
ton, held of New England States In
t1S14 for the purpose Of withdrawing
from the United States, owing to GER
tain sectionalism dissatisfaction, the
same kind of disunion seeds later sowr
jby Southern States During this time
cur ties, influences and traits all
~, IN G
methods and habitudes all favored OF
John Bull.
But gradually there was coming a
change. Our patriotism by 1850 was
, restless, uneasy, self-assertive toward
the rest of the world. while at home 1T
was Swallowed by dark clouds of the
slavery question AMI was suspicious
and highly localized" 1t was not cos
mopolitan, neither was it distinctive.
Each succeeding year brought its IN
crease of immigrants and unfolding or
commercial activity, but all ideas or
Nationalism were hidden in the
pcnumbra Of slavery.
The bringing to a head Of the last
really great principle for which we
have fought was signalized by the shot
fred on Fort Sumter in 1861. Then
arose the question of liberty ana
equality of man. Our forefathers had
talked. dreamed and studied liberty
liberty of the press. liberty Of thought,
liberty of tongue. liberty Of man. Ana
when our martyred President issued
his call to save the Union and to save
humanity. how noble the response!
II ere flowed in the veins OF the sol
diers of 81 blood not far removed
from the carvers of this mighty United
States. Born, bred. brought up ana
nurtured to do homage to no man-be
he king. duke, earl. car, or marquis
those brave sons Of civilization came
forth and offered as sacrifice Their
bodies and lives that a Nation might
| rve-that it might endure free to
mankind-that it might be perpetu-
ated a true land Of opportunity-that
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