Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-05-09

He said that this war had it's Gene
sis half century ago when the Ger
many OF song and story became Prus-
sianized; the end Of Prussianism be-
ing the domination of the whole world.
Not for a moment during that half
century has the United States been
lett out Of their reckoning" he said.
The speaker declared that there was
something more to the rights OF ma
ton than the right to be Tree from in
vasion and cited the right to go down
70 the sea in ships" saying that the
deck Of an American snip is Us sacred
as American soil.
\ wave OF applause swept over the
great audience when he followed this
sta e:nent With the assertion that we
~ Ill, if necessary" build enough
Amer lean ships to make American soil
stretch across the Atlantic Ocean"
In closing Mi. Sowall paid a most
graceful tribute to the Hon. James G..
Blaine as the man who first brought
Germany to terms" when he was sec
rotary OF State.
"A little miss seated near the plat
form happened to notice that one of
2LGE US Ltt > llOlllIESlll tltiGCliS llttNi AZ
adNertcntly placed one of his feet on a
foid OF red, white and blue bunting
which drapad the stage, and she in
stantly spoke to him about it, the gen
tleinan hastily removing the offending
member. with a word of thanks to the
little lady A moment later veteran
bent with age and the reults of ex-
posture, pushed his way up the steps
saying, Let me IN. l want to see my
old flag" and Hon. Charles Johnson
aided him to get, through the crowd.
Hon. Charles Johnson
Mayor Swift next introduced ex-
Senator Johnson. who was accorded
hearty applau as he stepped to the
front Of the platform.
Mr.. johnson said in part:
Here in this historic spot, on this
hallowed ground, in sight of the s,list-
ching waters Of the broad Kennebec
we, the descendants Of those who bore
the flags, tatterel and blood stained,
which we SO sacredly preserve in cur
Capitol, by the blessed memories of
those who have gone and eternal graf
ltude and reverence for those who re-
main swear our fealty to our flag and
the cause in which it will be borne
Nay our VOW lie borne by the waters
Of our beautiful river to the sea and
then over its vast cXpanse until it's
waves bearing our message shall lap
the shores Of stern old Mother Eng
land and those of our sweet SISTER
france.
So lorg as our country needs de-
lenders, here, she shall find them, and
ready and willing hearts and hands
for her service. The spirit which
nds expression IN your faces is suf-
ifciont guaranty Of the promise l have
made You viii redccln it. Lacause the
patriotic fe1vor that CLOVIS in your
!carts will rot permit you to do 9TH
rWiSc.
These Thousands to whom ! am at
mpting to speak with the thousands
our citizens who are unable to be
ere, recognize the seriousness of our
1tional situation. 1t will be more
rcrcibly borne upon us when. in a
few days the government lays its
hands upon our boys and leads them
away for the most glorious service to
which their lives can be dedicated.
As the beauty Of our happy condi-
ton and familiar scenes decorated
with the blessings of peace. pass be-
fore cur mind we can understand the
/ agony Of mind out of which our hon
! ored President spoke when in closing
that immortal message to Congress
on April last, he said ut is a fear
full thing to lead this great peaceful
: PEOPLE into war. into tho most terri
bic and disastrous OF all wars civiliz-
alton itself seeming to be in the bal
ancc." T.ut we find with him coasola-
+! ton in the thought that he so well
| expressed: THE right is more pre-
cious then peace end we shall fight for
the things which we have ALWAYS car
! ried nearest our hearts-for democ-
racy for the rieht Of those who sub
! nit to authority to have a voice in
! their own governments. for the rights
and liberties; of small nations for a
| universal dominion Of right by such
n concert Of FREQ people as shall bring
peace md safety to all nations and
make tho world itself at last free To
! such a task we can dedicate our lives
ond our fortunes, everything that we
! are and everything that we have with
tho pride Of those who know that the
DAY has come when America is priv
! iIedeed t. spend her blood and her
| mieht for the principle that gave her
birth and happiness and the peace she
has treasured God helping her she
can do no other"
"One great preparation had to be
! made in this country before 1t was
ready for war.
TT is true that our army was pitt
fully small; our navy inadequate,
though ship for ship and man for man