The Republican journal., 1921-10-13
o the point and filled with just PRIDE.

The bridge is the County's most valua-
Bile possession and the care ana CUSTODY
of the beautiful bronze tablet that graces
its massive structure is in the hands OF
the American Legion, after the brilliant
speech of acceptance by Col sweeney,
Gen. Edwards representative. The COL
oneps manly bearing, thoughtful air in
connection with the noble thoughts and
high ideals of his address were reassur-
ing to the thinking public. If he repre-
sents the strength of our Army the des-
tiny of our country is in safe hanos. Col.
Sweeney cut his manuscript short IN sew
eral places. We have the manuscript
and rather than cut it we have deferred
it with other interesting matter to our
next issue.
Gov, Baxter was greeted with three
lusty cheers by the men and an ovation
by the women and children that spoke
volumes of the appreciation and good will
of Waldo County for its chief executive.
Governor Bakers Address
Not only the committee of arrange
men1s, but all who were within hearing
of Gov, Baxter's voice, were glad that
he could be here. He made friends with
all who met him and it it is sincerely
hoped this may be the first of many visits
to our city. He said in part in an ad-
dress of a deep thinking and fearless
An erican:
"It is eminently fitting that the Gov
ernor of the State should be present at
the dedication of this bridge, which has
been erected as memorial to the Maine
men both living and dead who served
their country during the World War.
am glad to be here today in my official
capacity as governor This bridge is the
most important public memorial that
Maine has yet erected to commemorate
the World War, and if had been but a
private citizen should have iourneyed
to Belfast to have witnessed these cere-
monies, for this is an event which will 90
down into history. AS l stand upon this
bridge and think of the young men who
went into the service, they appear to me
to have been 10th century Crusaders who
went into this war entirely from unselfish
motives and solely with the desire to
crush autocracy and to make the world
safe for free peoples.
The American legionaries. l use this
word in the broad sense to include not
only those who belong to that splendid
organization, the American Legion, but
also all the soldiers of our Republic, oc-
cupy an enviable position in history. The
first legionaries were the Roman Legion
aries, who went into foreign countries to
subdue, to conquer, to enSlave their peo
pies, and to make them pay tribute to the
great families of Rome.
The American iegionaries went across
the seas for a very different purpose.
They did not go to enslave other nations
or to press the heel of the conQueror upon
their necks; they went to free the world.
That is not an exaggerated statement.
They went over there on the most unset
fish cause in history, and that is how
they differ from the legionaries of the
past.
The ex-service men of our country
have most unusual opportunity for ser
vice in times of peace When you con-
slider that there are between three anC
four millions of earnest young men al
over this country who wore the nations
uniform, you will appreciate the influence
for good which they can exert in the
councils of our 48 States. 1t rests upor
these men to see that our country never
deVlates from the straight path of duty
AS time goes on, as men grow older anl
take more active interest in the affairs
OF government. these ex-service men will
come closer and closer together. The
ties that now bind them together will
seem feeble when compared with thos,
that will bind them in the years to come
l hope that practically every service maj
III TINS country may soon see that it is hi.
duty, as well as his privilege, to take par
IN civic affairs and to work for every
thing that makes for the highest interes
Of this great nation
He gave a vivid description of tn,
States part in former wars, of her prepa
ration for the World War and It's NOR,
recent memories.
The Maine men in all these wars hav.
had the same stout heart, same willing
ness to sacrIflce themselves for the goot
OF others, and except for the ditTerenc,
In the uniforms they wore, you could no
tell the soldiers of 1776 from those O
1917.
After referring to Names record il
1865 men on the casualty list and the