Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-05-31

epoch win be dependent necessarily
on the recorded account of these eye
witnesses on their material.
One of the gravest popular errors
in the regard, is that which places all
the emphasis for historic material on
the literature of an age; although
the authors may have lived in the
midst of the scenes they describe,
and even have taken part in its
events.
The day will soon come when the
honors of Scholarships will be &C
corded, to the clear-headed, honest
hearted man who simply looks about
him, has the ability to formulate a
statement of what he sees. and who is
both able and brave enough to de-
scribe things as they are.
One class of these historic writings
on the face of the earth our interest
is centered in today, and it belongs 10
me, so far as I am able to translate
the earth word into human speech
Those words are found in the MOUNDS
of both the graves of the men VINO
fought in the war of the rebellion.
AS a nation today we are asserting
the right which every individual eX-
ercises to distinguish among graves
The mounds which you Will nave
on rlanded are the resting places OF
a nations dead.
TO the student OF the various
races. of people the tomb have often
furnished more information OF the
history of the said ancient people
then even their literature. Those
of YOU who are acquainted with the
WAYS of commercial life Will re-
member that in the use of the tele-
graph in order to save expense, is
used a language called cypher. Each
word used signifying in some cases
several sentences. So the mounds
in yonder grave yard bright with
your garlands and flags is the cypher
of our countries history. The sol
diers grave, though in itself a much
unconscious mound of earth, is IN
the light of history, full of meaning.
Let us then dwell on the earth-Word
in the record of our country. Ihat
word is written not to be erased
from countless ages. We, nor our
children can ever ignore 1t.
One element of this Interpretation
is. that the soldier made his sacri-
fee because he esteemed the honor
of his country worthy of it: There
are those in our day who speak con-
temptuously of this sentiment. There
are worse horrors in peace bought
by the sacrifice of q nations sense
Of honor then all the terrible earn
age resulting from war in its de-
Tense. Thrice holier and happier
man who wins peace by resisting
evil rather then one who buys peace
by compromising with evil.
The veteran soldier who lies be-
meath that mound died for our
country. 1t is our duty to live for
it.. The price we must pay for
freedom is a pure manhood, an
eternal vigilance. The monument I
would place beside our noble dead
would not be q cold marble statue,
but an honest, intelligent, God-fear-
ing American citizen.
Then again the earth mound
which marks the spot where the
hero rests, testifies that men died
for nations unity.
And still further comes the de-
claration from the Union soldiers
grave that he died to establish hum
an liberty in our country.
And yet once more the soldiers
grave explains itself as brave mans
sacrifice, as the protection of his own
and his neighbours fireside.
This is my Interpretation Of the
earth word which America has already
written on the historic page of her
soil-the sacred obligation consecrated
by the blood of our heroes to defend
the national unity and to protect the
homes and widows and children of our
fallen defenders.
My ambition is to honor our dead
heroes by securing perpetuity to the
nation for which they died. This can
be done only by leading the nation
into an open and loyal allegiance to
Him Who is King of Kings and Lord
Of Lords.
The closing selection was given by
the band and the audience remained
seated while the orders passed out.
The veterans of the Grand Army who
were present at the service were G. A.
Savage, F. J. Savage, L. Crawford, Hy-
land Danforth, Joseph Ackley, William
Holmes, Emerson Keene, EleaZor
Smith, Silas Plummer, Charles Black
stone, Henry Reed of Benton, 7. II.
Henderson, Henry Fogg. Oliver Bessey,
Mr.. Blackwell of Benton, Lewis
Thompson of Unity and Mr.. Nelson of
Shawmut.