The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-06-18

created base, my right hand lose its Gun
ming, and my tongue cleave to the roo
Of my mouth, than ever forget thee
o my country, the land of my birth, tn
resting place of my sire, the home o
freedom and the hope of the world
Our nation has passed through fou
distinct wars The FIRST, that of the rev
olution, to secure our independence ant
nationality the second, that of 1912
waged to maintain the inviolablity o
the rights of American citizens on lane
and sea the third to teach the Mexican
Republic that our national honor mus
be respected, and the 4th to save the ia
tion from overthrow and ruin. History
tells US of the sacrifices of the fathers Of
the Republic, the long and fearful strug.
gle through which they passed, and the
victory they achieved over British op
pIession and tyranny Men and women
still among us, tell Of the struggle of the
war of 1912, and we know that from that
struggle we came out with rights ac.
knowledged by the crown of Great Bri
tain, in which human liberty was exalt.
ed, and we becBme a power indeed among
the nations Of the earth. The war with
Mexico resulted in the acquisition of q
new state on the shor-s of the Pacific
through which Il highway is cast up lead.
ing to the eastern shores of Asia, and to
which our ocean steamers pass and re.
pass, bringing to us the treasures that
for centuries had been denied the civil.
lied world. and opening the way for the
spread of civilization and christianity to
the dark and benghted millions that SIT
in the darkness of heathauism and death
But the last bloody struggle was one in
which brother was arrayed against broth
er, the one contending for the national
ization of the barbarism of slavery, which
was national death, the other contending
to nationalize the christianity and civiliz-
alton Of liberty, which is national life.
In this bloody struggle hundreds of thou.
sands fell, and the land was bathed in
blood. 1t is not necessary that l should
go into detail, giving history of the
years struggle through which the ma.
tion passed. All this has been recorded
by the historian, and read by millions OF
our citizens through our own land, and
6y millions In other portions Of the globe
These brave men, whose remains are
with US to-day, and whose graves we
strew with the flowers of lovely spring in
token OF our love and affection for their
memory, and in grateful remembrance
of their heroic deeds for the salvation OF
our beloved country, were engaged in
this memorable struggle, if possible the
bloodiest and most desperate in the an
nails Of history. But they faltered not.
Urged on by the highest considerations
OF duty to their God and the land of their
birth and adoption, they discharged their
duty we'll. sealing with their blood their
devotion to the great principles of con.
stltutional liberty and the unalienable
rights Of man. How be6tting then that
we honor the deeds and memories of these
brave men. They died that the nation
might live. Let then the choicest flow
ers of spring adorn their last resting
place. These flowers, though rich in
the sweetest perfume, cannot outrival the
perfume or fheT heroic deeds, put 70. Il.
even unto death for the salvation of our
nation from disruption and ruin. While
we remember the loved ones who by tens
of thousands lie buried in our land, and
whose graves will be decorated this day
by fair hands and loving hearts with the
choicest flowers of spring, let us also re-
member the widows and orphans who are
to-day mourning the loss Of fathers and
husbands who so cheerfully braved the
dangers OF the camp. and mantully died
tor their country. Let us also remem.
ber the thousands who were in the strug.
gle manned for life, and who have claims
upon us for our regard and love. Let us
remember the thousands who, when the
struggle lie was over,returned to their homes
and laying aside the implements Of war
returned to the various business walks Of
life, and are to-day adding to the vastly
augmented resources of the nation il
those elements of power that 60 to make
US as people prosperous and happy
Our fallen braves in this, our beautiful
cemetery, sleep sweetly. Side by side
they rest with others, honored and loved
by us all, and who, when living, render
ed very essential service in the defense
of the nations honor, and maintenance
of law and order in our town and state
The patrons Of learning, the divine, the
scholar, the statesman, the business men
they rest from their labors. | think o.
a Painter and Storrs,a Merrill and Bates
a Hall and Turner, Phelps and Sey
mour. Slade and Meacham. a Barbe,
and Beckwith, Linsley and Bell, Starr
and Stewart, Warner and Cleveland. 9
Bass and ilagar, Judd and Wainwright
Wooster and Henshaw, and scores O
others equally worthy, y,who were the warn
defenders of republican institutions, ant
unainching in their devotion to the right,
of man. AS We pass from the scene 81
full OF interest to Us all, and repair tt
our respective houses, let US remembe,
that We have common duty to render
to our country aud our race. No mar
should live for himself alone. The ma
tion has just claim upon all for low,
and obedience. We have the purest form
of government on the earth. We have th,
best regulated liberty by constitutions
provision aud statute law to be found on
the globe. The rights of citizenship ar,
sacredly guaranteed to all, and it be
hooves us to watch well our liberties. Il
guard our rights, to preserve our privil
eges, and defend our nations honor from
internal as well as external foes. Suffe
not this temple of liberty to be torn dow
or desecrated by wicked hands. Let i
rise higher, and still higher, in all tn
magnificent proportions of glory aud pow
or, Upon the young men and women o
our country rests living and fearful re
sponsibility. Our fathers and brave son
who founded ard maintained the libertie