Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-06-06

five had no other mission but this, think
we should stand by each other and see that
this organization of old veterans Is mann
tanned while there is one of us lett to call
the roll.
Still we have another purpose; to assist
such former comrades in arms as need help
and protection, and extend needful aid to
the widows and orphans of those who have
fallen.
Now if we love each other for the dangers
we have shared together, ought we not to
make it our first duty to see that the help
less ones of our fallen comrades are made
comfortable, and kept from beggary and
want? Yet another reason is, TO maintain
true allegiance to the United States of
America, based upon paramount respect
for, and fidelity to the National Constitu-
ton and laws; to discountenance whatever
tends to weaken loyalty, incite to insur-
rection, treason, or rebellion, or in any
manner impair the efficacy and permanency
of our free institutions. and to encourage
the spread of universal liberty, equal rights,
and justice to all men.
Could language be palmer or more patri-
otto? Cannot you trust US now that we
are peaceful citizens? You did, and were
qiad to trust us when we had arms in our
hands are we likely to be more dangerous
now Pause and think you, you who trown.
Are the iellOwships of the battle field made
in love to the old flag, sworn to on the altar
of death, to fall asunder like blades Of grass
mOwn down? Think you that men who
rested together on the hard ground, stood
in the same line, followed the same flag,
charged together when death was in every
step, men who were deprived of home, and
for the time being had no friends but each
] al bpr nd oil a. % fol
| you ask that We shall throw aside these ties
of life and death? Cannot you instinctiyely
] feel that we cannot do it; that We cannot
abandon the needy, and sometimes nearly
| friendless cOmrade, and the poor widows
| and orphans of the dead? Trust US Oh,
| that you may. Men who perilled life for
their country and its laws, may be trusted
in peace.
| If then You will admit that our object IS
good, that we do not mean any harm to You,
or the State, let Us examine this subject
from another standpoint, and, fellow citl-
zens, see if You have fulfilled all the duties
and promises you owe, and made to Us.
The honOred dead are not all VINO are en-
titled to be remembered with love and adj
miration for their splendid achievements
You see all around You the lame, the halt,
the manned. who received their honorable
D
battle. They tool have claims upon YOU.
Cannot some of You remember the time,
when the cry came from tue front send Us
more men, that Nou urged some brave boy
/ who perhaps stands before YOU to-day,
cripple for the balance OF his days, To 90 70
the war? Do you remember that You
promised him il he should get wounded,
yOu would always care for him, and see
that be should never come tc want while
You lived or to that other young man who
left lovely wife, and playful children. do
You rec1llect that you said go and fight
for the old flag, and if it is your lot To fall,
wewlll see that your wife and children are
made comfortable IN quiet home of their
own, and never know penury or beggary -
Surely some Of you must remember some
thing Of this kind, for such promises were
not confined o. any particular town or
place, when brave hearts were wanted to
I'LL the deadly gap opened by traitors
And now, fellow citizens, how have you
kept the promises made to the Boy. in
Blue When the poor fellow came home
with leg or arm gone, have you done all
Won could 10 find some suitable employment
for him, in which be could earn an honest
living have You been as earnes; % help
him as You We're tlg him 10 enlist? Have any
of You got up q subscription paper. OF
called a citizens meeting 10 raise funds 10
buy that poor lone widow with the father
les, children, a good comfortable home they
can call their own, and where their heads
may be sheltered from the storms of winter
| say have you done any of these things You
promised 10 do, or which You well know it
i your duty o. DO. If you did not promise
II not, Is not your duty 20 see To it even
now? Oh, how many. with health and
al. q
the land they fought 90 save growing cold
How many have returned to find their
places an workshops and counting rooms
filed, and 90 learn that the enthusiasm
which hailed them with cheers and cod
speed, when they went forth % battle. las
passed away with the war clouds
Oh, that ! could stir up Your hearts
anew and arouse little os the old enthusi-
asm for the soldier, that yog might DO BIN
justice
May yoI 60 hence to-day with the firm
resolution u organize some efficient and |
systematic provision for giving employment |
to ali WHO NEED it. and sympathy and as
slstance % all vino are suffering Let IL not |
be recorded against You, that strong and /
prosperous in the day of safety and peace, !
yuu are ungrateiul, and have forgotten |
those, who in thc day Of trouble and battle /
lection for your lives and homes and that |
You honor the dead hy giving help and /
hearty brjtherly sympathy 70 the surviving |
Place the garland, IF flowers IN the graves /
OF the dead, but DO not think your duty /
done there. And remember that VIC arc all 1
passing away, and that only the ac'i0ns Of |
the just &c >mcI sweet and blossom in the /
dust
And now few words to You ,tny comrades.
on the glorious tcuctS of our order. FRA
ternity. Charity and Loyalty. You who
have stood in the same ranks. and felt that
magic touch Of the elbow on your right, a.
YOU were charging the enemy's lines midst
the smoke and din of battle, need mo words
from me tell You of the confidence in p ch
other that gained the victory at last
Should not this same confidence, then be one
Of the strong links to bind You together in
fraternity and brotherly love, now that the
red cloud Of war is passed
The meaning of eharity-that twice ble,t
gift u man, for it hlcs-eth him who gives
and he who receives, -isso well known thatI
will not dwell upon it on such a dav as this.
but leave il in language which would be
sacrlleEe for me 10 change Now abideth
faith, hope, charity, but the greatest Of these
is charity.
But on the theme of loyalty. think it
will be well for us 10 dwell for n few mo-
mentS. and first, comrades, let Us see if We
reverence that starry flag with the same
devotion we did when following it. and are
rs ready to defend it.
For one, | must say that did not fully
realize what this glorious old emblem really
was, until found myself in a foreign port.
and saw it proudly waving from tho mast
head of our vessels, while all around were
the strange ensign~ of other nations Then |
1t was | first noticed that it meant some
thing more than banner To be paraded ON 1
the fourth Of July and other holidays: hut
not until had followed it into the conlu-
SION and roar of battle, seen its guards fall
,ne By one defending it. or had comrades ;
ike a Frost, a Dillingham;. a Reed or a
Thompson shot down while calamity fight ,
NJ 10 preserve it sacred from the touch Of
raltor hands, did the deep reverence and
owe TOR nay country's flag possess me, and
doubt not such has been the experience of ,
many of You. The graves of our comrades
Who died in the field, priSon-pen and hos
,ital are everywhere and from their t0mbs ]
here comes a whisper to us to renew our g
Ieyotion to the old flag under which they
ought and the country for which they died,
nd to remind the living of the rich
blessings which we enjoy, and Of which
hey dld all IN their power to perpetuate
he inheritance.
Gen. Henry spoke with yigor and earnest
less, and was listened to with unusual at
ention
4. Hymn Colnmbia'- Dead" by the
luartette Club.
). Decoration Of graves conducted by
ost Commander Warren Gibbs. Dirge By
he Queen City Band
The column then reformed and marched
trough Pearl street to the cemetery on t
ocust street, St. Mary Band playing a 4
cad march on entering. a
At LOCUST STREET CEMETERY II
he exercises were rs follows; g
|. Hymn SILENTLY, Tenderly, Mournfully q
lone - hv the Ouortettr Cinb