Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-06-04

Y
the laurel and the rose TO place upon the graves
of iallen braves whose names and deeds are
immortal.
Comrades, day by day the grnvc cloves over
those who outrodc the storm when the death
angel held high carnival, and soon mustered
out " will be written against the names of MI
who survived the war Of the rebellion Are
we ready Tor the transfer from the ranks OF the
living 10 tho ranks of the dead or rather, 10
the ranks Of the immortal2 God grant that
when the Good Captain calls we may he able
to answer Here ''--already volunteers for
heaven, enrolled in the army Of tho Living God.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Glaciers remarks,
the choir sang "Kellcr's American Hymn"
Commander Smith then called upon Hon. Q.
W. Willard, who responded as follows
Mr., wmLARD's REMARKS
Mr. Willard said If he could have his own
pleasure he should not add word after the elo-
quent and appropriate remarks to which MI
had listened with so much pleasurc--rcmarks
made by one who had Learned the right, by gallant
service, to speak on such an occasion. The
day brought with II a food Of recolectons.
1t carried us back to the beginning Of the war
treason made on the government. We all re-
member how the sumbering patriotism of the
people Of the North was startled by the first
guns Of the rebellion, and from every hilltop
the old flag was seen as flaming signal
From all our valleys and mountain sides the
young, strong men rallied to the rescue of an
imperilled government. The nation was hap.
tiled anew-rcceivcd almost new birth-in
the burning zeal Of patriotism. We all re-
member the weary days and weeks and months
and years that fullowed-how the government
called again and again and again for defenders
Of the country-how almost every home had a
father, husband, a brother, a son, In the thick
Of the battle, and the mir WIS heavy with the
pain and anguish and sorrow that filled the
whole land. Households we're bereft. hearts
were made desOlate, the country was bleeding
at every pore The speaker recalled especially
the fourth Of July, ls03-how the morning Of
that day usually welcomed with the glad acclaim
Of an exultant people, came in silence and in
terrible anxiety TO the North For many hours
the hearts Of the people had been beating in
measure with the pulsaung news from the
armies at Gettysburgh. The two great repre-
sentative armies Of the civil war then stood
face 10 face on that since historic iield and VIC
could almost hear the fearful crash of shot and
shell as the conflict ragged. The lightning
flashed tidings of the awful surges of the
battle. but not until the evening Of that day
did the shout Of victory 90 over the wires
and still into thousands Of loving hearts whose
patriotism leaped exultant ct that shout, came
an unutterable sorrow. Victory had come only
through death-the death Of brave men who
went out from peaceful, happy homes all along
our valleys and mountains That battle mill.
tary men have since agreed was the turning
point Of the war, and the rebellion that there
retreated only aftcrward rallied with ever de-
creasing force until the final surrender. In
that battle Nermonters bore no inconsdcrablt
part. and there are officers present here 10 day
--oilicers OF this POst-whose coolness and
gallantry in that engagement have received
deserved notice and praise.
The speaker said he must turn away from
these recolections and briefly dwell upon the
lesson which such a ceremony as this decoTa
ton of soldiers graves brought with it. Low
ing hearts, and hearts filed with patriotic
crvor had gathered these fair, sweet flowers o
our Northern springtme 10 scatter upon thu
turf now green above the resting places OF TN
brave men, whose memories we honor. IL wa
ittingly called a memorial service but it hat
deeper and wider significance than was at
fectionate remembrance Of noble lives sacrifice,
| in the storm of war. The men whose grave
we decorate were not alone patriots. The
died for something besides love Of country 90
! In the grand hymn Just sung, country is some
thing more than native land, something more
than home.
"
Sweet land Of liberty
OF thee sing
| 1t was for freedom imperilled lit was be
cause the government and the flag meant NOR
than integrity of territUry-because it meant
and that It might mean, equal rights to all tina
the soldiers Of Vermont gave the last and highes
evidence Of their devotion to it. In other gov
ernments--g which are the posses
sion of family, or Of an oligarchy. or of Al
tuu 10 a
much Of and the brave soldier has been honor
ed, and patriotism has been sung as the chic
virtue of the citizen and this in order tina
money and pensions and fame and peerages an
estates might make patriotism popular, An
the soldiers profession defence OF the rulin
| families. But patriotism has a proiounde
4 significance, and a richer reward than thi
with us The soldiers of the nation-.th
Grand Army of the Republic-were parts {
the government for whose existence they ohei
ed their lives as q sacrifice.
i The country they saved was their country
>, is your country, is my country. IL ia III
possession Of no family of no party, Of no sc
Of men, but is the common heritage, and I'll
!, humblest child has an equal stake in it wit
the most powerful, as it secures to one equal
with the other his personal liberty and his II
i dividual rights. This is the glory of our il
stitutions it gives deeper meaning to tn
beautiful service it colurs and makes fri
grant all the exercises of this day with a ricl
/ ness of light and perfume that are GRACEFUL
symbolised in the many colnred floral oierinl
/ that loving hands have woven aud twned t,
4 day into such profusion of crosses and wreatl
. and garlands.
\ But these are, after all, only perishab
memorials and tributes Of the affection we ow
' and the honors we would pay to our dead h
I roes. To-day their fragrance and beauty fill Il
\ air and delight the sense and will add ne
4 love iuess 10 the graves we shall visit But befO
4 tomorrow the bright coors so delicately blen
4 ed, will have faded and become dull and dea
/ and the pc lume will have been dissipate
; We shall best pay our tribute to the memo
D of these noble men, who died that the matte
might live, by remembering in all our liy
/ that their patriotism was unselfsh devotion
q country. They were among the great arm
q of volunteers that, millions strong. went TO Il
defense Of liberty and equal rights-fghtir
f not for glory, nor reward, but that lreedo
: might vet have its home in this western worl
= We most honor them when we stand fust I
r the principles for which they gave tho highe
a measure Of devotion, and make our PATRIOTS
stand for justice, truth, honor and righteou
h ness.
= The choir then sang quartet'e, entitl
They Died for You and Me"
p, Dr. Lord was then called for, and briefly !
+ sponded.
DIR. LORDS REMARKS.
e lie said that though Unexpectedly summon
! to speak he could not refuse a spontaneo
e tribute to the occasion and the memory of tho
1 brave men whom this service commemorate
$ Floral offerings were of ancient date They /
$ l0nged mo age or country. TWAS usual to bu
$ the animosites of war under the peacef
y tributes that were laid upon the graves of tho
4 heroes and patriots who sacrificed themsely
e to attain its objects. lie had seen the tomb
y the elder Napoleon decorated with garlands
d inmorteiies on occasions Of the imperial .fet
n He had looked upon professions OF Italian CIR
+ entering the church Of St. Marks, in VENT
o 10 lay upon the cenotaph OF Daniel Mani
!, the exlled champion Of ltaly's freedom and
J. dependence their floral memorials. The eau
u for which he laid down his life triumphed 10
after he had given himself for IT, and the oil
: ings OF the Venetian girls recalled and honor
@ the principles which had made the life of tn
!, foremost advocate so illustrious.
q lie looked upon these cut flowers, TN
d beauty 80 soon to wither, not simply as CO.
d memoratye Of the past, but as pledge OF t
II future. They were prophetic of peace a
; Union. They grew on fields that had he
n trampled under the iron heel Of war. III
;, reminded us Of Him who twas born smo
X; the lilies" Himself the fairest lily of all, a
C of the time when the love which he taug
and exemplifed sbonld spread through t
Il world and there should be " Peace on ear
If and good will b men"
a Gen. Stephen Thomas was then called upC