The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-11-09

Wv ohN VIC bdW lnt DtHL anu
noblest part OF human nature. There are
three things we saw then that our children
VIII never zee. or what very few people
ever saw. First we saw great nation in
stinct with deep and boiling rage, when
treason had fired upon Fort Sumter it
was great and inspiring sight. Second,
we saw this nation instinct with tremen-
dous JOY and gladness at the surrender of
Lee. This was a sight ineffacable and one
never to be forgotten. Third, we saw the
nation bowed with griet at the sudden and
terrible death of its great leader, who had
brought them through their trials. The
slght.of great nation in its rage, its Joy
and its grief Is something never before
seen Tor two centuries and will probably
never be seen for two centuries to come.
Properly have no business to talk TO
THIS company, aud the only reason why
do Is that l believe you are generous
enough to think that the noblest deeds of
the noDlest men are ever wrought IN the
need OF great and divine mercy. Some of
us would have done better than we did and
that is my only excuse in talking to YOU
Tonight l believe that war is an evil hut
not an unmixed evil When | think of the
time when fond fathers, clingng mothers
and tender sisters kept down their hearts
and said ''boys," go FORTH tall ii need be,
but forward and farewell. When | think
OF the selfishncss and ivarice, the stealing
and meanness, sometimes wonder
whether all we done was done for nougbt.
1t Is seri1us question whether we have
gained in manhood and virtue. Better
than culture is the manly spirit that is
willing to step out and die for an idea; and
| wonder If we should step to the from,
and do as we did. 1t is sad thought to
think we should not. There is more reality
in the question whether the country is for
getting the soldier than we think. Il uur.
1t is but repeating history. heard man,
who ought to know better, say that " inls
soldier talk is played out" This idea is II
bad sign and worth nothing am wander
ing somewhat, but | claim the righ. go
wander If | preach u good sermon.
(Laughter.) There is good deal of non-
sense al out heroes ! know of man who
stood upon rock in the face of the enemy
and Haunted the flag, took his life in his
hand, and yet have seen that man DO Il
dirty trick. We read in Shakespeare of
Deedemonia becoming charm ID by
Othello's bravery in war and married him
because Of the delightful picture that he
drew before her. Suppose you that if she
itb NtCii tOtIc Out Vi biltlc tUftltu
with blood she would have been capti-
vnic,i! Or If she heard the cry
oi the wounded upon the battle
field could she have found any
charm in that? War Is cruelty and
yet necessity. SO long as II nation has
the idea which will not be tempted to buy
out of fight you have got nation worth
having, for when nation can take up with
tempting offer of that kind it has simply
a coward heart and the liver of pcddler
In my opinion the returned soldier repre-
sents the highest humanity of this country,
whether we find them here or in tie south.
applause believe the honest soldier in
the south or north are among the best men
we have got. And it is well if the palla-
dium of our liberty is in the hands of the
returned soldiers, who are not fond of war,
but yet are ready to fight if the necessity
comes. If we have another war we want
peace at the close better than we have to-
day, which is, at best, but half peace with
anarchy slumbering underneath. The
speaker then closed with an appropriate bit
of poetry.
The Orator Of the Erching-His words of ring
ing eloquence and his patriotic counsels are
worthy OF one born In the shadow OF Bunker
Hill. We Will remember them and him.
MAJOR GEO. I. CnILDs,
the orator of the evening, arose and said Lc
thanked the society for himself and for his
state. So much had been said of the record
of Vermont that he must be pardoned ii he
felt justifiable pride in his own state. He
wished to express his appreciation oil the
desrablity of these reunions. He thought
&c thn~o a~...i.:-- -----i-ti - 10 ,aust,r
to our children of these times, the Grand
Army and these reunions would do it. He
did feel an honest pride in his own state,
that gave the best blood Of her sons in the
outbreak of the war in common with those
of Vermont, and could find nothing better
to say than God bless our glorious states !!
The Incoming President Of our Society--One OF
the bravest aud best of Vermont soldiers, whose
picket service on the flank OF Pcketts column
ut Gettysburgh forms one or the brightest
pages In the military history OF our state, and
who worthily His every place In which he is
put.
COL. wHEELOCK g. vEAZEy
of Rutland, responded in his most effective
style.
AS he had read the dispatches of the last
day or two in the papers he had begun to
think that it was not the most fortunate
thing in the world to be president. But
when he thought of the fact that the presi-
dent of this society is made by his own
comrades, and when he thought of the long
line of illustrous predecessors, beginning
with the one-armed hero of Gettysburgh
and Chapin's Farm-Gen. Stannard-Tap-
plause, and coming down to the present,
the brilliant commander OF the 10Th Yer
mont regiment, and including such men as
Foster, Wells, Proctor, Pingree, Ripley,
and others, think, said the speaker, to be
selected for the office is an honor, indeed.
that no political overthrow can ever efface
applause
For eleven years, since the organization
of this society in 1868, l have been quite
content to serve in the rank and file of this
society, and have deemed that a sufficient
honor. have been trying to think why |
have been selected. 1t is true have fought
severe battles every year in this society,
the weapons, knives and forks and have
been among the bravest at such times.
Only on one single instance have | been
absent from these reunions. 1t has occurred
to me in view of my connection to alludc
to the fact that there is an idea connected
with this society worthy Of our love. The
question is asked what is this meeting, and
what does il mean implying that our or.
ganization is an aimless one, that we art
advancing to gray-headed men, and thai
we should arise above these societies, thai
they are not worthy of our interest. hay,
been sorry TO hear this idea implied, for
have always thought there nas an idea il
these reunions, and If these men who cal
them boyish could have been with us il
the army, experienced the dreary routine
of the camp, have marched under the burn
| ing heat of the sun, have gone with n
amid the shock and din of battle, or int
the hospitals and seen the patriotic endur
ance of those who were compelled to lii
and suffer, or into the prison pens and al
their horrible eXperences-it these mel
had seen all these things they would feel a
we do, that there is an idea in thes
gatherings and that it is an expression o
that loyalty which those scenes inculcate,
and produced. 1t is that we may perpet
uate this sentiment of loyalty that was tn
| inducement which led us to endure thos
perils ON the battle field. BY these meet
ings we keep alive in our hearts and trans