The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-06-09
DECORATION DAY ADDRESS


Delivered, bv Prof. T.. II. HigleY, at
Middlebur,, May 80, 1874.
The very wide prevalence which the
Observance of this anniversary has nov
attained, may be fairly taken as a proc!
OF its own real fitness, ar well as q graft.
tying evidence Of the good sense aud
right feeling Of our pe,plc by whoia that
Gluess ha, been recognized. We have
probably, as a Datiou, in the past failed
properly to estimate the influence upon
public thought and character cxerted by
public ceremonial obsci vances, which per-
petuate Fundamental facts in a noliou'-
history, or emphasize fundamental ideas
or principles IN the national life. Ger.
tainly, far less than most other nations
have we subjected ourselves to this iuA.
ence or tested its power. We know that
the sncient Hebrews instituted as the
most solemn aud essential Of their relig.
ious duties, series of public sacrifices
aad festivals, whose annual ohserv3uco
was de>gued to keep alive the story OF
the natiou's birth aud early history. and
to recognize aud celebrate the divine de-
liverauces which that story contained
We know, too, that in other ultions Of
antiquity the traditional founders and
champions OF States and cities woto in
altertines invested with superhumAn at.
tributes. crowned with celestial honors.
and advanced 20 seats among the gods ;
so that the great deeds oc thair heroes
were kept fresh in the popular memory
by tho public ceremonies aud sacrifice,
which wero held in their honor, while
the presence asd aid Of the hero them.
selves, in their deiicd characters, was in.
voked upon all occasions Of peril and
perplexity. We know, too. in the his
tory of Christianity, how largely the
Christian Church relied for ages, aud il
many of its branches still relies upon the
power Of her recurring solemn leasts, b.
which the ecclesiastical year With its sue,
cessive anniversary seasons becomes .
perpetual panorama, keeping ever before
the eye Of the mind, the great scenes in
the origin aud early establishment Of our
faith, with their attendant lessons.
Now for all this variety Of Memorial
observances which have appeared in "a
msny ages aud races, and have iouud
expression in such tillci'y o. lormS,
there may be found one common under.
lying cause, which is also at the bottom
of our action here to-day, This cause is
two.fold in its character, aud may be
found on the one hand 10 the universal
presence in the human heart Of certain
common feelings of obligation, gratitude
aud love, aud the desire to give these
feelings formal expression, and on the
other hand 10 thu very general recogni.
tion which men have accorded to the
truth that every social, religious, or po
| itlcal organization is grounded upon some
idea, aud that the retention Of this idea
and the preservation of its original power
and vitality is the only condition upot
which We may expect the continuance 0
the structure which is built thereon. Thn
two.fold significance, then, underies oui
observance Of this day. Oar memoria
service expresses this double meaning
Its tive elements are united in the singlt
act for we emphasize our appreciation
Of the national idea, when we lay oui
tributes OF honor on the graves OF thos,
who died TO defend it.
repeat, then, it is a cheering iDdiea
tion Of the healthlulne-s of public feeling
that our people arc ready so largely Il
pause to-day in the pursuit of present on'
material things and bear testimony, il
this way, to their appreciation OF tn
worth Of a principle, and TO acknowledg
their Indebtedness to ITS mar'yred cham
piohs. For woe awaits that nation 0
individual which does not feel that prin
ciples are the most precious Of all posses
sions. Woe awaits that nation or iudi
vidual in shom ignorance or iudiiIercuc
10 regard TO the past has Segotten desl al
or ckessness for the future.
The fundamental idea which the wa
indicated and established was that OF ia
National unity. There were other idea
at stake there. There were other ideo
whose conflict led TO the struggle. Bu
this was the acknowledged issue, the que'
iion upon whish all are interested turned
And this lies still to day at the roc
of the nations life. There ma
be other higher ideas. There may
higher duties upon this nation than simr
ly to preserve its unity 1t may /
called upon to work out higher achieve
ments for human culture, human bspp
Dess, aud human freedom, but uuderly 10
and conditioning all, there is tho idea {