The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-07-15

and wreaths upon that monument. They
cover alike foreign and home-born names !;
and believe us, il such there be present,
that we mean it, as oil honor to your re.
membrance Of our country, your country
in its late peril-our duty to you, whom
we have united to make free home
among us, under the stars and stripes
the emblem Of the freest, happiest gov.
ernment on the earth. How fitting, then,
that we thus come together to commem-
crate what these soldiers of the former
and present generations did for us not
only, but the principles they represented,
defended and maintained 1t is princi.
pies that make men, and render historic
their names and the places where they
lived or fell Bunker Hill, Bennington,
Gettysburg are what they are in history,
because men fell dead there in behalf Of
principles opposed to oppression, Of prln.
ciples that make happy our hearts and
homes in the undisturbed enjoyment Of
true liberty.
Thirty are our representatives to-day
in this glorious struggle and triumph, in
independence and union, as witnessed by
the little starred flags in our cemeteries
Twenty. one more lie dead in the field, as
that monument tells. Others who fought
stand with Us to-day. All honor to you
heroes in the greatest struggle history
has ever known. You lived to see your
work triumphant, and the stars and stripes
float over the entire Union. 1t belongs
to US one aud all to cherish, defend, live
out these principles, for which you fought
and our fathers and sons fell.
Our decorating work to day then, is
not to noursh more military spirit 1t
is purer, loftier ; it is to send along down
the generations, the spirit of true individ-
ual and national independence. 1t is
not to die with the flowers we strew to-
day but like the evergreen to continue,
and with the flowers of each succeeding
year to blossom out in hearty, lively ex.
pressions of true gratitude for, and sym.
pathy with our Union, its founders and
defenders.
Let our children thus learn the worth
and cost OF these benign blessings of true
Freedom. 1t was the greatness Of princi.
man, Washington and Lincoln great.
1t is the greatness of the same principles
that makes this day great and worthy oil
perpetuation.
Shall not ifty,o one Shoreham dead in
behalf of such principle as makes our
government and liberty what they are,
the "joy of the whole earth.' call for oui
special floral remembrance, every year ?
Bring flowers. bright flowers" What O
principle our fathers introduced and you
have defended and kept, as an all.wiso
and safe element in society, commerce
and government. Alike good for the
individual, state and nation no more dis
turbing our individual relations thar
gravitaton disturbs the atom but ra hel
holds atoms, stars and systems alike il
one grand harmony
So it is this principle Of our liberty
namely, equality Of rights as founded
upon this fact. that mankind are one
great brotherhood, and each n member oi
luC Bltut WuOiC
This principle old England Ignored
aud the SHAREHOLDERS rebellion tiled tc
destroy or defeat but there is too much
moral force in it, because too much truth
in it, ever to be hindered or destroyed
Though our embattled hosts 10 the past
were sometimes repulsed. the moral pow
er OF this truth held the people like an
anchor, The moral phalanx stood anC
: still stands unbroken." This truth has OIL
abiding conviction in the hearts Of thu
people, having to do alike with the tru'
8 welfare of that child that rocks in th
. cradle by the Atlantic or Pacific, dowI
at the Gulf or the head waters of th
Hudson and Mississippi. This nora
power is lodged in intelligence in tn
knowledge OF truths old as man. namely
: that man is my brother, and God ou
common Father, Christ, our com mol
Saviour, Heaven our offered home. 1'hi
is the principle we decorate to-day an'
thus honor its great Author.
C 1t is so natural right that | b
@ treated as a man, citizen, equal and bro
!. ther. how can oppress another, or an
e other me. with this principle inwroush
y and abiding? This is the principle ou
: fathers incorporated 10 government.
J was their aim, is and should be ours,
!, mako it ascendant in church and state
G society and home, schools and commerce.
e This is the principle that survives th
G shock of arms and measures all tho ges
: liberty, inspired and regulated by Chns
l. tian love. 1t makes man O moral her
G everywhere, in home or field; in peac
Is or in the camp aud conflict of war
d true heroine Of woman. As wife. mothe
l. helper in home society and state. As th
y mothers, 80 arc and will be the sons {
Ie our republic. Thus with this abidiu
et love Of the equality of rights. home, SOC
10 ETY. aud government are all safe.
g 81 am the state" said Louis " as
le stood before his court. All this is ol
y preston and not popular liberty. lilo
ir different reads our Magma Charta
ID freedom, 1--WE, the people of the Unite
n States, in order to form u more pei fe
le union, establish Justice, insure dom At
ID tranquility provide for the common d
es fence, promote the general welfare, seeu
I'd the bless gs of liberty to ourselves n
p postcriiy, do ordain and establish tn
ly Constitution for the United States
o. America" Here is the ring of true Ii
g. erty, because it aceords with the DiyiI
I'd idea of it, and Mans true conviction
OF it, Let US then, in remembering ouI Il
ul len soldiers from year to year. rememb
ed their sacrifice in establishing apd keelil
II, this principle.
Ill Had they fled Bunker Hill. Saratot
lr- yorktown, Vicksburg, Gettysburg a
he Richmond, where would the peaceat
lr. enjoyment of this liberty have been
OF day Oh, let us be now and henceipi
lot SO grateful to them. So mindful OF ih'
as that we put flowers upon their grave l