Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-06-02
by the Harmonic Society. audience and

by the Harmonic Society. audience and
band.
The exercises being completed the column
reformed in the original order, and took
up the line of march through Locust and
Pearl streets to Battery Park.
AT BATTERY PARK,
the addresses were made from the band
stand, which was occupied by the orators
Of the dav, the Mayor and members OF the
Board of Aldermen, Commander Watson.
cx-Mayor A. L. Catlin. General George
j. Stannard. Captain U. A. Wood
bury, Rev. W. j. Heath and members Of the
press. An audience Of several thousands of
all ages and both sexes encircled the speak
er's stand
The exercises were opened with music by
the St. Mary's Band, after which the Har-
monte Society sang memorial hymn (set
to the music of Keller's American Hymn
in an admirable manner.
Capt. A. &. Watson, Commander of Post
S:annard, G. A. R., then introduced to the
audience Col. Redfeld Proctor. of Rutland.
who spoke as follows:
COL. PRocroR's ADDRESS.
Comrades and Fefiop-Citizens
1t has been my lot and choice hitherto on all
these anniversaries to take my place IN the ranks
with my comrades, and in that way only, assist in
the observance OF the day. The occasion Is, with
all OF US, full OF recollections Of those we have
met to hOnor-among them some friends We mourn
with a OF personal grief which outweighs
every other consideration ,-others Is men OF bright
promise OF usefulness TO their country but more
than all, lament that great a. -egate loss Of 50
nation.
We naturally recall the early lcidents Of the
war,-the hrst deaths in camp patient sufiar-
ing Of the sick who had left their mes with high
hopes, to rest beneath the Ill ofthe proua
Mother of States and make it sa, red ndeed-the
little burial escort moving out from tho white tens
lines to some quiet kno-the igid outline OF their
burden under the gray blanket-the funeral notes
OF fife and drum-the sharp volley-the quickstep
return match-the final duty Of transmitting the
sad intell gence TO family aud friends, with such
meinento as we misht-a sword or bolt, some little
trophy he bad himself saved Tor them with low
ing care perhaps a book where they could read his
last written words. In how many households are
these memorials cherished and preserved, and they
will be handed down sacred things TO children'5
children-teaehing for generations yet to come
lives in the service Of their country shall never
die in the hearts Of the people.
My comrades will bear me GU. in saying that no
hearts with every return Of this day. shrink
from the path where must fall so far short ofwhat
| would say; and l have thought 1t not ill-timed,
in this Centennial year, TO look back to the times
and men OF the Revolution, and TO compare them
briefly with those OF our war which, almost aeon
fury later, completed the work our fathers had left
imperfect, and made their great declaration 3 liv
in fact.
While would Rot with sscrilesious hand pluck
one leaf from the chaplet which the heroes
OF the Revolution nobly earned, vet il would be
the worst detracton TO aunt that the free nstitu-
tons which they founded have fallen SO far short
Of the true ends OF all government, that the men
grown up under and formed by them, are q centu
~ after unworthy TO defend and maintain the lib
critics their fathers achieved. No matter what ad-
vance a state may make in population and wealth.
in learnin. and art and all tho ordinary meas
ures Of progress, must count il worse than loss
II made the expense Of the true manliness Of her
sons.
Many things conspire to throw a halo around our
ideas of the Revolution. Il was the travail that
gave birth not only TO great nation, bat 10 new
IDEAS Of government and people. OF king and state
craft. The men Of that time builded better III In
they knew, true men always do.