The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-08-18

SNhtCs huu vi Otnti tlitS.
AS our centennial draws near we may
in imagination see the spirits of the depart
ed heroes and worthless gathering here by
that invisible pesence which may neverthe.
less be a real presence to our minds, to
give us the inspiration of their distinguish
ed example.
What persons have put up here or con-
suited and schemed here. What excited
and earnest talks at the table and the fire.
side, over deeds done or meditated, and re.
solved upon. What startling arrivals of
messengers from the seat of conflict what
anxious, yet resolute, departures of brave
and determined, some on brands full
of risk and adventure. The place itself,
amid these suggestive associations, quick
ems Just now hallowed memories. We
think how arrived the fast crowding engage
ments of an evcntful period. What hands
planted the trees in yonder orchard. The
trees shall yet pass away and mingle with
the things that were, but those who plant
ed them have assembled, we may hope. i'm
mortal, to walk in the shade and pluck of
the fruit that grows upon the banks of the
river of life. Here beneath this venerable
roof, voices of rare melody, out of warm
hearts, were accustomed to sing the
praises of God. Here was dispensed
hospitality that never exhausted the social
life Of the home and never grew weary
The mother of this household was the
daughter of Deacon John Faesett, promin-
ent in the early annals of the town.
You have done WELL gentlemen OF the
historical society of Bennington, to procure
this massive stone as monument to mark
this spot, and now will try to say word
for other monuments worthy of the cor
dial and efficient support of all. AS such
enduring emblems were visible to the eyes
which cannot be overlooked by the most
casual passer by, calling to the mind Of
youth the heroic deeds of the past. Let
the monument to Bennington battle be now
erected and each spot that can be identified
marked by some enduring and noticeable
stone column or pillar. People resld-
inc in the vicinity of battlefields
and other historic localities in the old world
understand the power of the sentiment in
the human heart that wants this and every
such locality and spot to be marked. The
10th of August 1877, is now soon upon us,
and there is much to do. We cannot evade
our responsibilities-we cannot face the
shame of neglect through lukewarmness
or any other cause, of our opportunity
When at the opening of the late war of the
rebellion, the 9th Massachusetts, were fatal
ly attacked in their progress through Bal
timore, and an earnest appeal was made to
President Lincoln by the Young mems
christian association Of Baltimore and DR..
Fuller accompanied them to get patriotic
troops to Washington some other way than
through Maryland, he replied "These
troops must come to Washington, and do
it through Maryland. They can neither
go under 1t or fly over it, and they shall
come through it. 1t i, so with the Ben
nington centennial time. Whatever money
it may cost, whatever time aud labor of
many individuals, this centennial VIC
must face. We can neither go under it
nor fly over it, nor go around it.
Gentlemen adorn their private grounds
with statues and figures, some OF them at
tractive and graceful. A small part Of the
money thus expended would mark every
historic spot in this land with some suitable
monument or column that would crafty a
praiseworthy love-the power of having
monuments of events of interest in our
past history. My mind thrills now with
the recollec,ions of the inspiration in Inc
when lad being permitted with my eyes
| to behold such memorial objects. The first
| time / saw and then assembled
| Bunker IIill'monument was on one Of those
| ulGluOldUlc udyH anu, Htlil illOiS. tbb IL! 81
| time | stood in Faneuil hall, called the
cradle of American liberty. There seems
something urged on by the human heart tc
make the place memorable for great deeds.
| cannot forget the effect ON my mind
v,hiio vioitinS tho localities ahout Lake
Luzerne in Swi,zerland-sctna of Swis.
heroism and patriotism. The scenery there
is romantic and sublime IN an ex,raord
nary degree. The waters of the lake, now
peaceful, now wrought with rough pillows
| and dark with tempestuous colds over
head, and bemmed in by almost pcrpend
cuar mountains, around those lofty tops
play the lightnings and storms, and yet,
that which most completes the effect of The
historical and legendary of the past was
| little, simple structure, hut, in fact, over
a spring, and marking the spot where in
the dead of night the three founders of
Swiss freedom met in secret on q little
level spot formed by the sliding down OF
material from the perpendicular mountain
on one side and deep lake and mountain
wall overhead, and mountains on all the
other sides, met and Joined hands in on
oath (1307) to liberate their country from
the Austrian yoke.
| But not to pursue these comparisons fur
| Their, we want suitable monument tC
commemorate the Bennington battle, to re
| call the mind of the beholder to a fresh re-
collection of the event to thus exert its
own salient power in addition to Other
means to make the effort of that great
transaction definite and impressive. 1t i:
| due to the heroes themselves who were &C.
tors in that battle. We should gather W
their names ao far as possible and have
them inscribed upon suitable tablets to bt
affixed to this monument, and should il
addition gather all personal "reminiscences
which is pertinent, or might receive addi
tional interest from the circumstance o.
| their being in the battle. | do not ia this
agree with the beautiful stanzas of Chaplin
| 1t needs no monumental pile
TO tell each stored name;
| The fair green hills rise proudly up
To consecrate their fame
True to Its trust, Waloomsac long
The record bright shall bear,
| Who came up at the battle sound
And fought for freedom there.
The hills are free and green in their
times, and will do their duty but
they are no substitute fol
written monumental records. Their,
were from 1900 to 1S00-it is like
ly more. Some of the names have been pre-
served, and are from time to time recog
nized. They should as far as possible, a
once be gathered up.
The speaker then narrated incidents at
tending the erection of monuments an
tablets at Lexington and Concord, and tn,
patriotic spirit continually in the hearts o
the people surrounded by such cmblcms al
remind them of the achievements of III,
fathers. The battle of Bennington had no
received the place in history which be.
longed to it.. The credit of defeating Bur
goyne was enormously given to Gen, Gate
when it belonged to Gen. Stark, and it haC
become duty to erect a suitable monu
mcnt COMMUNICATING the valor Of Gen
Stark and the men of the green mountails
1t appears it is in the programme of th'
executive committee of this historical so
cie,y to erect statue of Rev. Mr.. Dewey
on the spot where the old meeting houst
stood; of this i most heartily approve
This first minister of the frs! church or
ganizcd in Vermont by his idea of separa
tiun of church aud state, and of the inde