Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1877-08-01

mobiles began to be question
ed. Many came to the new world hoping
to better their fortunes and others came
with hearts longing as human hearts en-
slaved always long for freedom and ex-
pecting in these far off wlds to find the
boon denied them in their native land.
And here they found il; not at first in its
but the germ was here, and
bravely and nobly each succeeding gener-
alton guarded and nurtured it, until grown
and perfected they bequeathed it, a
priceless legacy to us and our children
forever.
In looking for the causes which led to
the American revolution, we need not con-
fine our attention to the stamp act, nor
to the series of obnoxious laws passed
by parliament from time to time and met
by the colonsts with determined resist
ance. We recognize the same spirit mani
tested far back in their history almost to
the date of the first settlement in 1901
From the first the people sought, and in
nearly every instance obtained, voice in
the colonial government. When Il newly
granted charter restricted their liberties
they clamored for another, and in time
obtained it. When governor sent to
them from England proved tyranical they
objected and resisted until the obnoxious
official was removed. The habit of de-
manding and contending for their rights
and liberties grew with the growth Of the
colonies and we cannot wonder that after
the lapse of n century and Il half, and
when by participation in the wars with
the French and Indians the people had
learned something of their own strength
and resources, the crisis came aud the
contest of years was decided by an appeal
to arms. The war came. need not dwell
upon it's scenes, its defeats and victories
or upon its final triumph I need not
eulogize the men who planned its cam
paigns, and led their men to the conflict
on many bloody field, neither do need
to praise the citizen soldiery who so nobly
proved their loyalty to that Heaven born
sentiment of Virgiuia's great orator.
"Give Inc liberty or give me death. -
The world knows the history. Time can
not dim it's glory nor etface its influence
upon the dcstinies of mankind. Would
that later years had added no dark pages
to a history so proud. Would that self
interest and passion had never arraycd
against each other the descendants of those
very heroes who fought side by side and
shed their blood in common cause
Strange that the soil where Greene led
his men to victory and Washington
achieved the triumph which virtually end
ed the war. shon'd have clnshed with the
blood of the sons of Massachusetts and
Virginia, of Vermont and the Carolinas,
shed by each other. Strange is human
nature which made such sad episode in
our history possible. But let all wounds
be healed. Let no memories Of wrongs
real or imaginary, in North or South, fan
the dying flame of passion. "Let the dead
past bury its dead" and tender memories
of long ages help to reunite the broker
ties which for many years bound Nortf
and South together in union so strong
that they knew no divided interest.
cannot refrain from adding just one
word for Vermont and the part she has
taken in the history Of the whole country
We, as her sons and daughters, remember
with pride that the Green Mountain boy:
were among the first to answer the cal
to arms, when the news of the battle o
Lexington electrified the land. We boaS
that in less than one month Ethan Allel
had taken Ticonderoga, in the name ofth
great Jehovah and the Continental Con
gress, and Warner had CAPTURED the sta
ton at Crown Point. We point witt
pride to Bennington and Hubbardton
whose fields, u century ago, flowed witt
the blood of heroes from our own hill
and valleys, and whose victories insured
the surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga
We repeat to our children tales Of thos
olden times, when the land we Cultivat
was claimed by state upon the east an
another upon the west and there wer
found among our ancestors, men stron
and brave enough to shake off the fetter
which these rival claims were rivetins
and declaring Vermont independent, an
framed on freedoms basis governmcr
for the new state. We recall with equ'
pride how nobly our state acted her pal
in the later struggle for national exis
ence and, as patriots, we can form
better resolution, and breathe no praye
more fitting to-day, than that we and OF
children, down to the latest generatio
may be inspired by as pure and ardent
patriotism as were our fathers before u
!,
While we meet to-day in common wit
others over all our land to celebrate tn
anniversary, we do so not merely as
testimonial of our respect and reveren'
for the virtues and hcrosm Of our ance
tors, but for the influence which a prop
, observance of this day may have upon tt
. youth of our land. The Oldest and wise
of our nations counselors are fast passll
away. The active business men Of tod
will soon retire from participation In Il
= affairs Of the republic, and the youth WI
I are fast growing up to I'll their place
G should be instructed in love Of count
S and constitutional liberty, and not the
e only but in morality and integrity. '
Y o,,.ox ,l,,t o,r ayas IN fho fupt that 1