Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-08-17

governors oil the several Slates.
PRESIDENT BARTLETT's Or ALTON
And Poems by william Cullen Bryant
And Mrs. Maria Mason.
BENNINGTON, Aug. I6.-The train COZ
tanning the visiting military from New YORK
arrived two hours late. but in time to take
their place in the procession. The trains
all came in loaded and the crowd is fearful,
The weather early was quite rainy but about
eleven O'Clock the skies frightened and a
most lovely day ensued. The procession
was over four miles in length, and contain
ed at reasonable estimate eight thousand
people, while the imposing parade was wit
messed by over fifty thousand people. The
principal feature was the President and &C
companying members of his cabinet. His
reception in Vermont and ride IN
the procession has partaken OF
triumphant nature. The enthusiasm
ran wild and desiening cheers greeted him
in one continual roll along the entire route
Gov. Fairbanks occupied the carriage with
the President.
When the procession arrived at the Cer-
tennial fields, it passed in review before the
President, Mrs. Hayes and the cabinet. The
President made few brief remarks, con-
graduating Vermont upon the felicitous
beginning and progress OF this Centennial
occasion. and referred to the evident inter
est taken in her Tooth anniversary of two
prominent events by the visiting
officials of sister states, military and
thousands present. This sentiment
was seconded by secretary Egarts. Secre-
tary MeCeary then introduced Mrs. Hayes
very happily, is President Hayes molly
Stark" Great enthusiasm was kindled by
these expressions. After the review the ex-
ercices in the pavilion tent commenced.
Chief Marshall Valentine and staff escorted
the President and cabinet, governor of Yer
mont and executives of other States chaplain
and orator Of the day and other distinguish
cd guests to seats upon the platform. The
| services began by prayer by Rev. John
| Wheelock Allen, grandson OF the fighting
parson Allen. of Bennington battle memory.
Hon. E. j. Phelps, President OF the Cen
tennial commission, then introduced Gov.
Fairbanks who gave short address of well
come. President BARTLETT Grafton follow
| ed and was received with much enthusiasm.
PRESIDENT BARTLETT's GRAFTON.
An Able, scholarly and Eloquent Effort.
| From the top OF Mount Anthony the eye
| looks out on a panorama OF singular extent
and beauty. Westward the AdirOndaeks
| dim with the distance of hundred miles or
more; the Heiiderbergs and Catskills to the
| south, Greylock, Saddle and Bald, the long
| Green Mountain wall on the east. and Kill
| lington Peak sixty miles away to the north,
| outline vast amphitheatre OF hill and vale,
| of fertile fields and graceful forests, dotted
with thrifty villages and happy homes. The
steam puffs up in sight from half dozen
railway lines. and there are glimpses OF
Huosac and Walloomsae. bordered with
manufactures. Nestled invlsibly away are
schools, and banks, and printing presses.
here a yane and there a college. As the day
/ declines silver streamlets come glinting
| forth with reflected sunbeams from the
broad expanse of rich farming lands; near
| fountain spreads its lofty spray upon the
air, and at length there settles down over
| the white landscape that mellow. low and
| dreamy hue which makes 1t seem OF some
other world. But this is no dreamiand Wis
| ion. These things all lie on the soil OF these
| sovereign States and they are the substan-
tial tokens OF industry. culture. peace and
prosperity, the ripest fruits OF Republican
| liberty. ION bright morning 100 years ago
| to-day German officer on an eminence i've
/ miles from here looked forth admiringly on
| q part of this same landscape, then ripe"
| be said, with pastoral beauty a wide
sweep of stately forests, interrupted at re-
mote intervals by green meadows and fertile
| corn fields. with here and there cottage, a
| shed or other primitive edIhee, and Ben
| ninston was "a cluster of poor cottages in
a wild country" Around him was we'll
appointed military band glitterlng In arms.
| some OF the men in brass helmets. some in
red coats, some in citizens garb, and dusky
forms in war paint hung upon the outskirts,
| two miles this q of HIM, hidden from his
sight BY anoti e. nad alarmed and miscel-
| laneousIy clad, .argely in cloth of tow or
| linen. dyed with butternut or maple, and
| too deeply absorbed in their dsy-break
preparations J., spend ope thought upon the
| glory of the earth or Sky. Between these
two bodies VI troops, and in good measure
on that days struggle, hung pending the
question whether the pastoral beauty OF
that time should unfold unto all the civil
freedom and blessings Of this. The orator
here reviews the events leading up to the
battle of Bennington. the marches and VIC
tories of Gage, Howe. Burgoyne and Gin
ton, the fights at Ticonieroga. Lexington.
Concord and elsewhere. etc. The condition
of the colonies was pointed out and the
legislation that had been carried out 10
London The army of the revolutionlsts WAS
composed of poorly clad. poorly ted and
poorly disciplined men. Each State had 1t.
own burdens to bear. Vermont was en-
gagged in gallant strife for State rights
and individual ownership OF the soil, New
York was oyerrun with loyalis:s. ut whom
numbers had been sent to the New England
States for safe keeping-7O0 ut one time in
the jails and houses of New Hampshire.
New Hampshire intensely patriotic that
only 773 out of her whole population had,
whether for conscience or political scruples,
refused to sign the pledge ITO visit the foe
with arms at the risk OF our lives and tor
tunes''-was vet distracted with the masnl-
tude and multitude of her efforts. There
were other dark shades in the picture. But
the plot was deepening. Burgovne in Lon
don laid before George Ill. in February,
plan to close the war.
Howe had sent across the ocean Il still lar
ger scheme which would rtrlke terror
through the country and try and break
down all resistance to His Majesty = troops
Both agreed in this that one army should
move up the Hudson. another descend from
the north and both meet at Albany. They
would thus cut the rebel serpent in twain
and separately crush its New England head
and southern body. But who marred that
plot? In England King George and Lord
GEORGE Germain; in America, Sir John
Burgoyne and Henry Lee. The dull King
had way of meddling in details with all
the business of his great empire. In the
British Museum you may read in his own
handw riting his comments on the plan of
Burgoyne. restricting his forces, withhold
ing all discretionary power. and requiring
him to simply Join Howe at Albany"
But that equally positive orders were not
issued to Lord Howe We may think Lord
Germain. The minister called at his office;
the despatch all written was not fair
copied" so Germain hurried of to the
country the unsigned despatch was pigeon
hOled. and was found years after the sur
render at Saratoga. There have been worse