Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-08-24


Yet hore, beside that battlefield,
We plight the vow that, yield
The rights for which our fathers bed,
Our blood shall steep the ground we tread.
And men will hold the memory dear
OF those who fought for freedom here,
And guard the heritage they won
While these green hil-sides feel the sun.
PRESIDENT HAYES
then spoke as follows:
Ladies and Fellow-citizens: need not
say TO you that am grateful for this greet
ing. l am greatly Obliged to those who had
charge of this celebration for their courtesy
in giving me an opportunity TO enjoy with
them the ceremonies of this day. l am quite
sure none of us will ever forget its occur
renee, the notable event-lhe battle of Ben
nington-so great an event toward national
independence. j am sure we feel il has
been fifty celebrated to-day. Only think of
the procession that we beheld an hour or
two ago-ihe cilizen-solders so disciplined;
soldiers from Vermont, from Connecticut,
from Massachusetts and New Hampshire
were here. GApplause.l But more touch
ing than all the long procession, were the
veterans of the Union army, the survivors
of the 1900 battles that saved the nation and
made liberty throughout the world forever
possible. [Applause.] And what eye was
not dimmed, as we saw proudly marching
with his comrades, that manned soldier
walking with his crutch? But, my ear
friends, must not detain you. / recog-
nize that among the pages Of the speech TO
which we have listened, packed full, as
each page was, with interesting matter
touching on that great event of 100 years
ago, that no one fact in 1t was more valua-
BILE than this, that 100 years ago it was mer-
itorious to be minule-man, to fight in the
cause of independence. Is there not some
merit in my becoming a minule.man
[Applause.)
SECRETARY EvARTs.
AT the close of President Hayes speech
Secretary Evarts was called for, and re-
sponded as follows:
Mr.. President, Ladies and Gentlemen:
1t Is but fair IL at should warn you that
though am very slow to begin speech 1
am much slower 10 end it, and l know
your only safety is in my retiliDg before l
commence. [Applause.l
SECRETARY KEY
being called for, said:
My Dear Friends: This call is grateful
to me. l do not accept il as personal COM
pliment to me, but as an indication of fra
terual feeling on the part of our northern
friends to their erring southern brethren.
| (Applause.]
ATTORNEY GENERAL DEvENs
was then loudly called for. Smilngly adj
NdDclDEy ne SalU. II u sdlu 10 DC one Oh
the maxims OF the Chinese philosopher,
| Confucius Il have never read him), to put
| few words in your speech that more may
| be remembered,' so l will follow the eX-
ample of my predecessors but l will de-
| tain you few moments 10 tell you a short
story, a story with moral. Perhaps l had
better tell the moral first, for know that
| in studying Esop we used to skip the NOR
al. The moral OF the story is simply this,
that in the cause OF patriotism, how o,y
thing. The story is this: Although 10th
| to confess this in the presence of 50 many
| ladies, 1t was something more than 80 wears
| ago, that l, young lawyer, was invited to
| deliver an Grafton on the Fourth of July
before my fellow citizens of the State of
| Vermont at Bratteboro. There were still
len at that time a few of the survivors or
| the great Revolutionary army. Three or
| four were waiting in the hotel where was
| stopping with my Grafton simmering inside
OF me, great deal embarrassed, as 1 am
now (applause), constitutional bashful-
| ness shall never get over. There came In
to these three or four old gentleman one
somewhat younger than they, but still con-
siderably over 20. "Genllemen," he said
II am not Revolutionary soldier, but /
should like to ride with the Revolutionary
soldiers to-day. l would like to explain
nay position, and ask if have not right"
or course they readily gave him permits
sion. lie went on to say that, when he was
boy about eight years old, his father kept
ferry somewhere on the Connecticut riv-
er, at Putney or Westminster, l think.
There came to the river to cross, while
my father was away, and was at home
alone, two men, one of whom seemed of
superior rank TO the other. They were SOL
dlers, evidently, though there was little
uniform among men in Revolutionary
Times. They wished to cross the ferry, said
they must cross. | said that was cply a
nI fhn
and even if they assisted me, could not get
back. They said they would help me to
cross, and some of the neighbors could
help me back. l undertook it, and, afler
had crossed TO the other side, ] said to the
superior gentleman, When my father
comes home, 1 shall wish to be able TO tell
him who it was l have carried across the
ferry Well said he, you may tell him
1t was John Stark Six weeks amer that
heard of the battle of Bennington, and now"
said he, II have claim TO be the person
who carried John Stark across the ferry 10
hight the battle of Bennington, and should
like to ride with your Revolutionary SOL
diers." OF course the answer was that they
an thought he was good enough Revolu-
tionary soldier for them, If he was but eight
years old at the time of the battle.
Secretary McCrary was next called, but
had lelt the tent. Lawyer L. w. Stoughton
of New York was then called, and, coming
TO the front of the platform, said: lam
not, ladies and gentlemen, member of the
presidents cabinet, and it has besn sug-
gested that 1t is just as well that am not,
Tor my advice has never been taken about
anything.
N. p. Banks was then called for aud Mrs.
Hayes, but Mr.. Phelps stated that it was
long past the time for the banquet, and
they did not respond.
THE BANQUET
followed. From two to three thousand
people sat at the table. Mr.. Phelps did the
hnrnnra ~ 10 nnnnni.,., l..