Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-07-09

tive Of Marshfield. Those who, like the writer
remember Curtis In his school-boy days need not
be told that his reading was excellent and could
easily be heard by every one In that large audi
ence. "The Red White and Blne by the band
and duet by Mrs. George A. Putnam and Mrs
Fri Spencer, whose musical ability Is 10 well
known, preceded the principal feature Of the occa-
sion--an address by DIR. J. W. Pardo
After brief Introduction the speaker said this
Declaration Of Independence was not the work OF
a moment, nor the child OF impulse; but was con-
ceved by the spirit OF liberty. during long years
OF oppression, and born Of thoughtful minds
whose perceptions had been sharpened by the
rigors Of frontier life; whose wisdom had been
disciplined by years Of responsibility asleaders OF
an infant nation struggling for the rights to life,
liberty and the pursuit Of happiness" against the
atrocities OF native barbaraus and the oppression
Of foreign despots. In giving this Declaration to
the world, those heroic men did not give way to
angry passions nor yield to spirit OF vndctive-
meas There is the candor Of reason itself in the re-
cital Of the wrongs and petty tyrannies with which
the people had been so long insuIted. There Ia
the quiet frmness Of justice personifed in the
assertion Of equality and the right Of every man
to life, liberty and the pursuit Of happiness The
spirit OF liberty that actuated illustrous fore
fathers that presided over the councils Of the
statesmen, nerved the arm OF the patriot soldier,
and steeed the loveflled heart OF the mother with
more than Spartan heroism-this spirit OF liberty
was no ephemeral thing conjured up by the wisdom
OF man to infuse courage into the hearts OF the
multitude, add valor to the bearing OF the leaders
and shed glory upon the ambition Of mortals; but
1t Is born Of heaven and is coeva with the creation
OF man. II struggled for existence In the early
ages Of mans history, when priestcraft smothered
1t with the dark pail OF superstition. And though
1t was at last given place in the conscience Of
man by the direct interposition OF divine power
II was destined TO be prosecuted even here. It
struggled for existence through the growth and
decay Of the empires Of old; 1t saw great republics
and proud monarchies crumble to the earth; 1t
CROPPED its way through the gloom Of the dark
ages; 1t lowered close during the revival OF let
tiers; 1t gathered strength in the conscience Of
men until the great reformation was possible, and
the church militant could claim an existence OF
its own; until a few brave souls dared to rise up
and break the letters OF old-time absolutism, and
flee from the old world despotism. These jealous
votaries Of liberty even bowed to the yoke OF
authority, and wore the CALLING bonds OF fealty to
| tuc ucrIotlC COuEtTy until tnty rhW tnc
proud monarch re-forging the fetters long broken,
into new shackles for the fair feet Of liberty.
They rose up as one man and with solemn dignity
annulled their allegiance to despotsm; and Of.
fered their lives their fortunes and their sacred
honor at the shrine OF liberty.
The speaker gave brilliant description OF the
heroic struggle for independence. Three millions
of people for seven long years against the most
powerful nation of modern times Fighting-noi
with personal enmity; bloody war between son
and father brother with brother-not for power,
position or gold, but liberty against despotism
with lives and fortunes swallowed up by the
maelstrom Of revolution into which all had been
cast
After reviewing the great increase in popula
ton, progress in agriculture, manufactures, com
merce science and art, and the growth Of educa
| ton, Christian civilization and moral reform
under the influence Of liberty the speaker referred
to the maxim that Eternal vigilance is the price
OF liberty" called attention to the danger OF inter
nal strife and foreign wars being re-enacted, be
cause of the avarice and ambition OF individual,
oftentimes going beyond their love of liberty and
the welfare Of people, whom they involve il
fatal wars, resulting in the downfall Of nations
l
through which the nation had passed, how the
last band in the golden crown Of liberty wa.
during four years of bloody, fratricidal war
forged from the letters Of the millions of bond
men who had so long been living tarnish on thu
escutcheon Of liberty. He appealed to all presen
to throw away all sectional prejudices and poti
cal bias on this glorious anniversary and to re
solve to stake their lives, their property and the
sacred honor on the broadcast freedom that it wa
the prerogative of liberty to establish free speech
free press, free ballots and liberty OF conscience
for one and all. and to instl the principles OF lib
erty into the hearts of the rising generation $,
thoroughly that II the immortal shade Of the II
lustrious Washington could honor Us with his re
vered presence he would say to us: aye men o
this generation, rejoice and thank God for be
ing able to see that labors, and tolls, and
rifces, were not in vain. You are prosperous
you are happy, you are grateful. The fire o
liberty burns brightly and steadily in your hearts
while duty and the law restrain it from bursting
forth in wild and destructive conhagration. Cher
ish liberty you love it, cherish its securities a
you wish to preserve it. Maintain the Constitu
ton that we labored so painfully to establish, an
which has been to you source of inestimabl
blessings. Preserve the union of the states
cemented as it WAS by our prayers, our tears ant
} our blood Be true to God, your country an,
your duty So shall the whole eastern world fol
low the morning sun to contemplate you az "A ma
ton so shall all succeeding generations homo
you as they honor us; and so shall that Almight
Power which so graciously protected us. an'
} which now protects you, shower its everlasting
blessings on you and your posterity."
The address was delivered rapidly, In dstinc
and audible manner and was well received
The Rotations by Master Jerry Carleton AM
Misses Mary Woodward, Mary Ptkin, Abbi
Palmer, Edna =. Dwinell and Alice Packer, wer
well rendered, some being especially good. IN
address Of Rev. o. A. Farley Of the Methods
church to the children WAS interesting to childre
Of larger growth A duet sung by Misses Robin
son and York closed the exercises before tn
banquet These young misses, after an hour ha
been spent in social festivities. sang the " Fade
Coat Of Blue" so prettily that q collection wa
taken for their benefit at the suggestion OF mem
bers of the band
Dr. }. Q A. Packer POSTMASTER, read the fol
lowing toasts:
The anniversary Of the nations birthday More than
sa, se siors sS Ssr nam snes sr may
Our revolutionary fathers who made us nstion-peac
, | be To their sleeping dust.
Soldiers OF lsi2May their heroic deeds be embame'
| In our memory.
The soldiers OF 6l-MAy they live celebrate many k
| Anniversaries.
o Sa capped wiS sao@ al the Sass Sssuia s an
| lusty boys do frolic and grow
There were few responses to these toasts; bu
! to the last DIR. Pardo responded heartily and wa
received with cheers. He closed with the follow
ing impromptu toast
| The IIardwick Cornet Band-As music hath charms /
soohe the the classic ever be repre-
scented by body OF musicians efficient In execution
those strains which make the heart Of civilization rejoice
by Organic ton gentemany in their association wit
their fellows and may they live long and prosper.
The Stars and Stripes the red white and blue-May the
ever wave over the home OF the brave and true.
The American Eagle. the emblem OF liberty. whose broa
pnons stretch from shore To shoe-May she ever renal
In her altitude as beacon to the nations OF earth.
The Sunday -schoo-The Corlss engine OF all
and religious Institutions.
This closed the exercises 10 the grove. Tn,
procession reformed and marched back to the com
mon-reaching the whole distance. There u
least two thousand people had gathered. Tn
creased pig OF the occasion was not the fiery un
tanned beast necessary to the full enjoyment o
the frolic, aud was soon caught by young la'
whose name we did not learn. Then followed
closely contested foot race between s. ii. Came
ron, Mike Fitzgerald and Benis Cameron, the tw
first coming GU, ahead.
The Antiques and Horribles then held high car