St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-06-03

Court House and the main exercises OF
the day, about the monument, were
begun-Hon. Franklin Fairbanks pre-
siding. The Court House square had
been fitted up with a speakers stand
and settees for the audience, and was
well filed. On the platform were
seated the President, the orator, Chap
lain SandfOrd, Hon. l.. p. Poland,
Judge Ross, Rev. II. T. Fuller, Col. A.
B. Jewett and the Glee Club-cOnsist-
ing of Messrs. COnant, Herrick, May
and Dodge. After song by the Glee
Club, the President introduced Hon.
L. p. Poland, who read ""the Roll of
Honor" prefacing it with a few re-
marks appropriate to the occasion:
JUDGE PoLAND's REMARKS.
Referring to the war, he said when
the subject comes up we think of its
great results and its effect upon the
condition and character of the nation !;
we remember that the nations terri
tOrial extent was preserved and its au-
thOrity everywhere asserted and main
tanned. We remember that the war
wiped out great spot on our system
of freedom and delivered lis from the re-
proach that our government, protesting
to maintain the rights of all men, up
held the right of one man to hold title
in another. While thinking on these
things and the great leaders of the war,
there is danger that we forget the
trin lava Of nd
devotion of the many hundreds of
thousands who filled the ranks, by
whom all these results were really
achieved. 1t is mainly to prevent
such forgetfulness, and to keep our
memory active that this Decoration
Day is observed. While we won't
forget the great names, we have met
here to-day for different purpose-tO
celebrate the brave deeds and weave
garlands over the graves of our own
brothers and sons.
The speaker here paid high tribute
to the volunteer soldiers. Many men,
he said, who went into the war were
not free from human selfishness, and it
is not uncharitable to suppose that
some of them strOve for high places in
the hope of winning and wearing the
laurels of the victor. But men in the
ranks could not feel so; they knew
that danger and exposure was to come !;
if they escaped death the chance of
fame was not to be expected. 1t was
enough for them to know that their
country called. Our own state was
foremost and readiest, and none did
better service. This monument of
pncnp1s alTnnSt N hrnIrnI
some fell on the field of battle, some
i'll hospitals, and some starved in rebel
prisons. Let us remember them in
our hearts as examples of the most un-
selfish patriotism, and continue to
bless their memories with flowers.
After the reading of the Roll of
Honor, the monument was decorated
by the Post Prayer was offered by
Rev. Mr.. Sandford, the Glee Club sang,
and the president introduced ii. C.
Bates, Esq, of st. Johnsbury, who
delivered the address, speaking in
substance as follows:
THE ADDRESS.
Referring to an ancient custom of
Greeks i'll paying honors to their war
riOr dead, the speaker remarked We
pay more distinguished and lasting
hOnOrs to the brave men who sacrificed
life on the altar of national honor for
we not only erect monuments, but each
year we gather to adOrn their graves
with flowers, to speak of their virtues,
and to engrave upon the hearts of the
coming generation an enduring appre-
citation and love of the nations dead.
In the memory of those who went
forth to meet the fate of war, we are
now met to join i'll an expression of
our sorrow and our jOy-sOrrOw that
the sacrifice must needs have been !;
JOY that the offering was worthy, and
that peace, prosperity and true great
ness have been secured through its
merits. You who remember
every thrOe of national distress mani
fest to-day your appreciation of those
who, from being of families and of
localities, have become the nations.
But we should hold in esteem also
those who participated in the dangers
and struggles and have returned again
to their homes, with love of country
strengthened and liberty and justice
made more dear to them who have
gaInered up the fruits of sacrifice, and
placed beyond the power of future
assault the principles for which they
cOntended. We are indebted also to
the devoted mothers and wives, who
with noble self-fOrgetfulness sent their
loved ones to answer duty's call.
For the ball that steals the soldiers life
Or mains the brave, strong limb,
Pierces the mother, or sister, wife
Whose hopes are conferred in him.
And who shall say when the list is read
By the cold worlds curious eye,
How many more wounded and dead
And how many more may die !"
To our ancestors belongs much of
the praise for our present most happy
national condition, since they found
ed our country in industry, economy
and love of liberty; and we recognize
Us the greatest of truths the fact that
strict morality, temperance, industry
and frugality, with obedience to the
law and wholesome respect for re-
ligion, are the foundation stones upon
which the growth to national greatness
is based; opposite qualities indicate
the decay of the body polite.
The speaker here dwelt to some OK
tent on the peculiar characteristics of
our country, reviewing its past history
and setting forth the civil, religious,
political and social advantages it offers
above every other nation and con-
tinued Let me remark upon the rank
of life from which our defenders have
come. Our armies were not hirelings.
We sent forth to do our battles no
foreign brood; for though many were
of foreign birth, yet the land of their
adoption was their home, and they