News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1882-11-02

At the celebration of the anniversary
of the hundredth birthday of Daniel
Webster at Marshfeld, the governor of
Massachusetts introduced the Presi-
dent of the United States, who spoke as
follows
cit is fortunately in accord with the
proprieties of this occasion, no less than
my own inclination, that should con-
fine within narrow limits my acknowl-
edgments of your fattering reception.
I am deeply moved by the warmth of
that reception. 1t is but further dis
play of that splendid hospitality which
since came within the borders OF Mas
sachusetts has everywhere INSTRUCTED
my way with demonstrations of courtesy
and respect. Applause. I trust, sir,
that neither my gratitude nor my SYM
pathy with the purposes which have
turned our reyerent footsteps hither-
ward to-day will be measured by my
poor endeavor to give them expression.
The character and genius of that il
lustrious man whose life moved grandly
on in SO many paths of eminence, in
commemoration of whose birth one hun
dred years ago we have gathered here
to-day amid the peaceful scenes where
he found rest from the fret and the
worry of life, have for more than gen.
Grafton been the theme of discussion. I
shall not attempt to labor in the field
over which SO many flashing sickles
have swept and which have so long been
crowded with illustrious cleaners, but I
may perhaps be permitted to declare my
approval Of what has been accomplished
by the society in furtherance of the OBJ
jects for which it was established.
"Itis asserted, upon what I suppose is
trustworthy authority, that near the
close of his honored life Mr.. Webster
expressed wish that for aiding to
transmit his fame to future generations
of his countrymen, for awakening in
their hearts patriotism and for instruct
ing them in the principles of constitu-
tional government, there should be trans
naitted far and wide among them such
records of the effects of his genius as
seemed best worthy to be thus pre-
served. Many of the loftiest and most
inspired of his utterances have long been
as familiar as household words in the
mouths of every schoolboy in the land,
but it is doubtless true that many others
scarcely.Iess dignifed in subject, mas
terly in treatment and splendid in die
ton are comparatively unknown. In
all that you have hitherto done, in all
that you may hereafter do to secure the
result which Mr.. Webster wished to Sc
cure, the circulation of his greatest and
best works, assure you of my most
earnest sympathy. No one of the rising
generation of our countrymen who seeks
to be instructed in those doctrines which
are the basis of our federal government
can by any other course so surely and
so speedily attain these ends as by re-
sort to that great storehouse of elo-
quence and wisdom, the published writ
ings of Daniel Webster.
Sand SO, gentlemen OF the Webster
Historical Society, bid you God-speed
in this and all other laudable work which
You have set yourself to accomplish.
Let me once more tender my thanks to
you for all your kindness, and express
the fervent hope that this noble Com
monwealth, all its cities and villages and
hamlets, and all who toll within its
borders, may be blessed by the abiding
presence of prosperity and peace"