Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-10-19

Meeson and Wesby had been decided the
other way. Laughter lie would suggest
that we make kind Of pleading park, on the
plan of the Yellowstone Park, where all the
abs lue hoes, shareholders, and other weird
matters of the kind might be preserved to
crafty future curiosity. Laughter lll
was comfort to know that slowly and in n
wise, hcstating way we were adopting the
English system Of changes according rs they
arc found suitable to the temper and needs OF
our people. .
Your population is vast, but where did ii
come from? You are the receptacle of the
immigration of the world. You are the
judges of how far this has proved an ua-
mixed good-how far the integrity OF
your political system has been affected or
no,-not |. 1t is not size or force or strength
that constitute true greatness, but when men
rise ngains, oppression when the good, hou-
est, God-icarlng citizens go 10 war sooner
than suffer the disruption Of their country I;
when they fight not by the aid OF mcrcen-
aries but with their own best blood and the
blood of their children and their .childrcn's
children; when they say that what is good
for themselves is good for others too-that SO
far as their rule extends every man, whatever
his race, origin, or color shall be rs free us
themselves: that no traffic in human flesh
shall ever take place in their domains when
they cndcavor to do justice to their enemies;
when they are not afraid or ashamed to CON
iess and atone for their crrors-then such
u nation is truly, noble, aud indispulably
gre at. Applausc Forgive friend if he
says to you that it is not because of your
strength, vastness, or energy, but because
YOU show that YOU have the making OF true
greatness in you that he respects you. You
pay price that no other nation ever did,
but believe me, you get the worth of it.
Applause.
''As FIR your wealth i. WAS not your colos-
sal fortunes that interested Inc. | can see
great estates aud sufficiently enormous for
tunts ut home l should be disposed to give
wide berth to these things, because millions
OF dollars confuse my mind and are irrelev-
ant to my tastes. But what | do rejoice to
see, what has filed me with delight, what |
have longedto see, but never will see, in Eng
land, is the condition of yourupper aud lower
middle classes. met highly educated men,
who would do credit to any capital. diifuscd
throughout the country aud, what is still
more delightful, saw tens OF thousands of
comfortable houses all lived in by the owners.
| am told that this possession of homes is
pretty general that your farmers generally
own their farms, your gentlefok their
houses, and your artisans their cottages.
The interest in them that results from their
being their own homes is one that
nothing else can give. Think what
solid satisfaction and contentment this
is in time Of peace. This is your great glory
your real happiness. Let me entreat
you 10 keep it, to guard it, never to let it go.
Don't be dcluded by the splendor followed
by discomfort and misery of where a fcudal
system prevails. l say this because certain
English periodicals are constantly advising
you that you would be so much better OIL
under monarchy, with entail and the other
patiiarchal relations that we have found so
pleasant in Ireland. Applause. | cant
help asking myself whenever | read these
things, Where did those people go in Amer
lea, what air did they breathe, and with
whom did they consortI =
Though l feel deeply" said the speaker
in conclusion, "the excellence of the Ameri-
eau system, it must not be supposed for u
moment that am blind TO that of my own
country. Each is the complement of the
other. Imitation 10 either case would in my
judgment be great mistake. 1t is the sim
pie truth that, joined together as allies, Eng
land and America would be absolutely ire
sisiblc in the world. Applause. | most
earnestly hope that the present happy state
of feeling will long continue. | assure you
trace Of grudgng when he thinks of the
of your future. hope no I'M
statesman, no malignant writer
on either side OF the water, will ever Scpa.
rate u.s. Great applause.