Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-06-05

not save that disastrous day and il WAS left
to the Monitor, on the day following, to avonge
the loss OF these old time aud antquated frig-
atos. II is needless for me to describe the
action which ensued. You are all familiar
with IL, aud with the rejoicing that followed
all over the loyal North. Suffice il to say that
no navy in the world, with the limited means
at its command which our navy had, having
besides the unparalleled line of nearly 5000
miles OF sea coast to blockade, could have
done any better than did the gallant tara who
sailed under Farragut, Porter, FoOte, Dupont,
Rogers and others, il, indeed, they could have
done AZ we'll
Glorifying, as we do tue men who went 10
the front, aud who bore the heat and burden
OF the day, we must not forget those who in
a less conspicuous way did so much to up
hold us in our patriotic endeavors. There
were thousands at homo, incapacitated from
service In the field, who contributed their Of
forts and Of their treasure to our success, and
who did all ia their power to stimulate our
zeal. They furnished the sinews Of war
They supplied recruits to fill our decimated
ranks. Through their sanitary and Christian
commissions they generously contributed lux
urles aud delicacies such as no army commits.
sariat could afford They cared for and ten.
derly nursed our sick aud wounded They
gave us words of comfort aud hope in the
hours and days Of toll and danger Surely
there were the brave At home; aud none were
Drawer, and none made greater sacrifices, than
did the loyal women Of the North Their
disinterested work in and for the hospitals.
and in supplying materials for comfort and
for alleviating suffering in the field, can never
be adequately compensated. 70 them is doe
in no small measure the effective work accom-
pllshed by the United States sanitary commits
sion, which was formed in 1861, soon after
the breaking out Of the rebellion. Probably
no more comprehensive scheme for the anne.
Iteration Of human suffering was ever con.
ceived. No one, not in the service can esti.
mate the amount of agony prevented or lives
saved by this grand agency. Those who in
spired its creation and insured its prosperity
and effectiveness, unlike those whose duty il
was to destroy, were truly sctuated by ''the
enthusiasm OF humanity" For what was
thus accomplished and for those devoted men
aud women who toied 80 unremittingly to.
make this great work a success, all praise ia
due; and know but voice the sentiments Of
my comrades when | say that we are, and at
the time we were, profoundly grateful for the
many benefits we received through and by
means OF this eminently humane organizA-
tion.
We may all well pray that such fearful
scenes AS we passed through may never again
be witnessed. But if, unhsppily, our beloved
country should at some future day be visited
by the devastating scOurge Of war we feel
confident that there will be those to rush to
its rescue, and who, if needs be, will give to
1t their lives IA freely as did the heroes and
martyrs whom we honor to-day.
| STE before me many young man, in the
bloom of YOUTH no older than and countless
others were when We enlisted in our country's
service and became pledged to defend its flag
at whatever hazard, who, | am persuaded,
upon similar appeal to arms would follow
with like integrity the same glorious banner
through the surge and storm of battle
Fighting their fathers fought.
Falling as their fathers fell"
To them-indeed, to all young men who
care for the glory OF our country, and trust
all OF them do-these memorial occasions
should have great significance, for they may
search history in vain to find worthier exam
pies OF true nisuliness and courage than those
set by the valiant men who fought and died
for the Union.
Shortly after the secession OF South Caro-
lima, and as state after state sought to sever
Its connection with the Union, party OF Wis
itors called upon General Scott, then at the
head Of our armies, and as a mark OF conf
dence and respect presented him with a hand
some United States flag with which he was
greatly pleased. II never afterwards left his
possession, and finally enveloped his coffin
when he was inferred at West Point. Imme-
diately upon the departure of his visitors,
however, as though fearing some of the states
might be missing, he asked one OF his aides
to count the stars to see if they we're all there.
About the same time certain lines by Mrs.
Sigourney appeared-whether written con-
sclously OF this fact or not, | do not know
which revealed what seemed to be the misgiv.
ings OF the old veteran AZ to whether the Union
was still TO be deemed intact. They are in
part as follows:
"Are ye all there? Are ye all there,
stars Of my eouutry's SKYE
Are ye all there ? Are ye all there,
In your shining homes on high
Count usl count usv was their answer,
As they dazZled on my view,
In glorious periheliou,
Amid their field Of blue.
II cannot couut We rightly,
Theres cloud with sable rim;
caunot make your number out,
For my eyes with tears dun,
Oh. bright and blessed angel,
On white wing floating by,
Help me TO count, aud not TO miss
One star In my country's skyV
Whatever doubts may then have existed in
the anxious mind of General Scott, or of 9th.
ers, ~ to the integrity and stability of the
Union, have been removed They no longer
exist. The stars represe ntinR each sovereign
state are nov "all there, and we believe will
ever hereafter remain there, q bright and
shining constellation in our countTy's sky, to
typify purified and restored Union-one
more nearly approaching our highest ideal of
free republic, and more nearly fulfilling
Websters conception of union of states
one which should forever be indivisible and
inseparable. For such An union we are large
ly indebted TO the heroic men who in yonder
cemetery, restfully wait the final ASSEMBLY" ;"
and to the many others who elsewhere and in
like hope
"Sleep the iron sleep
OF those slain lighting for their country"
II seems but as yesterday when the drums
beat and bugles called us to duty But our
ranks were finally broken, aud we laid aside
our arms now over 20 years agone. The roll
has not so many names upon it now; each
year comrades are dropping from the ranks,
to be marked of duty forever.
"The food Of time is rolling on;
We stand upon its brink. whilst they are gone
To glide in peace down Deaths mysterious stream.
To-day the one who seemingly stands near
est the dark and silent river is our great and
illustrious leader. Gen. Grant. May Death
touch him gently" will be the prayer OF all
his old comrades.
"Still In his veterans hearts to-day
His battle drums are beating;
His bugles always blew Advance
with him was no retreating.
A million boys in blue now stand
Around their dying brother;
The mighty world knows but one Graut-
Twill never know another"
But We have other exercises yet before us.
As one deeply interested in all that pertains
to the war and to the part taken therein by
our state troops, have endeavored to con-
tribute some reasons why we should honor
our soldiers and sailors They saved TO us
our heritage, and it is because we have faith
in their works, and that the results which
they accomplished will be sancthed TO the
lasting benefit of our land, that we indulge
in these ceremonies. May we all live long
to scatter the Immortal roses Of victory
aud joy" upon the graves Of those who suf.
fered and died for so holy cause. May their
memories be kept as perenniAlly green az the
verdure of our native hills, and may their
names ever be held in grateful and affection
ate remembrance.
An Essential Rraud.
From the Philadelphia Record.l
IL a government may contract debis on the
basis OF gold values, and afterwards buy sill
yer bullion and make it into dollar coins, put
ting So cents worth of silver into each coin,
and then pay its debts with these shoTt-weight
dollars at their face value, that government is
an essential fraud. Yet to that complexion
the past legislation of Congress is forcing the