Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-05-08

membranCe OF College ana Wizard
streets. can even imagine you signing
for u glimpse of Essex Junction
Long laughter and applause. 1t is
pleasant fiction of international .aw that
the ambassador carries with him portion
of his native territory. You will doubt
less choose to carry with you into the
midst of London, as your ambassadorial
sanctuary this lake, these noun
tains, these pleasant and familiar
streets and homes. Take also with you
am speaking now to Mrs. Phelps as well
as yourself-take also your friends, and
that means all of us; take our interest
our esteem, our pride, our warmest wishes
for your personal happiness and your
official success. And we trust that after
the completion of term of service he
it longer or shorter, service which we
confidently expect will be honorable to
your country and yourself, we who now
bid you God speed, will be permitted to
welcome you back to your Vermont home,
bringing hearts not only unspoiled but un-
travelled. prolonged applause.
This beautiful, most fitting and admira-
BILE address was repeatedly interrupted
T, and followed at its close by long and
hearty applause.
Mr.. PheIps's Reply.
President Buckham, Mn Friends and
FellOW CitizGnS.-I feel sincerely CRATE
full for the honor you have done me and
to YOU, sir for words whose undeserved
Kindness may find excuse in a friendships
long us yours and NINE. | wish you all to
understand my deep appreciation OF the
compliment paid me by yOur,preSence here.
No quarter of the world looks so pleasant to
me as Vermont, and no people are so dear
to me as my neighbors and friends of
Burlington, and / readily respond
to the suggestion of President Buckham
portion of the soil of America, | would
take it from Vermont and Burlington and
no where else. If ! am to be backed by
my friends, would rather have the back
ing of my Vermont friends than that of
any others in the world Fifty years ago
| first cast eyes upon Burlington as ten
year old school boy, and thought it the
most beautiful place in the world and |
think so still. A dozen years after, made
my second appearance here, to begin the
worni as II young lawyer, poor III every
thing but hope landed at the old tavern
kept by "Uncle" John u. Howard, and
Burlington has been my home, except at
short intervals, ever since Here found
the wife to whom you have so kindly
alluded, and to. whom | owe whatever
of good has come into my life. Here
found my first encouragement, which 1t Is
so Characteristic of Burlington PEG
Pile to extend to those who try
to help themselves. Here my faults
and shortcomings have found the
largest charity. Although have not al
ways found among the majority of Bur
/ lington people the fullest concurrence in
my political views, yet have been able to
rise even above the Scriptural in junction
to forgive ones enemies, and can say that
| forgive even those who have differed
| from me in opinion. | have seen Burning
ton grow from a village of 1000 inhab-
tants to II city of $1,000. have seen 1t
become, and justly so, one of the best
known and most prosperous of the
smaller cities in the United States,
and | have been proud To see it,
| AS we are here by ourselves, and it is all
| in the family, we may be allowed to glance
for moment at the reasons for the stand
ing and prosperity of our city. 1t Is not
alone because it Is situated in the midst
of scenery of such natural beauty, al
! though | believe that daily proximity to
beautiful natural surroundings does have
a refining influence on character. The
traditions of Burlington have always been
wholesome its standard has been an ele-
waited one. 1t has always been a
place of good homes. l have heard
lord Coleridge say that what most
impressed him in America was not its
great mountains, its large rivers, its mag
nilicent cataracts, because. these features
are not peculiar to America, but the thing
that impressed him most was the homes
pure and wholesome homes, which was to
him Il source of perpetual surprise and de-
light And of all places in America this
would apply to Burlington. Crime has
not stained its streets, corruption has not
demOraliZed its community Speculation
has not run riot with its business, unbellei
has not undermined the faith of its people
Here Protestant and Catholic have worked
together, though not thinking so perhaps,
toward that good time coming when one
true religion shall comprehend all creeds
So the blessing of Divine Providence has
rested on us, and delivered us from much
of evil. | assure you that leave America
not without strong misgiving as to my
fitness for the place with which | have
been honored. | do not underestimate IL
Importance | know it is Il great respon
sibility to represent the greatest nation OF
! the American Continent at the court 9
the greatest nation in Europe 1t is tru,
that it is time of troubled waters; bu
it is nevertheless most Interesting
time for an American representative. Ger
tainly America never stood higher in The
estimation and admiration of humanit.
than to-day. Never before We're so man,
! ewes turned towards the fabric which w
have reared upon the principles of civi
liberty Inherited from the nation to which
| am going. 1t may be II critica
time, but let us hope not one o
peril or disaster, OF all the man,
ulallllcutlOlS WHICH my 1tllON
! countrymen are entitled to look 70
in their representative, can promise onl
. one, and that is that the American fla,
! will never be allowed to hang at half-mas
; over the legation of the United States
: while am there. A trip to England is
small affair nowadays and | hope | ma
, see many of you on the other side of tn
water, if my stay should be prolonged,
, assure you that one and all will have
T hearty welcome. Farewell is not pleas
: ant word but is word which is constant
7 Nv recurring. 1t is not best to take fol
. lorn and lugubrious view of such
. parting. | am reminded of what IA frien
y of mine SAID, in answer to the wish of on
that they might meet in heaven, Yes,
!, he said, 81 hope we may meet in HEAVIER
' and good many times on the road thitf
. en-" | also hope we may meet in HEAVIER
> but not just yet. Burlington is in one +,
:, spect good place to go away from-tha
is, it is such "A charming place to com
:, back to. | hope in bidding you far,
c '. well that it is not IA last goodbye fc
:, any of us for my stay on the other side {
!, the water may not, perhaps, be IA long on,
:, - | trust that the good traditions of Blu