The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1886-10-29

the drill of the Guard Is excellent. til
arms are substantially worthless and
submit If they are as worthless. as rep.
resented they would In time of need and
peril be more dangerous to the command
than to the opposing force; and 1t is said
that In other minor respects they are
very poorly equipped. This should have
prompt attention. The arm that the sol.
der is required to bear is either his pride
or his shame, as it is serviceable and sat.
isfactOry, or otherwise. And | recon-.
mend that provision be made for such
change or renewal of the arms and equip.
lnent Of the Guard as to secure the high.
est degree of efficiency, and such as will
satisfy and promote the cOmmendable
pride of our citlzen-soldiers.
The reports OF the Adjutant and Inspec-
tor General and Quartermaster General
will be before you, in which many minor
matters in reference to the militia are
set forth and commented upon In detail.
These reports merit, and l trust vii!
have, your attention. In these reports,
the Light Battery is referred to and de-
nominated ''Fuller's Battery" not par
ticularly because it is commanded by
Colonel Fuller, but chiefly and properly
because the efficiency OF the organization
IS largely due to the intelligent attention
and generosity of Colonel Fuller. This
has been long continued, transformations
and unselfish, and deserves this public
official recognition.
UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT AND STATE AG-
RICULTURAL COLLEGE.
The University Of Vermont, bearing as
it does the name of our Commonwealth.
and, without disparaging any other, be-
ing the leading institution of learning in
the State, as well as for other good and
substantial reasons, must and should be
the subject of lively interest to the
thought ul people of the State, and any
needed aid would in my opinion be well
directed and deserved, II bestowed upon
it.
The real and abiding prosperity of
State or community can be correctly
measured by its means, provisions and
interest for and in the cause of education
and intelligence. l am happy to report
that the University is in the enjoyment
of liberal patronage and Is prosperous.
1t has, as you know. been richly remem-
bered in the past by the generosity of the
late John P. Howard and of Mr.. Fred
erick Billings, by which the State at
large, as well as the institution. has been
greatly benefited. Too much common
datiOn and gratitude cannot we'll be be-
slowed for these acts of public generosi-
ty in the cause of refined and higher edu-
cation.
But, with these lavish gifts and the
of them as directed by the
donors, and the construction and compile
ton of the work to which they were es-
pecially directed, comes to the Universe
ty new and enlarged duties, increased
and increasing expenses. Several of nv
honOred predecessors have i'm their mes
sages to the General Assembly made
eloquent appeal and earnest recOmmen-
lation that the State should render to
he University pecuniary assistance to
and strengthen its hands in
he noble work of human advancement.
am pleased to call your attention to
hese appeals and recommendations
With my approval. The cause of the
ind encouraged, and also of education |
AS has been well said by
me Of the most earnest and intelligent
friends and supporters of the common
choOls of the State: sour common or
public school, system can be lifted
rom above more effectuallv than it can
,e pried up from below"
Under the head of estate Scholar
hips" the Trustees in their report point
he way to mode or method that
hight well be adopted by the State to
ssist and advance the interests of the
University, and at the same time '.fur-
ish assistance to gifted and ambitious
Dung men of limited means"-these
uggestions are worthy of your earnest
The State Agricultural College is
art of the University of Vermont, and
lade so by an Act of the Legislature of
his State, approved November 8, 1865.
is sustained by the income of the fund
iven to the State of Vermont by the
'eneral Government, by virtue of an
ct of Congress approved July 2, 1862.
md this Act provides that the income
this fund shall be used for the sup
ort of at least one College, 'where the
,ading object shall be, without exclud-
10 other scientific and classical studies,
nd including military tactics, to teach
UGH branches of learning as are related
, agriculture and the mechanic arts, in
ach manner as the Legislatures may
prescribe, in order to pro-
lote the liberal and practical education
the industrial classes in the several
ursuits and professions in life." As
caring more particularly on this de-
artment of the University, | solicit
our careful attention to that portion of
ne report of the Trustees under the
cad of professor of Agriculture" and
The Farmers Glass;" and also to that
ortion of their report that consists of
atement by Prof. w. w. Cooke as to
Ne work in this department. The re-