Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-06-04
DECORATION DAY IN VeRGENNEs.

At IL o'clock the procession began
forming in the following order. in front
Of the Grand Union Marshals. Union
cornet band. Ethan Allen Post. Fircmen
in uniform, State school boys. Hon. j. X.
Batchelder, orator of the day: Hon. F.
E. Woodbridge. Hon. G.. W. Grandev.
Mayor. Aldermen. and Common council:
the clergy. invited guests and distinguish
ed citizens. In this order, with TIC. Mid
bedrock in command of the post: j. II.
Donnelly, assistant engineer.in charge of
the firemen and the State school bows i'm
charge of Mr. lIealy. the long process
sion passed through the principal streets
to the park. After singing the doXology.
and prayer by Rev. Mr.. Taylor, and
hymn by the choir. Hon. +. +. Wood
bridge introduced Hon. j. X. Batchelder,
orator of the day, in brief but neat man
ner.
After cordially thanking Ethan Allen Post
Tor their warm invitation, he complimcnted
them on the appropriateness of their name,
one so familiar and indicative of loyalty and
them in these memorial services, and we
should remember that thousands, elsewhere
throughout the land were engaged in the same
work of atfcctionatc remembrance wherever
the illustriou> dead sleep, whether on battle
fields, in national cemeteries, or in the quiet
church yard, there their surviving comrades
and the citizens whose land they saved will
be gathered together 1t i II national day;
not holiday To be celebrated with shouts of
triumph, but in spirit Demonstrations feel.
ing and gratitude for the memory OF those
who fought ana died for the nation The gar
lands OF the first flowers of spring winch Won
viii >trew on their graves attest your apprc-
cation of the sacrifices of those who fell 1t
Is Il willing, heartfelt tribute, ana So long as
the citizen loves his country and the patriot
enjoys liberty, so long will this day be faith.
fullN kept. Not until freedom expires and ty-
rants rule will this day and all other national
days be forgotten
More than twenty years have passed away
since the war closed and the boys OF that day
are the men of today. The middlc-agcd men,
VINO were in the war, are now in lifc'- decline
ana the older soldiers are passing away. The
glorious victories ana defeats of the war
nave passed into history. The hu~bandman
follows his peaceful occupation on fields
where strife, battle and carnage held sway.
The strides of the nation engaged in Tie pur-
suits of peace, it, rapidly accommodating
wealth, show what latent power and recupcr
alive energy we have, n Il people. The ma
ton has increased in numbers ana i'm improve
mcnts and Injuries almost to extravaganza.
The fearful national debt, the heritage OF the
war, has lost it, terror-it no longer alarms.
From ocean to ocean the iron rail carries the
commerce of the world. Advancing civilian
tion i not kept in check by the Mississippi,
once supposed to be it, limit, and il will not
stop until it meets the Pacific waves. Thou
sands OF peaceful homes are seen and cities
now thrive where the Indian and the buffalo
roamcd in the memory OF middle-agcd men.
The prophetic poet, visiting kansas, during
the fight between freedom and slavery, IN
ISL, wrote
81 hear the tread of pioneer,
on nations yet to be
The first low wash of wave,
Where yet shall roll Il human sea-
Evidences of the fearful strife yet lingcr
with Us in prosperity We see the empty
sleeve, the cruth, the broken constitution, the
premature old age OF those who survive, they
are the terrible results of the war and our
1t i well to look back over those scenes.
We should teach our children the lesson ofthe
war; that they may appreciate what has been
done to give u freedom and selfgovcrnmcnt
The review of the war is history to our child.
school education. He then spoke OF the rebel
real war was imminent As IA nation we had
practically int
shares and our spears into pruning hooks
We were at peace with all our neighbors and
the powers of the world. He trembled when
he thought what might have been the result
II we had fully realized the truth; realized
that our fair land was to become one great
battlefield, one vast hospital, and that the
voice of lamentation and mourning would 20
up from every village and town; we might
have stood appalled, and have said to the re.
bellious States, go, in peace" The first bat
tie dispelled our skepticism, dissipated the
delusion Then came the long years OF the
war with all its accumulation OF horrors, its
its defeats, the list of the dead and
wounded, the acts OF heroism, devotion, self.
denial. He challenged the world to show
greater results with undisciplined troops
ana then their quiet return to private life af-
ter the war. The world never saw such Il
grand observation-disclosures supporting in peace
the land their bravery had saved.
The failure of the revolutionary war would
have only delayed the advent OF tree govern.
mcnt. The success of the rebellion would
nave destroyed free government. Two ma
tons would have reigned here, always at war,
until, weakened by strife, some ambitious Ma.
poleon would have arisen and destroyed both.
The divine right OF kings would have
triumphed, and ages would have passed be.
tore human freedom could have again been
established The sympathy of monarchy with
the rebels prolonged the war and made our
victories more difficult, but, ultimately, more
enectual. He contrasted the british armies
OF spain in the 18th century and their con
quests, with the intelligent Union armies and
the cause tor which they fought, and the gen.
eAl results ofeach, The conquests of Alex.
ander were those of II cruel and victorious
soldier, only. War tor conquest i no longer
popular. II must now he to establish some
great principle or To maintain Il right. The
nigh resolve, the calm courage OF intelligent
men, is what leads us To admire the Union