Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-01-22

to respond to the toast and sentiment
THE Grand Army of the Republic, the
uoble organization which embodies the
creed that patriotism is priceless inheri-
tence and charity II National virtue"
GEN. BCRDETTs REMARKS.
Gen Burdette spoke very eloquen thy,
and was requently-applauded He said
that though he travelled on all the CONT
nents and sailed all the seas of the world,
this was the first time it had been his good
fortune to see the Green Mountain
State. perhaps ought to have
seen it in its verdure and not
with its mantle of white, but | am abso-
lutely sure that could not have come
here at any time and seen more nobility
than is represented in this city tonight
He then dlsclaimed all right to the title of
general" which was thrust upon him
while travelling in South America. The
speaker then related a number of amusing
anecdotes. The speaker then said he
could claim with perfect safety there was
not Il community where veterans dwelled
which was not better for their presence
The war was not to decide how many
States there should be in the Union but
the question of liberty. If the conflict had
failed here there is not another spot on
the face OF the earth where liberty could
nave flourished.
GEN. CONNoR'S SPEECH.
To the sentiment, "The Private Soldier
of the Republic, the man whose fighting
and marching gave the generals their
stars" Gov. Selden Connor of Maine was
called upon to respond. He said that so
far from being ashamed of being n private
| it was "A matter of pride to him that he en-.
tered the war rs a private, and that in Il
| Vermont regiment When the war broke
out he could hardly wait for the opportun-
! ity to 20 to the front and seized the first
chance. He then detailed some Uf the cX-
periences of himself and Col. Seaver, who
studied in the same office and remarked
that some of the things learned came in
good play in the war, He was proud of
having begun with Vermont brigade.
The old Vermont brigade had reputation
second to none, and all the world knows
how Cen Stannard took the young brigade
and threw them against the enemy.
Col. George w. Hooker was called upon
by the toastma ster to respond to the toast
Our Better Halves" and the gallant
colonel replied wittily and appropriately
COL. HooKER's REMARKS.
Col Hooker said that the two great
characteristics of the women of Vermont
and of the Union were affection and faith
and he illustrated both qualities with
some admirable stories. If we look over
| Vermont and see what our women are do
ing for the soldiers of the state, then we
can appreciate them rightly and justly
The Woman's Relief Corps is doing Il ser
vice that none other can do. The women
of Vermont will take care OF our soldiers
and see that no one of them IS pauper OF
object of charity. hope the day is fan
distant when any soldier shall be II charge
upon the community. / thank the ladies
for what they have done. They did noble
service during the war: they will do noble
| service again.
The POSTMASTER then gave the toast
"The Woman's Relief Corps, the sister or
ganization of the c. a. r., which exhibit,
the Womanly virtues of charity, mercy ant
humanity" Gen. Paul Van Der Wort OF
Omaha, Neb., was called upon to respond
GEN. VAN DER VoORT 5 REMARKS
Gen Van Der Wort said that he felt it
peculiarly fitting that he should be called
upon 10 respond for the WOmau'S Relief
Corps, as he was the only member of tia,
corps present. lie considered II an over
sight ne said, that the women of the X"
liet Corps were not united with lheIr CON
rades upon this occasion. The Relic
Corps of the q. \. X. is composed OF
noble, devoted women, and of yOuu-
women who have grown lin loNeilneS'
and grace since the close OF the war. 1t
three years it has outgrown the &. \. K
itself IN numbers, having now over GO,OO
members, 1t has aided in illing the cot
fer, of needy posts, in establishing sol
diers homes, in building up the patriot
conquered in the great struggle if it haC
not been for the women of the Mon.
do wish and hope, concluded Gen. Val
Der WORT, that all the patriotic, lOya
women of the Green Mountain STATE viii
JOIN hand in hand with us in Keeping tn
wolf from the door of the dependent an
diseased soldier
REMARKS OF col. PROCTOR.
| Col Red field Proctor was called upon t
respond to the toast "Our Vermont II
fantry, called by one who knew them wei
but who was not Il Nermonter, the mod,
and type of the volunteer soldier. Co
| Proctor said the toast had been given hin
at Il late hour and he had asked II conrad
to give him some points on the early day
; of the infantry. The friend stated tina
; the first fight between infantry was tina
of Cain and Abel. Everyone knows tina
the infantry is the bone and strength {
the army. All contests between opposin
, forces must finally be settled by the il
fantry. He hoped the young would tax
advantage of their opportunities To stud
the art of war. He hoped there would i
no occasion to take up arms in this cour
= try again, but wars are always poss
!, BILE.
The committee had provided regulH
: sentiments to the cavalry and hight arti
[ lery, to the National Guard of Vernon
l and to the citizens who sustained on
D soldiers in the field in response TO whic
they had expected to call on some exec
lent speakers, good soldiers and eminel
l citizens. The st. Adams Glee club kline
, ly present on the invitation of the con
! mittee, and whose beautiful singing d,
a lighted every one, were also prepared
I give several most appropriate selections
5 There were also letters from Gen. Sher
e dan, Gen. William +. Smith, Senator
l Edmunds and Morrill,, COngressma
r Grout, Gen. Patterson Of New Hampshil
/, and other distinguished soldiers and cit
e Zens, which under ordinary circumstauc,
the society would have been glad to hea
+ But the impossibilty of enforcing the te
n minute rule laid down Tor the speaker
Il protracted the proceedings beyond all ca
y culation, and the fact that large nun
t Der OF officers, having business to do an
another banquet to attend on the morrow
/ were impatient to leave the hall and u
. some sleep, compelled the postponemel
! of the rest of the programme, and wit
Gov proctor's speech the reunion wa
brought to II close. In the number an
character of officers present, in the emil
ence of its invited guests and in the gel