Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-06-04

held under the direction of Major Wslas
chief marshal Prayer was offered bv Rev
A. d. Spauding, followed by singing from a
male quartet composed Of Messrs. Bieelow
Burnett Whitaker and Clayton. Prof. II
If. Shaw then delivered short address. after
which ranks were broken and the soldiers'
graves decorated with floral offerjnps The
quartet then sang America" and Rev. q.
II Merrill closed with benediotion.
At 2 p. NJ the ceremonies in this village
began. The several organizations taking
part formed in line on Main street under the
command Of Chief Marshal Wales. and
marched to the town hail. where the literary
exercises we're held. Prominent oitizens nc.
cupied seats upon the platform, along the
front Of which were arranged several of the
more elaborate floral designs afterward used
to decorate the graves at the cemetery. The
hall was filled to Overlooking. The program
opened with the national anthem America"
by the First Regiment band Rev. l. Mo
Aun then offered prayer. The hymn "God
is Love" was then rendered by a quartet com.
posed of Messrs. l.. X. Willis, Lucien Howe.
Frank Leonard aud s. ii. Warren. The ora,
tor of the day, Rev. /. M. Foster of Brook.
Ign, N. Y, formerly chaplain Of the national
post G.. A. r., was then introduced. and
spoke for nearly an hour in a strain at once
eloquent and thoughtful.
Address by Rev. 4. N. Foster.
Tweuty-one years have passed. said the speaker
since our great civil war ended, but the years have
Jailed to erase It's lessons these remain with u.s. The
fruits of that grand conflict the nation the world
enjoys, aud will continue to enjoy I'm the ACES No.
come. ny that war we preserved the Union; but we
did much more than that: we proved to the world
the strength and stability OF popular government
The monarchs Of the old world claimed 10 rule nv al
vine right, and the people, their Subjects we're re-
glrdeu as having no rights except such they chose
toconier upon them. But our fathers founded this
republic upon precisely the opposite theory-that ey-
cry man. simply because be is a man, is entitled 10
voice in the government under which he lfves These
opposing principles of despOtism aud liberty had
been Tor ages IN conflict; and though freedom had at
times established itself here and there for brief ne.
Rod despotism had again got the upper hands and
at the time when the fathers of country boldly
launched their frai bark upon the political ocean
hey had niue IN the history Of the past to encourage
them. England took long atep forward when 40
achieved her Magma Charta, and later, her bill of
Hgnisi but these were only concessions from knply
authority obtained by compromise aud I'm the pripc
pies Involved fell far short Of those embodied in our
declaration Of Independence. The experment M
popular government in our land has been closely
watched by the people Of the old world. The mon.
archs oil Europe have expected that national ca
reer would be short 1t has been one Of trial and
of blood; but, thanks to the patriotic spirit which
animated the people Of the North In 1878 the wis
nency OF our Tree institutions has been demonstrated
deitysburg, Petersburg aud AppOmatox declare thai
democracy is not dead From its bloody trial the ma.
ton mas come iorth purified aud strengthened, and
now stands erect giant Of whom the monarcbs of
the old world may well stand In awe The benehcent
fleets OF civil war are already ylsible moi oniy
within our own borders, but the world over In ia
ly, in Austria, in Germany, in France, and in Eng
land, freedom has made immense strides; the pow
OF the rulers have been restricted and the peope
have been accorded larger liberty Of speech and ac-
ton. one of the dangers which menace the king
dnms of the old world we are happily free from We
never need to fear a revolution. Rebelllous we may
have-f so, well put them down we did the astl
lcheers)-but we shall never have another revolution
there can be no occasion for one since choose our
own rulers and our constitution is susceptible of
amendment as the occasion for il arises. Tins we
have a government possessing all the elements OF
stability Aud yet, we are not free from danger II
was not by war that Babylon and Rome fell but
through their own corruption and the security and
Prominence OF our own institutions, declared the
speaker, depends upon the fathfulness with which
we cherish the principles of virtue and true mauli-
ness "nlcn alone can make us great. True freedom
IL the exataton OF virtue; vice and iniquity will
dermine any people, We need to realize the respon-
sibilities attendant upon our freedom. Among the
responsibilities which the speaker alluded to that
Of the ballot. He declared that the man who neg
rced his duty In this respect ught be deprived Of
the protection which the ballot confers The speak
er alluded IN terms Of praise TO the nature and pur-
poses Of the Grand Army of the Republic, and
thought that the character Of the men Of whom it
was composed was sufficient guarantee for the organ
zltion whose purpose was not to keep alive the ami
muses Of the war, but to preserve Its friendships
ana nelp luculCAte its lessons.
indicating tue spirit OF the men who compose 1t and
fought the battles Of the Union the speaker drew
vivid picture of the prison pen at Andersonville-
where he himself suffered ten months confinement
aud Of the confederate officers coming to the prison.
ers aud Offering them liberty and an early exchange
If they would swear allegiance to the southern con-
iederacy, which offers spurned with contempt,
the men declaring their purpose to die aud rot 10 the
foul prison pen rather than purchase their freedom
The speaker had heard individuals declare their be-
lief that the services attending Memorial day were
lseiess-a waste OF time ana money; and he bad
mortal day pay ?" And when he looked at the coun-
tries of Europe and saw the vast shading armies
which those countries support, the had come,
yes, it does pay; for this is our standing army and
Memorial day is our drill day"
The speaker alluded in terms of praise to the old
leaders whose bold and persistent efforts
In behalf of freedom paved the way for Lincoln's
Emancipation proclamation; and in the course of his
when, visit to Philadelphia, he the old liber-
y bell 1t was wonder, he said, that the old bell
Stained fasehood Now however, the day Of real
liberty had dawned; and II we and those who come
after us are true to the principles of truth and liberty
aud true to God our land will indeed be blessed. The
address closed with brief aud fitting tribute to the
heroic dead.
Following the address the quartet sang
I'VE shall meet but we shall miss him, and
the benediction was pronounced by Rev. A.
W. Clayton
The procession WAS then formed in front
DI lnb nhll huu ulhTCn6u u lub cemetery III
the following order:
First Regiment Band.
Chief Marshal and Aids.
Estey Guard as Escort.
Committee Of Arrangement ts.
Sedgwick Post, No. S, G. A. II.
School Boys with Flowers.
quartet and Invited Guests In carriages
Tyler Camp, Sons OF Veterans.
Esteyville Band.
Fuller Battery, dismounted.
Citizens.
~ Al =
came to halt, when, after a dirge by the
First Regiment band and singing by the
quartet, the ranks were broken and the
graves decorated, detail from the Grand
Army and Sons of Veterans, headed by the
EsteyvilIe band, proceeding to the Catholic
cemetery for the same purpose. The floral
tributes, which bad been provided by the la
dies of Brattleboro under the supervision of
the Woman's Relief corps, were arranged
with much taste and skill Upon the lot oc-
cupied by the graves of unknown soldiers
was placed a temporary monument about
eight feet in height, covered with evergreens
intermingled with snowballs and bearing the
inscription, ITO the Unknown Dead" Around
this were arranged special pieces severally
dedicated to Generals Grant, Hancock and
Mcclellan, and one to Lizzie Anderson, past
national vice president of the Woman's Re.
lief corps, all of whom have died within the
pact year. In addition to these was an
American flag of immortelles dedicated TO
our dead heroes" furnished by the youpg
ladies' of the High school.
The ranks having been reformed the GER
emonies closed with a dirge by the Estey-
Vile band and the benediction by Rev. s. NJ.
Crothers. On the return of the procession
to Main street, via Washington and Canal,
the salute was given to Major Robert Hardie
and Comrade Fred E. Root-veterans whose
did not permit them to join in the
days exercises.
The weather during the day was remarka-
bly, favorable-sunny, yet not uncomfortaoly
all the exercises of the occasion
passed off in a most unexceptionable aud
gratifying manner.
SONS or VETERANS.
FOVRTU ANIMAL, FNCAMpAfENT OF THE VERMONT