Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-02-01

IN CONCLUSlON.
The setting sun is harbnger of bright
er dawn; the evening twilight is prophecy
of the "ioCund day. which will soon "stand
tiptoe on the misty mountain tops" 1t is
now my pleasing duty to introduce my sue
cessor in Office DR.. Norman Bridge, gen
tleman, a scholar and II philahthropist. He
will loan you money, provided always, you
don't want TO borrow. He knows, no one
better, that public Office is n public
trust to he faithfully administered for his
own private benefit. He will, like his pre-
decessor, assiduously do those those things
which he ought not to do and systematical-
~ leave undone those things which ought to
be done. He will bestow the best offices and
confer the highest honors upon those who de-
serve them least and will, generally, adj
minister the affairs of his important Office
in the highest style of the art, and in the
most approved fashion. Sons and daugh-
ters of Nermont,-bchold your ilustrious
president; Mr. Prcsident-address your ad-
miring constituents.
Among the other speakers Capt. l.. II.
Bisbee, formerly of the Ninth Vermont
volunteers, now of Chicago, responded to a
toast to "The characteristics of the early
Nemonters, and their iruitngc," He spoke
as follows. amid frequent applause.
speech of Capt. Bisbce.
A prent deol has been snid bv orators.
historians and poets about the struggles of
the early settlers in Vermont. These strug
giles nave all passed into history. II Ger
tuiniy is neither lmWise nor Improbable,
! to speak for "A few moments. of the results
OF these early struggles, and of the man
| hood and wumanhood which they have de
welcomed in the Vermont character. If is
true. as we ali know. that Vermont was the
| only New England state that ever had a
SEPARATE and independent government. For
| nlouv ypnr, hrl. citizrus owed mo- aIlepiallcc
| to any secular mower cxc.ptino their own
/ Green Mountain State They formed a part
/ of no confederation. no eistcrhood of States.
and they bowed 10 no one but themselves
and their God: and the beauty of the Yer
mont character will always take a pleasant
place in history. for the volunteer service
which She rendered in hreakin.r away from
/ Craat Britain. and standing for the right
Her citizens were poor and honest Her
fathers and mothers worked hard to rive
7 their children 4 little education but abnv,
all thcv taught thcln fine value of rood
health. of farm di,cipline and the necessity
Of perfect self-rrliauce 70 a large degree
these early teachings have done very much
! in develoung and cementiup the character
of our sons and daughters throughout the
! whole United States.
The population Of Vermont in 1880 was
about $50 600. The census Of that year
showed more than half as many of her SONS
and daughters residing in other States of
the Union. During the rebellion from 1861
/ to 1860 Vermont sent about 81, 600 men to
the front to fight for freedom. And the
adiutant generals Office at Washington
shows about an equal proportion of native
born Nelmontcrs serving and fighting irl
regiments raised outside of the State. Ihi,
sturdy Vermont characteristic has always
| kept within the State itself an even well
balanced government, good and wholesome
! laws. a judiciary. pure able and suotess.
an interrupted Legislature and a clean hon
Orable executive department. There nevel
has been to nv knowledge a scandal of any
kind. affecting the good name of the eXecu-
tive and judicial departments of the Green
Mountain State
Craftsmanship. heroism. letters. history
and religion have all been greatly benefited
10y the sons and daughters of our native
| State.
The atmosphere never seems congena