St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1890-02-06

C1OH anu 6llC1C ulSCuSSlOIl
the country. A seriousness of pur
pose has always distinguished New
| England character; and although il
was not its earliest home, l believ.
| the sons of Vermont, wherever found
are the pureSt representatives re
naming of that old Puritan stock.
We hear something in these days
| of her abandoned farms, but they are
not abandoned because the land Is
poor, but only because they raise
better men than crops, and good mer
are in demand. There are undoubt
| edly more people in this country o
birth, outside of Vermont than with
in her limits. Her sons, resident else
where, have generally had a larger
representation in Congress and ma
tional councils than the state itself
| But there are no people who pre-
serve their characteristics better
and wherever they are they have
performed well their part in all that
is greatest and best in our nations
history.
Senator George F. Edmunds wrote
AS one of the demonstrating Yer
monters, am proud of the career
and influence for good morals, good
order and good business methods
that the sons of Vermont have
shown in all parts of the republic.
Hon. E. ]. Phelps wrote:
The children of a mountain country
have always a stronger attachment
to their birthplace than men in the
lowlands have. Perhaps for the
same reason they cherish a more
fraternal regard for one another
This sentiment always attends Yer
monters wherever they go. The
name of their native state is a tails
man that opens their hearts to all its
people and all its memories. In
many places are found Associations
of the Sons of Vermont" and they
are everywhere composed of men
who are among the very best of the
community III which their lot is cast
No city could afford to spare its Yer
monters. For they carry into their
lives the strength of the hills
President Houghton was greeted
with hearty applause. He referred
to gathering of Vermonters which
he attended 40 years ago i'll this
very house, when the youthful Ma
thaniel p. Banks, then speaker of the
Massachusetts, House, was the prin-
cipal orator. In eloquent terms
President Houghton pointed to such
men as Silas Wright, Stephen A.
Douglas and the long line of illustri-
Gus Vermonters who had spread all
over the country, carrying blessings
everywhere.
He then felicitouslv introduced
Gov. Dillingham;, who was received
with three cheers. He said: | am
here tonight because | want to be.
[ am delighted to stand in this splen-
did array of Vermont talent Go
where | may, | find Ver1nonters.
During a recent trip to Kansas City
| found at table with me in the hotel
myself were out there to loan money.
Yes; VermOnters are thrifty. The
sons of our state who go out from
us remember Vermont with a pecu-
liar affection, and are always loyal
to their mother hills. | survey with
pride the wonderful success of Yer
monters wherever they go abroad.
There are some features in our past
of peculiar interest. Vermont never
owed allegiance to king or potentate.
1t was 100 years after Plymouth col
Onv that Vermont was settled, and
she drew stock from the best matured
life of colonial New England. The
spirit of the fathers, just preceding
Il. 4 H. L
loftiest character. This is easily ex-
planned, for the severe climate taught
the pioneers industry and frugality-
they had time for thinking. Those
men came to conclusions, and conclu-
sions led up to convictions, and re-
suits were sure to follow. We don t
raise very many democrats up in Yer
mont, but what we do raise are
mighty good ones. President Cleve-
land had to come to Vermont to get
his minister to st. James. Vermont
feeds the nation with good men. In
conclusion Gov. Dillingham; invited
his hearers to come back, buy the
abandoned farms and stock them
anew.
Mayor Hart was the next speaker,
and he gave an interesting account
of his youthful experiences in Yer
mont. He declared that he should
feel safe to be surrounded in City Hall
with Vermonters.
Gen. Stephen Thomas, one of the
most illustrious veteran soldiers of
the Green Mountain state, was next
called up, and despite his great age,
made a ringing speech, rousing the
enthusiasm of his hearers.
Col. Albert Clarke was called out,
and said that the sons of our state
never forgot that they are Vermont
ers. Ex-Minister Phelps had told
him that in no place had he been
able to find more of the comforts of
life or to hold his head higher than
in Vermont Boston doesn't know
Vermont; does not appreciate how
much of comfort, refinement and ele-
gance there is in Green Mountain
life" In closing, Col Clarke gave,
effectively, Saxe's apostrophe to farm
life in Vermont
The other speakers were Judge w.
A. Field, Hon. A. w. Beard, Isaac
Fenno, Mr.. Sanderson, H. c. Bliss,
Mr.. Sanborn, O. H. Carpenter, N w
Bingham, James Frye, DIR. Wetherby,
DIR. Cook, ]. c. Dana and Rev. Mr..
Lewis.