The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-02-06
GOV. DILLINOHAM's VIEWS ON YER
MONT's ABANDONED FARMS.


MONT's ABANDONED FARMS.
Freedom and Unity" was the motto
displayed over the banquet tables in the
Revere House, Boston, Jan. 30th. The
occasion was the annual meeting Of the
Vermont Association of that city, and
among the guests we're Gov. Dillingham;,
Gems. Stephen Thomas and Wells Of our
State. The Governor was introduced
by Il. .. Houghton, president, was re-
ceived with three rousinR cheers by the
entire company standing and spoke as
follows:
l came here tonight because wanted
to. Applause. have been invited
during the last two years to a great
many gatherings, and have declined
great many invitations for the simple
reason that didn't want to go. have
learned that, when am invited to these
banquets, it means business. And l am
always reminded Of Mr.. Depew's story
OF the man who boarded with the under
taker, and who said he could always tell
when business was good because they
had flowers on the table and ice on he
butter. Laughter and applausel. But
l admit that am surprised in coming
here tonight. had no conception OF
the character of the gathering that
was to meet. TApplausel l knew that
Vermont turned out good men. have
met them everywhere. Associations
have been formed in all the principal
cities of the country made up of Yer
monters exclusively. 1t is strange
thing that the sons of our hills, instead
of scattt ring into sparsely settled COM
81 ko; 10 tho
cities, where the business is the briskes'
and where they can find the greatest
opportunity for the expansion of their
powers. happened by chance to be in
Kansas City a few months ago and sat
down at the table in the heat hotel there
which was kept by Vermontpr, and
found at the same table fifteen Vermont
boys, and every one Of them, excepting
myself, was out there loaning money
Laughter, Everywhere that the Yer
mont boys go, they are loyal to the
State. There is something about Yer
mont institutions, there is something
about the Vermont mountains and val
leys, that they remember with pleasure.
The hint was thrown out in one of the
letters that has been read that you find
loyalty among the mountains. And that
Is a theory that has been advanced by
the scientists. Prof. Draper, IN one of
his books, advances that theory-that in
The mountainous countries, where the
climates are cold and the winters long,
and men have had time to think, you
find loyalty, because they think until
they come to correct results; and they
come to appreciate that which is good,
and they become credits to their fami-
lies, to their State and to their country.
think there is something to that idea.
But have often been led to inquire
why it liz that the Vermont boys have
such wonderful success wherever they
go. We have something in our inherit
ance, and think that we have brought
down from our ancestry something of
the spirit that affected them in the early
history of the State.
Governor Dillingham; then detailed
many Of the stirring incidents in YER
mont's early history and the qualities
which Vermonters showed in the vari-
GUS contests in which she was engaged.
Vermont was never a coloney OF Great
Britain or France, and never owed ale
glance TO any poten'ate or power until
she came into the Union, into which, by
the way, che had to fight her way, and
IN which che was the first born of the
oldest Of the Unions children.
Gen. Thomas-"And the last to go
out"
Gov. Dillingham-"She will be the
last to 20 out, General, and you will be
the last to let her." Applause
Gov. Dillingham; lsO spoke of Yer
mont's contest with New York about the
jurisdiction of the latter over her, and
also referred to the fact that Vermont
never held q slave upon her soil. He
declared that many of the qualities then
manifested had come down to the YER
monters of to-day, and that undoubted-
ly much Of this was due to climatic in
hupnces In closing the Governor said
you know that in Vermont we have
very short summers, comparatively.
The greater portion Of the work pertains
to agriculture. Our fathers who were
getting their living in that way were
compt lied to begin their work at the
earliest possible moment,to push it with
the greatest vigor imaginable in order to
finish it and and have things garnered
before the cold weather came. 1t has
taught them habits of industry, of doing
to day what needs to be done to day, and
not putting it off until Tomorrow. Va
rious circumstances have taught them
frugality, and 80 you will find frugality
and enterprise going hand in hand with
the native Vermonter everywhere. We
have had Commissioner appointed to
induce emigrants to come and take up
what are known as abandoned farms.
The truth il that those are good farms,
and upon them have been supported,
brought up and educated large families;
and those families have gone out where.
ever, by dint of their enterprise, exer-
ton and ability, they have been able to
do even better than they can do on
them. This meeting here tonight is an
illustration of that truth. Applause.
We are raising better crops of men than
we are of anything eIse. Vermont is
feeding the Nation with good men.
bring you the congratulations of the
State. wish you all honor and success.
And the best advice can give you is tn
come home to the old homestead and see
US. Come up there and buy some of
those abandoned farms. You can buy
good farm up there and live on it IN
II summer for less than IL costs you to
go to the seashore, and you will have
good associations. too. Laughter. We
shall welcome you with open arms.
Great applause