St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1891-08-27

{ oAIINS AZ 10
memories and the great hope in the
| life of our commonwealth, the ex
piring century and the limitless
! future. 1t is fit that we should
signalize such an occasion. Well
may Vermont throw open this day
her gates and her heart. Well may
she call her children home. And
with a display uncommon to her
simple life with trumpets, and ban
ners, and acclamations, and the
triumphant voice of cannon, offer un-
bounded welcome to the great con-
course that has gathered to her
festival. 1t is appropriate and
gratifying that the chier magistrate
of the nation should be at such a
time our most honored guest. In
this scene party differences are for
gotten. We are only Americans.
And in loyalty to that great office,
and respect for the incumbent who
fills it so we'll, we are all this day on
the Presidents side.
In closing Mr.. Phelps said: We
have lived to see the prohibition of
slavery in the earnest constitution
of Vermont become a part of the
fundamental law of this nation.
May the time be not far off when its
declaration against that other and
more widespread curse which cor
rupts and degrades free government
shall be likewise put in force by the
body of American people.
The history of the early life of Yer
| mont is grand and inspiring history.
No words of mine in these brief mo-
ments can justly characterize it. We
find it difficult a t first, in trying to
understand it, to raise ourselves to
its plane, and to view it in the light
of its own time rather than of ours.
Accustomed to see self-interest pre-
dominant, and individual success the
universal goal, we are involuntarily
cropping after motives and springs of
action in the builders Of our state
which had no existence among them.
We do not rightly comprehend what
they did, until we come gradually to
realize the absolutely unselish devo-
ton, the genuine and unalloyed
patriotism, the ardent love of liberty
of those plain, unassuming, upright,
resolute, God fearing men, who were
striving to the uttermost, not for
place or distinction or wealth or
power, but to achieve self-govern-
ment, to establish homes, to create.
civil institutions that should be
truly free and enduring. The more
closely we study their lives and
their works, the greater is our adj
miration for their character and
their capacity.
And now my fellow-citizens, our
task draws to it's conclusion. The
public spirit and the persistent efforts
of all these years have found their re-
ward in the structure that stands be-
fore u.s. The child shall learn from
these stones the first instincts of
patriotism. The wayfarer to whose
unfamiliar ear our English tongue
conveys no sense shall not fail of
their meaning And all the jewellers
upon the soil, as the years go on,
shall be reminded and admonished
what manner of man an American
| ought to be.
President Harrison was the last
speaker and said:
Perhaps [ may be permitted, as a
citizen of a western state, to give eX-
preston to the high regard and
honor in which Vermont is held
Perhaps l may assume, as a public
officer, representing in some sense all
the states of the Union, to bring to-
day their appreciation of the history
and people Of this patriotic state.
Its history is unique, as Mr.. Phelps
has said. The other colonies staked
their lives, their fortunes and honor
upon the struggle for independence
with the assurance that if, by their
valor and sacrifice, independence was
achieved all these were assured. The
inhabitants of the New Hampshire
Grants alone fought with their fellow
countrymen of the other colonies for
liberty, for political independence,
unknowing whether, when it had
been achieved, the property, the
homes upon which they dwelt would
be assured by the success of the con-
federate colonies. They could not
know they had the gravest reason to
fear, that when the authority of the
confederation of states had been
established, this very government to
whose supremacy Vermont had so
nobly contributed might lend its
authority to the establishment Of the
claims of New York upon their
homes; and yet in all this story,
though security of property would
undoubtedly have been pledged by
the royal representative, Vermont
| took a conspicuous, unselfish and
glorious part in achieving the indie
pendence of the united colonies, trust
ing to the justice of her cause for the
ultimate security of her homes and
people.
1t is most noble and unmatched
history; and if I may deliver the
message of Indiana as a citizen Of
that state, and as public officer the
message of'all the states, l come to
say Worthy Vermont" She has
kept the faith unfalteringly from
Bennington until this day. She has