Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-20
THE GLORY OF BENNINGTON

Perpetuated in Massive Stone and Feryid
Oratory at That Quaint Old Town.
Addresses by Hon. w. G. veazy, Hon.
Edward j. Phelps and President Har-
rison.
BENNINGTON, VT, Aug. l9.-Bennington's
great day dawned clear and beautiful.
Colonel W. Seward Webb, accompanied by a
mounted Grand Army post escorted Presi-
dent Harrison from General McCullough's
house to the Soldiers Home, where Gov
ernor Pnge and all the living ex-Governors
of the State were waiting to greet him. The
President alighted from his carriage and
was escorted into the house. Afterward he
resumed his place in the carriage, which
with the other vehicles took their places in
the line, and viewed the great military and
civic parade.
Tho exercises around the monument be-
gan with remarks by Hon. Wheelock G.
Veazy, ex-Commander in Chief of the G. A.
II. The formal address of welcome was de-
l1vered by Governor Gage. Hon. Edward j.
Phelps, the orator of the day, was intro
duced, and gave q succinct account of the
share of Vermont in the War for Indepen-
dence and of her prosperity since. The monu-
ment was formally presented to the State
by Ex-Governor B. F. Prescott, of New
Hampshire, the President of the Benning-
ton Battle Monument Association.
A Fine Tribute to Phelps.
President Harrison was introduced by MI.
Veazy, and spoke in part as follows:
ga son of Vermont, honored by his fellow
citizens, honored by the nation which he
has served in distinguished public func-
tions, honored by the profession of which
he is an ornament and an instructor, has
spoken for Vermont [applausel, and it
does not seem to me fit that these golden
sentences should be lnarred by any extern
poraneous words which can add. come
to you under circumstances that altogether
forbade preparation. l have no other prep
aration for speech than this inspiring cup Of
good will which you have presented to my
"The most cordial welcome which has been
extended to Inc to-day, makes it uniting
that should omit to make cordial ac-
mted M q, may ee per to
give expression to the high regard and
honor in which Vermont is held. Perhaps l
may assume, as q public officer, representing
In some sense all the States in the Union, to
bring to-day their appreciation of the his
tory 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
fought with their fellow countrymen of the
colonies for liberty, for political independ-
ence, unknowing whether, when it had been
achieved. the property, the homes upon
success of the confederated colonies.
vermont's Prospects We're Uncertain.
"They couldn't know-they had grave rea-
son to fear-that when the authority of the
States had been established, this very Gov
to whose supremacy Vermont had
SO nobly contributed, might lend its author
ity to the establishments Of the claims of New
Y 1ork upon their homes: and yet Vermont
took a conspicuous, unselfsh and glorious
part in achieving the independence of the
United Colonies, trusting to the Justice of
l her cause for the ultimate security of the
at is a most noble and unmatched his
tory; and if 1 may deliver the message of In
diana as citizen of that State, and as pub
came to say, 'Worthv Vermont [Cheers.l
She has kept the faith unfalteringly from
Bennington until this day. She has added,
in war and in peace, many illustrious names
"Her representation in the National Con-
gress as 1t has been known to me, has been
for it's influence for the position
and. so far as can recall, has been without
personal reproach. (Cheers.
The States Record in Peace.
eve have occasionally come to Vermont
with a call that did not originate with her
people, and those have been answered with
the same pure, high conservation to public
duty as has been the case with those who
have been chosen by your suffrages to rep
resent the State, and / found when the diff
cult task of arranging Cabinet was devel-
oped upon me that 1 could not get along
n Vermont in for
and applause], and 1 am sure you have
plenty of timber left in each of the great
political parties. [Cheers.l
'The participation of this State in the
War of the Rebellion was magnificent. Her
troops to the fields of the South had that
high conservation to liberty which had char
icterized their fathers in the Revolutionary
struggle. [Applause.] They didn't forget,
On the hot savannas OF the South, the green
tops of these hills ever in their vision, to
lift up their hearts in faith that God
iom to a just issue. [Applause.l
eve are to-day approaching the conclu-
sion of a summer OF extraordinary fruitful
ness. How insignificant the stores that
we're gathered at Bennington in lit COM
pared with these great storehouses bursting
with fullness to-day! Our excess meets the
deficiency of Europe, and ready market is
offered for all our cereals. We shall grow
icher by contributions which other coun-
,ries shall make as they take from our store
louses the food needed to sustain their peo-
Die.
The Evolution of Sturdy Manhood.
But after all, it is not the census tables of
or of the wealth that tells the |
tory of the greatness of this country. Yer
mont has not been one of the rich States of |
he Union in gold and silver, and its lands |
lave not given the returns that some of the |
ertile r1versides of the West yield There |
las been here constant effort and honest |
oil, but out of all this there has been brought |
sturdy manhood, which is better than |
.iches, on which, rather than on wealth, the |
security of our country rests. [Applause
Il beg you to accept my sincere thanks |
lgain for the evidence of your friendliness,
md my apology that the conditions are not |
'uch as to enable me to speak as 1 could /
wish" (Cheersl
1t was late in the afternoon when the |
President finished and the literary exer- !
Uses, long to bs remembered in the annals |
If the Green Mountain State, were brought |
% close with music and benediction.
The divisions then reformed in proper |
,rder, with the carriages of each division in |
he rear, and marched through Monument |
venue, Main and North streets to Camp |
Iernon, where the troops and organizations |
we're dismissed. The escorts and carriages |
proceeded to the large tent near the Soldiers |
lone, where the banquet was served, over |
600 people sitting down to the table
The celebration concluded in the evening
With great display of fire works.