St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1891-09-03

people dwelling in happy homes, and
that is the origin of government
and there is the essential of a con-
tented citizenship. AS long as we
can preserve this independence and
selfrespect, and that degree of COM
fort in the home that makes it a
pleasant abode when the days toll
is ended and that enables by the
most careful thrift the head of the
household to lay by for the family
and to Tighten in some measure the
care and labor of the children that
are to follow him-there can be no
happier land than ours. If we
which we had handed down to us
until this hour-this is the essential
thing. thank you for this friendly
greeting and beg you to accept my
sincerest good will. l can say moth
ing of public affairs. Every man
called to the public Office is subject
to the infrmities that belong to our
nature-the capacity to make mis-
takes. He can be, if he is true, sure
of one thing-that in all that he
does he has it in his mind to do the
best he can for the people.
Montpelier was reached at lilo.
The president and those accompany
ing him walked with heads uncov-
cred the entire distance to the state
house. Much cheering greeted the
presiden- on the way. Ascending
the steps, the president was conduct
ed to the governors room. There
procession was again formed, and
e was escorted to the Assembly
chamber, where the members of both
houses were congregated. On the
entrance of the president the men,
bers rose and remained standing
until he had taken his seat with Gov.
Page and Lieut-Gov. Fletcher on the
speakers platform. The members
then resumed their seats. The pres
ident, who was then introduced,
spoke as follows:-
Mr.. President, and gentlemen Of
the Legislature of the state Of Yer
mont: l am grateful to you for this
cordial reception which crowns a
series of friendly dem onstrations,
which began with my entry into
this good state, and have continued
to this interesting and important oc-
casion. 1 am glad to meet the
chosen representatives of the towns
of Vermont, appointed to the dis
charge of function of legisla ting for
the general good. The wisdom of
our fathers devised that system of
governmental division for the gen
eral government which has found
adoption or adapta ton in all the
states; the division of the powers Of
the government into three great CO.
ordinate departsment-each indie
pendent, and yet having close and
important relations one with the
other, and each adapted in the high
est degree to secure the liberty of the
individual, the welfare of our COM
rnunity and the national honor and
prosperity. (Applause.) 1t has been
fortunate for US as people that no
serious clash has occurred to these
great departments. The constitu-
tional balance and counterbalance
have preserved with marvellous exact
ness, with the perfection Of the most
delicate machinery, the relations of
these several, each doing its appro-
pirate work and producing the great
result which had been intended
Surely there is no other country
where the springs of government are
higher than here. The impulses of
our people are drawn from springs
that lie high in the hills of duty and
loyalty. They respect and obey the
law because it is the orderly ex-
pressioh of their own will The
compact of our government is a rule
by the majority. The sanction of all
law is that it shall be the expression
by all popular election, of ma ority
of our people. Law has no other
sanction than that with us; and
happy are we, and happy are those
communities in which the election
methods are so honestly and faith
fully prescribed and observed that
no doubt is thrown upon the popular
expression, and no question of the
integrity of the ballot is ever raised.
If we shall ever or anywhere allow a
doubt to settle into the minds of our
people, whether the results of our
SiSCllOHS ale uOHSSllN u,
whether the laws made are framed
by those who have been properly
chosen by the majority, then all
sanction is withdrawn from law and
all respect from the rulers who, by a
false ballot, are placed in public
offices. (Applause.) l am glad
to congratulate you upon con-
stituencies intelligent, devoted and
patriotic. l am glad to congratulate
you that the state of Vermont, from
its earliest aspirations and efforts
for liberty and self-government,
which developed into your constitu-
ton in TIT, down through all the
story of toll and the struggles which
have beset you as state, and the
YiciSSitudeS which have heSet the