Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1891-08-24
EXTRACT FROM PRESIDENT HAIR
RISON'S AFTER DINNER SPEECH
1T BENNINGTON.

4 L ON.
After referring to the condition o
his voice, the banquet dinner and Col
Veazey's services and usefulness il
various positions, the President said
Wherever men have been born with
in the galaxy of great states Which
makes the greater Union, there is re
spect and honor for the New England
T character. 1t has been a source o
/ strength to the nation in it's develop
ment of material things. 1t has fur
nished to literature and to inventor
/ some of the largest contributions; but
more than all this, it has done great
work for all the states, and especially
of those states of the West and North
west in which it's enterprising sons
have found new homes, in establish
ing everywhere a love of social order
and patriotic devotion to So union
of states. If we seek to find the in
stitutiOns Of New England that have
formed the character of its own peO-
pie and have exercised a stronger
moulding influence than that of any
other section upon our whole people,
we shall find them, think, in their
schools, in their town meetings and in
their GOd-fearing homes. The cOur-
age of those who fought at Benning
ton, Concord, Lexington, Bunker Hill
and Saratoga was born of high trust
in God. They were men who, fearing
God, had naught else to fear. That
devotion to local self government
which ORIGINATED and so long maintain
ed the town meeting, establishing and
perpetuating a true democracy, an
equal full participation and RESPONSE
bility on the part of every citizen, was
the cause of the development of the
love of social order and respect for
law which has characteriZedy your COM
munities. has made them safe and
comfortable abodes for your people.
These migrations between the states
has been to your loss but there is now
a turning back to these states in New
England and to some OF It's unused
farms, which I believe is to continue
and increase. The m1gfat1on Which
you have sent into the South to de-
VelOp it's industries, to open It's mines,
to set UP factories and furnaces, is do
ing a marvellous work in unlty1ng our
people. As [ iourneyed recently across
the continent this oneness OF our peo-
pie was strongly impressed upon me.
| think these centennial occurrences
which have crowded upon one anoth-
er from Concord to the centennial OF
the adoption of the constitution and
the organization of the Supreme court
have turned the thoughts Of our peo-
pie to the most inspiring incidents IN
our history, our love of the nag and
of the constitution. I do not OeHeVe
there has been a time in our history
when there has been a deeper, tOnder
love for the unity of the states, Tor the
flag that emblematizeS this unity and
for the constitution which cements 1t.
l believe we have come to time when
we may look out to greater things.
Secure in our own institutions, enrich
ed almost beyond calculation, believe
we have reached a time when we may
take a larger part in the great trans
actions of the world. | believe our peO-
pie are preparing now to insist that the
American flag shall again be upon sea,
and that our merchants and manufac
turers are ready to seize the golden op-
pOrtunity that is now offered for ex-
tending our commerce into the states
of Central and South America. | be-
Heve that conservative views of finance
will prevail in this country. [ am sure
discomfort and temporary distress will
not tempt our people to fOrsake those
safe lines of public administration in
which commercial security alone rests.
furnishes the money of the people for
their great business transactions, [ be-
Heve we will insist, as | have said be-
fore, that every dollar issued, whether
paper or coin, shall be as good as any
other dollar that issues. The purity,
the equality of what we call dollars
must be preserved, or an element of
uncertainty and of bankruptcy will be
introduced into all business transact
ions. This [ may say without crossing
lines of division. How this end is to be
attained l will not attempt to sketch,
but | do not hesitate to say that | feel
myself in the public interest pledged,
so far as in me lies, to maintain that
equality between our circulating mon
ey that is essential to the perfect use
OF all. | have gone beyond the prom
ise of the president of the day and
have been betrayed by your friendli-
ness into speaking two or three words
May |, in closing, tender to these good
women of Vermont my thanks for the
grace and sweetness which their SER
vices and their presence have lent too
this happy occasion. May say to them
that the devoted services of their moth
ers, the courage and patience and help
fulness shown by the women in the
great struggle for liberty, cannot be to
highly appreciated. 1t was an easier
fate to march with barred breasts a.
gainst the Hessian ramparts at Ben
ningtOn than to sitin the lonely home
stead, awaiting the issue with fearful
eyes upturned to God for those who
periled their lives for the cause. All
honor to the New England mother. the
queen of the New England home.
There, in those nurseries of virtue and
truth, have been found the strongest
that have moulded your peo-
pie for good and led your sons to hon
or.