Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-14
THE BENNINGTON CELEBRATION,
Preparations Nearly Complete for the Cere
monies on the 18th.


monies on the 18th.
Preparations for the Bennington centennial
are nearly complete. Gov Page and staff will
arrive on Saturday morning and remain during
the week President Harrison and party will
reach Bennington on the evening of August Is.
Mrs. Harrison, Vice President Morton and
several members of the cabinet will be with
the presidential party. Gen. Alger is also ex-
pected to arrive on the 18TH. The celebration
promises to excel any previous Vermont effort.
The fourteenth state in the United States will
celebrate the centenary of its admission into
the Union at Bennington on the 18th, when the
monument concentrating the battle of Ben
ninston will also be dedicated. 1t was only
after struggle of twenty-six years that ' er-
mont succeeded in 10 firmly establishing her
independence that Congress was compelled to
vote her admission the first state received
after the formation of the Union.
This struggle, remarkable one from any
| point of view and one which has never been
| paralleled in the history of this country was
/ the principal reason that there were not four
teen original states instead of but thirteen. 1t
is also conceded that if the Vermont men had
| not intrenched themselves in their mountains
| and resolutely whipped everybody who tried to
seize 1t from them there would have been no
state. On account of New Works attempt to
seize their territory they regarded New York
rs even greater tyrant than England. but they
/ had no intention of submitting TO either
| Finally, after the actual stress Of war was
ended. Vermont found that che had no reason
| to urge admission to the Union. The Union
appeared to be but temporary and the states
were laboring under a hopeless debt. Vermont
| was free; she owed allegiance to no one: she
was unincumbered by debt and growing in
wealth and population. And SO for eight years
| its people turned their attention to their own
affairs A minor coinage was esta blished and
mint was set up. Postal routes and a post Of
| flee department were organized and Vermont
became thoroughly established. The internal
I disputes over land boundaries were a source of
| trouble To the authorities, but they carried out
| the policy that seemed most likely to be lust
/ and the people had To abide by it.
| New York finally became disposed to favor
Vermont entrance to the Union, owing to the
need OF eastern representation in Congress, and
/ a determined effort was made To settle the old
/ difficulties Commissioners were accordingly
appointed by both states. who agreed that ON
| the payment by Vermont of $50 900 to New
| York To reimburse claimants under grants from
/ the latter state New York would Withdraw all
claim TO Vermont Lands and consent to her ad-
mission to the Union.
| Vermont agreed to this. The money was col
lected and brought to Rutland. and the house
still stands where the indemnity was taken to
/ be paid TO New York. Then the United States
\ February is. 1871, passed act declaring
that on the ith day of March, 1884, the said
state b. the name and STYLE Of the new state of
Vermont shall be admitted into their union as
a new entire member OF the United States of
| America. So Nermonts delegates took their
seats in Congress. and the state started on the
century OF progress which closed this year.