The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-08-26
Returning Thanks.

Mr.. EdHor:-Many readers of the WATCH
MAN have been pleased with the pride,
patriotism and pluck shown by its editor in
so fully advertising, illustrating and report
ing the late celebration at Bennington. As
one of the working farmers of Vermont /
wish to return my hearty thanks. In the
broadcast sense of the term the farmers of
Vermont New Hampshire and Massachu-
sets feel that this was their celebration
But for the brave and heroic deeds of
Farmer John Stark OF New Hampshire, of
Farmer Seth Warner of Vermont, assisted
by the stalwart yeomen of their states and
some from western Massachusetts, the
beautiful monument that rises so proudly
from the crest of - Holy Hill would have
had no occasion for being. There instead
might yet have been the deserted cellar of
the old Continental Storehouse-a yawning
and dismal grave of defeated hopes. But
for the patriotic craftsmanship of Farmer
George Washington and Farmer Thomas
Chittenden, backed by farmer Green Noun
tain Boys, there might have been no state
of Vermont. Our fair Green Mountain
state might still have been the back border
counties of New York and New Hampshire
just as sure as " Old Ii was taken by
Farmer Ethan Allen, or the British driven
twice from Bunker Hill by Farmer Israel
Putnam and his band, SO was the victory on
the WalloOmsac, and the admission of Yer
mont to the Union, due TO the farmers of
1777 and 1891.
But few farmers, comparatively, could
join in this grand ovation or assist in those
imposing ceremonies. They could better
be spared from the ceremonies of August
18TH 1891, than they conld from those of
August IL, l1G. Long before ii was written
in Hiawatha," the sturdy farmers Of this
state learned the great truth that
Deeds are nobler things than words
Actions mightier far than boastngs."
They do not wish to be known by their
much speaking but, humbly and with
due Difference and humility, we do wish to
return our hearty thanks to the professional
and scholarly classes, TO the military, social
and political organizations, for celebrating
with such pomp and circumstance, with
such magnificence and display, the deed of
a few plain hill-country farmers. You,
gentlemen, have kindly relieved us of the
care, toll and responsibility of planning and
executing the programme of this grand CEN
tennial jubilee. That you have done it so
well, we thank you all the more; and for
your reward we pledge ourselves to do all
in human power for the progress, the pros
perity and glory Of Vermont for the next
century, hoping our chidren's children may
then, i'll 1891, reconsecrate this monument
ana state to freedom, liberty and eternal
truth. Aye, call out your wiseSt scholar,
your most gifted aud eloquent orator let
him from sacred and profane writer's Gull
out the choicest words of wisdom, the most
beautiful terms of Rhetoric; let him " in
thoughts that breathe and words that
burn describe the heroic bravery of the
true soldier, the wisdom and integrity of
the true statesman, the loyalty and virtue
OF the true citizen the Christian duty of the
true ndR-aye, let him tell of a love for state
and country as lasting as life and as certain
as death. Then with a faith firm as the
rocky hills of Vermont and enduring as the
the farmers of Vermont will re-
spond: " All that he has said, we will do"
AGRICOLA.