The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-08-21

ought to be.
One final thought still presses upon
us. We have recalled the past: what
shall be the future The gift of proph-
ecy is mercifully withheld from man.
Hope, kindlier than prophecy, stands in
the place of it, the just and reasonable
hope instructed by what has gone be-
fore. The emotions of this day raise us
far above the jargon and turmoil of the
poor quaTrels of the hour, whose out
come we are wont to await with so much
solicitude, and which seem to our i'm
patient vision to oppose us to obstacles so
dangerous. We look down upon them,
and we see how temporary and ephemeral
they are. We perceive that we need not
on their account despair of the republic,
which patriotism and devotion have
more than once brought out resplendent
from darker days than we shall ever
know. Gazing forward, in the light of
the afterglow of the dying century, we
are able to discern with the eye of faith
and of hope, what this sentinel pile shall
look out upon in the days that are before
it.
1t will look out upon Vermont, on
whose valleys and hill sides the seed
time and the harvest shall never fail. A
land to which its people shall still cling
with an affection not felt for the surface
of the physical earth, by any but those
who are born among the hills; hallowed
to them as to us by its noble traditions;
sacred for the dead who rest in its
bosom. The beautiful name which the
mountains have given it will abide upon
the land forever. Vermont, always
Vermont
And it will behold society, where the
liberty on which it is founded, shall be
slowly but certainly working themselves
out, to their final maturity. A prosAer-
ity, more and more widely diffused
among men. An advancing civilization,
not without the vicissitudes, the blem-
shes, the mistakes, the sorrows. through
which humanity's path must always lie,
but in which the gain shall still surpass
the loss, and the better surmount the
worse; enlightened, from generation to
generation, by an increasing intelligence,
d broader knowledge, a higher morality;
alleviated and illuminated. as it was in
the beginning, by the ineXhaustible
blessing of our fathers God.
PRESIDENT HARRIsON's SPEECH. '...
After band selection, Gen. Veazey
introduced President Harrison, who,
after the prolonged applause had subsid-
ed, spoke as follows:
"Mr. President and FellO,g Cjtizens:-
There are several obvious reasons why |
shouldn't attempt to speak TO you at this
time. This great audience isso uncOmfort-
ably situated that further prolOngation
of these exercises cannot be desirable,
but the stronger reason is that you have
Just listened with rapt attention to
most scholarly and interesting review of
those historical incidents, which have
suggested this assemblage, and to those
lessons which they furnish to thoughtful
and patriotic men. (Applause.)
"A son of Vermont, honored by his
fellow citizens, honored by the nation
which he has served in distinguished
public functions, honored by the profess
sion of which he is an ornament and an
instructor, has spoken for Vermont zap
| plause), and it does not seem to me fit
| that these sentences should be marred
| by any eXtemporaneous words which |
add. | come to you under the circum-
stances that altogether forbade prepare
ton for speech than this inspiring cup
of good will which you have presented
to my lips. (Applause). The most cor
dial welcome which has been extended to
met is uniting that l should omit to
make cordial acknowledgement of it,
Perhaps l may be permitted, as cit
izen of Western State, to give express
sion to the high regard and honor in
which Vermont is held. Perhaps | may
assume, as public officer, representing
in some sense all the States of the Union,
to bring to-day their appreciation of this
story and the 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 independ-
ence with the assurance that if, by their
valor and sacrifice independence was
achieved, all these were assured. The
inhabitants of the New Hampshire
Grants alone fought with their fellow
countrymen of the colonies for liberty,
| for political independence, unknowing
whether, when it had been achieved, the
property, the homes upon which they
dwelt, would be assured by the success
of the Confederate colonies. They could
not know, they had the gravest reason
to fear that when the authority of the
| confederation of the States had been
established. this very government, to
whose supremacy Vermont had so nobly
contributed, might lend its authority to
the establishment of the claims of New
York upon their homes, and yet, in all
this story, though security of property
would undoubtedly have been pledged
| by the royal representative, Vermont
took conspicuous part in achieving the
independence of the united colonies,
trusting to the justice of her cause for
the ultimate security of the homes of her
people. (Applause.) 1t is a most noble
and unmatched history; and if may de-
liver the message of Indiana, as citizen
of that State and as a public officer, the
"Worthy Vermont" (Cheers.)
"She has kept the faith unfalteringly
from Bennington until this day. She
has added in war and peace, many illus
| trious names to our roll of military
heroes and of great statesmen. Her rep
resentation in the National Congress, as
| it has been known to me, has been con-
| spicuous for its influence. for the position
it has assumed in committee and in de-
bate and so far as / can recall has been
without personal reproach. (Cheers.)
1--WE have occasionally come to Yer
mont with call that did not originate
with her people, and those who have
been chosen of your suffrages to repre-
sent the State and l found when the diff
ficult task of arranging a Cabinet was
developed upon me, that could not get
along without a Vermont stick in it,
daughter and applause) and l am sure
you have plenty Of timber left in each
Of the great political parties (cheers).
The participation of this State in the war
of the Rebellion was magnificent. Her
troops took to the fields of the South
/ that hiOh popcarrofiOu 20, Tihartty xtybich