Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-01-21

she contributed more than 81, 900 in that
contest, Out Of the 81, 23S sent to the front
~, 141, or nearly Que third, either diod or
received disabilities for which thoy were
discharged.
IL during the whole struggle from 'Gl to
go Vermont troops ut any time failed to do
their duty; If there has ever been time
from the days of tho 'bcech ssal'' until now
that Vermonters have not everywhere and
always struck hard but honest blows for
freedom and the rights OF man and sus-
tanned that honorable character which we
have always bssn wont to claim for them,
history has failed to record the fact.
/ have thus far confined myself to a con-
sideration of the physical conditions which
make their deep impress upon the character
of the youth of Vermont. But / should he
untrue to my convictions did fail to refer
to the other greater and far nobler influence,
that Of tho Vermont home. Simple, p.ain,
unostentatious but as pure rs the waters
gurgling from the springs upon her hill
sides, and as full of moral health as the at
mosphsre of her mountains Is OF physical
vigor History wilt not be loyal TO truth
IL she fails to attribute tho best clement,
which enter into the Green Mountain char
acter to the Vermont home and the Yer
mont mother. God only knows tue meas
ure of love, the sacrifice, the hardship, and
the toll that that mother gave in Normont's
first century to the end that her son5 and
daughters might grow up in integrity,
beaith and purity, and be so trained anu
educated as to become worthy, upright and
successful men and women
1t must he remcmb ered that unlike any
other State, Vermont has people peculiar
ly her own. There Is a homogeneousness in
4 hry ttn, =. tot,
New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Con
necticut sent their bost and most entorpris-
ing sons and daughters TO Vermont 100
years ago just as Vermont since has sur
rendered up tho vigor and enterprise of her
young hood to you. Call Nermonters pur-
ltunical, provincial, narrow, even bisoted
If you will, Vermont homes have had an
influence peculiarly their own, unmouded
and unshapei by the presence of large
foreign population SO common to other
States, and it is meet that to the children
Of such homes should come the work of
founding cities, OF extending civilization
and commerce over the fertile fields of your
own proud, progressive West.
| suppose women are appreciated every
where, but doubt il on tho face of the
| earth there is land where the mother Is
| more respected, the wife more influential,
OF the sister the object Of purer affection
than upon the old hillside farm home, the
sacred temple where dwells unauthorized
happiness in our dear old State. There
mother, wife, and sister reign
ITO chase away the clouds of life's tenn
pestuous hours,
To sticw its short and weary way with
flowers
New hopes to raise, new feelings to i'm.
part,
And pour celestia, balm on every hsart"
Beecher has most truthfully said that
"The children are what the mother makes
them. She is the legislator OF the house
hold. She Is the judge that sits upon thu
throne CT love. All severity comes from
love in the mother hand she is tho edu
Gator she also is the atonement where sin
and transgressions have brought tho child
rem to shame. The altar of penitsnce is a
the mothers knee, and not the heart of Goo
knows better how to forgive than she.
But il is not well that our vision should
ever DO turned backward Sweet as mem
DRY is tonight, hope, expectation and proph
ecy are sweeter and ! must not dwell Longer
upon the past. Vermont has not resteC
from her labors but with the vIgor of youth
is entering upon new era ana | doubt no
that at the eleHe OF the second century o
her existence our children's children will
then enjoy with the same zest we do to
night a rehearsal of the characteristics an,
achievements of Nermont's brave sons an,
far daughters.
And why not ? The same charming lakes
the same mountain streams, the same pic
turesQus valleys with all their wealth O
beauty, will continue to exercise tholr ele
waiting influences. Tho same rugged noun
tains and rough hill Will tesch lessons
Of perseverance,, patience energy, industry
and freedom. Our mountains are pregnau
with the wealth OF marble, granite, slate
soap-stone and copper, and only wait til,
Development Of Y ankce ener gy and enterpris
to give employment to Thousands of indus
trious yeomen, who in turn will make
constantly improving market for the fruit
of the husbandman's toll. Better marble cal
be produced, and for less money, at Proctor to
day than elsewhere on the face OF the earth
Our granite product increased ten-fold he
tween 1880 aud 1890 and the supply is in
exhaustible. Our slate product exceeds tina
OF any other State in the Union excep
Pennsylvania; while in n,pio sugar Yer
mont stands peerless among AL the states 0
the Union. Our horses never stood mig
as to day in the estimate. oil tho lovers O
that noble animal. It Is nov conceled tia
the climate an pastura e OF Vermont nr
unequaled Tor Raising the best that can b
produced OF the horse kind Untold wealt
sxists too. in our lovely scenery and healtn
climate which year by year will draw to u
by thousands the over-crowied popustio
OF Boston, New York, and the hundre
lesser cities and aaother century viii 50
tho hillsideS and valleys Of our State dotte
with homes Of beauty and every acre of he
available land covered with gardens to sup
ply the wants OF that health and pleasure
seeking population.
Vermont has less OF her native sons will
in than without her borders. l. 1T presumI
tuous to predict that those sous, hayin- goa
forth to other fields to acquire fortunes vii
successful, return to repurchase the Gnca
trail homestead and spend their declrin
years in quiet aud peaceful comfort upo
the old farm. appeal to you, sons OF Nel
mont assembled here this evening to ansWt
this QUESTION A kind fortune has led 70
to this vigorous young giant OF the ives
( the city which destiny has decreod hail
> tho distributing center for tho millions
miles OF territory comprising tho wonderfr
valley OF the Mississippi, II is, ard Wi
: continue to be- the grand hating pla'
( where tho great caravan OF commerc
whether eastward or westward bound, mu