The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1892-01-22

end that her sons and daughters might grow
up IN integrity, health and purity, and be so
trained and educated as to become worthy
upright and successful men and women.
1t must be remembered that, unlike any
other state, Vermont has a people peculiarly
her own There is a homogeneOusness in her
population possessed by no other state. New
Hampshire. Massachusetts, and Connecticut,
sent their best and most enterprising sons
and daughters to Vermont one hundred years
ago, Just as Vermont since has surrendered
up the vigOr and enterprise of her young
blood to you. Call NermOnters puritanical,
provincial, narrow, even bigoted if you will,
Vermont homes have had an influence pecu-
liarly their own, unmoulded and unshaped
by the presence of q 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, and of extending
civilization and ommerce over the fertile
fields of your own proud, progressive west.
suppose women are appreciated every
where, but doubt If on the face of the earth
there is a land where the mother is more re-
spected, and the wife more influential, or the
sister the subject of purer affection than up
on the old hillside farm home, the sacred
| temple where dwells unadulterated happi-
ness in our dear old state. Their mother,
wife and sister reign
To chase away the clouds of lfes tempestuous hours
To strew its short and weary way with flowers.
New hopes to raise, new feelings to mpart
And pour celestial balm on every heart"
| Beecher has most truthfully said that 'The
children are what the mother makes them.
She is the legislator of the household. She is
the judge that sits apon the throne of love
All severity comes from love in the mothers
hand; she is the educator; she also is the
atonement where sin and transgressions have
brought the children to shame. The altar of
penitence is at the mothers knee, and not the
heart of God knows better how to forgive
| than she"
But it is not well that our vision Should
ever be turned backward. Sweet as memory
| is to- night, hope, expectation, and prophecy
are sweeter and must not dweIl longer upon
| the past. Vermont has not rested from her
labors but with the vigor of youth, is entering
upon a new era and doubt not that at the
close of the second century of her existence
our children's children will then enjoy with
the same zest we do tonight a rehearsal of
| the characteristics and achievements of Yer
monts brave sons and fair daughters.
| And why not? The same charming lakes,
the same mountain streams, the same pictur-
esque valleys, with all their wealth of beauty
will continue to exercise their elevating in
| fiuences. The same rugged mountains and
Ihill-sides will teach lessons of perseverance,
patience, energy, industry and freedom. Our
mountains are pregnant with the wealth of
marble, granite slate, soap-stone and copper
add only wait the development of yankee en-
ergy and enterprise to give employment to
thousands of industrious yeomen, who in
turn will make a constantly improving mar
ket for the fruits of the husbandman's toll
Better marble can be produced, and for less
money, at Proctor to-day than elsewhere on
the face of the earth. Our granite product
increased ten fold between 1880 and 1890 and
the supply Is inexhaustible. Our slate pro-
duct exceeds that of any other state in the
Union except Pennsylvania; while in maple
sugar Vermont stands peerless among all
the states of the Union. Our horses never
stood so high as to-day In the estimation of
the lovers of that noble animal. 1t is now
conceded that the climate and pasturage of
Vermont are unequalled for raising the best
that can be produced of the horse kind. I'm
told wealth exists. too in our lovely scenery
and healthy climate which year by year will
draw to us by thousands the over crowded
population of Boston, New York, and the
hundred lesser cities, and another century
will see the hillsides and valleys of our state
dotted with homes of beauty and every acre
of her available land covered with gardens to
supply the wants of that health and pleasure
seeking population.
Vermont has less of her native sons within
than without her borders. Is 10 presumptu-
Gus to predict that those sons, having gone
forth To other fields to acquire fortunes viii,
successful, return to repurchase the ancestral
homestead and spend their declining years
in quiet and peaceful comfort upon the old
farm. appeal to you, sons OF Vermont as
sembled here this evening to answer this
question. kind fortune has led you TO this
vigorous young giant of the west, the city
which destiny has decreed shall be the dis
tributlng center for the millions of miles of
territory comprising the wonderful valley OF
the Mississippi. IL is, and will continue to
be, the grand halting-place where the great
caravan Of commerce, whether eastward OF
westward bound, must stop and pay tribute.
The matchless network Of railroads in the