St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1893-07-13

dom and patriotism of peace, no less
useful though less conspicuous than
the wisdom and patriotism of war
that the faith in the nation as the
child of the spirit of history may
never falter nor become devisive
Sectional and peculiar interests were
the immediate cause of the rebellion,
they are the source of the greatest
evils that afflict our national life to-
day. Those who magnify local in.
terest as opposed to the general
good are in so far rebels though
they may not declare war. The 10y
al citizen learns the meaning of his
political rights and duties in the
light Of the truth,-we are nation.
Rebel" is bad word but section
aism and sel6shness are bad things
and deserve bad names. When a
western silver king or silver state
seek to make themselves rich at the
expense of the national credit or ma
tional honor, they also are rebels +;
when dealers in whiskey corrupt leg
islation and society for the sake of
a trade which is itself opposed to all
public good they are rebels, and
when any man or party for the sake
of votes take or bestow brides, they
also share in the rebellion; when
labor makes alliances or brother
hoods that do public wrong to
secure private rights, they are rebels;
when a wealth masses its interests,
making poverty poorer for its gains,
it is in rebellion; when men are de-
tenders OF tariff or free trade as
means to secure private interests as
against the public welfare, then they
are rebels; when in legislation one
selfshness approaches another and
says, you support mine and | will
support yours, they are each in re-
bellion; when any who voluntarily
share our national hospitality and
its obligations, Germans or Irish or
French, value their imported rights
above those of the nation whose
welcome receives them, they are
rebels; when anarchists affirm their
individual freedom as against the
authority of the state they are rebels,
and Governor Altgeld, who by the
obligations of his office is bound to
defend the American idea, by his act
of pardon to red-handed murderers
and by his open defiance of the very
sources of all law and order, has
proved himself to be a rebel of such
quality as might well make Milton 5
Satan blush at the loss of his intern
al honors.
The Grand Army is not in politics.
Its position is clear and noble. AS
an organization it gives its name to
no sectional interest and is not a
make-shift in the balances Of
party interest. 1t will not debase
the prestige earned by valor or a
wise self constraint. 1t will keep
out of politics not by keeping be-
meath but rising above them. Hav-
ing conquered one rebellion it will
not become partisan, which is in
itself a kind of rebellion. The MEM
bers of the Grand Army may belong
to parties, a party government
under wise restraints may be neces-
sary, but a partisan government is
an evil against which you stand
pledged by your unwritten law.
You have today with sacred and
impressive ceremonies dedicated a
soldiers monument. 1t is a sub
stantial and beautiful tribute from
the living to the dead. Made of
New England granite, surmounted
by citizen soldier, it shall be for
ever a sign that our national life
rests on the simple and solid ele-
ments of character, the basilar and
primeval rock of law and duty. The
sturdy and permanent qualities of
life are here crowned with man, "a sol
der, a man, but man in arms. AS
against the criticism that the soldiers
of the war are inferior or sordid let
us now elevate the just assertion
that the average soldier of the war
was above the average man in the
purity of his character and the wis
dom of his patriotism. Those who
saw the men 60 forth to the war
will never question the fact that the
average soldier was above the aver
age citizen. You have done wisely
therefore in selecting the average sol
der to utter the message of the mon
ument. Its message is clear and
uttered with wisdom and authority
To the passer by your soldier citizen
shall say: Here stand, my foun-
dations of granite are the primitive
and eternal qualities of national
character, liberty and unity, Stand
ing upon them stand for them, they
are the only supports for the free
soldier or citizen. Build upon these
foundations or your structure oil
greatness of fame will fall in ruins
And above my head is the blue ROOF
of the temple not made with hands
a roof that will never fall though the
earth be removed. | stand under
Cod" The heavenly arch of the
spiritual lite can never fall; whatever
nation lives under the armament
will have a roof of strength and
beauty. The granite means simplicity