News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1893-05-18
News and Citizen.
MORRISVILLE and HYDE PARK,
Thursday, May lS, 1898.
L. II. LEWIS, EDITOR.
Vermont's Day.

eOneSudN Oh ldSU week WdS eF-
mont's day at the great fair at Chi
cago, and the little structure which
stands on the boulevard between the
Maine and Massachusetts buildings,
representing Vermont, was presented
to the Worlds Columbian Commits
sion shortly after noon. Although
Vermont has one of the smallest
buildings on the grounds, she has
managed to lead off in defeating her
headquarters. The ceremony is re-
ported as having been exceedingly
interesting and the addresses elo-
quent, the following report of which
We take from the Free Press =
Upward of 500 people made up
principally of press eXcursionists and
former Vermonters, now prominent
in Chicago, witnessed the dedicatory
ceremony.
Coils. Jewett of Swanton, E. L.
Bates of Bennington, and j. P. Eos
ter of Derby Line, of Gov. Fuller's
staff, were present in full uniform
and assisted his excellency in receiv-
ing visitors before and after the exer-
ciseS.
In the absence of Col. A. +. Walker,
Hon. J. L. Martin of Brattleboro, ex-
Speaker of the House of Representa-
tives, presided. After a selection by
an orchestra, Mr. Martin said that
the people of Vermont have always
believed that women had wrought
great things and had great influence,
and announced that the committee
had selected a man to offer prayer
whose whole life had been more or
less moulded by Vermont women.
He then introduced Rev. Simon GIL
bert, who invoked the Divine blessing.
Mr.. Martin stated that he had also
been assigned to give the Vermont
building to the Worlds Fair commits
sion. He said that the Worlds Fair
lifts the curtain that has wrapped
the ages in it's yelled mystery. The
marvellous changes wrought by the
skill of men reveals to us far more
than Columbus could possibly have
anticipated in his frail ship tossed by
the pillows of the deep, more than
Moses fancied in the land Of promise,
more than the most skilled and
learned of this generation supposed
had been accomplished by the handi-
work of man.
Grand indeed is the contrast of the
present with the past. Imagine the
condition of pioneers of our beloved
State who assembled in their first
convention representing the commit
tees of safety, little over a century
and quarter ago. They could read
lily perceive their poverty and destitu-
ton in their contest for the New
Hampshire grants with the anthori-
ties of New York under the king, in
tensified by the shadows and stern
reality of the Revolution. But they
could hardly realize that their sacri-
fee in united action with their fellow
countrymen would give birth to one
of the most prosperous and powerful
nations on the earth.
1t would have been sublime if they
could have foreseen that the valleys
of Vermont adorned by her noun
tains would grow up statesmen, iu-
rists and soldiers who would stand
in the front rank of all ages of the
world in sagacitv, learning and
courage. Other states may well
feel proud of the beauty and grand
uer of their buildings erected hereon.
Vermont makes no criticism and
offers no apologies. This building
which we open to-day and present to
the authorities of the Worlds Fair
is neat, substantial and sensible, but
without imitation or unnecessary ex-
pense and adornment.
1t has always been characteristic
of Vermont to copy from no one.
She reflects her light by the burning
OF her own lamp. During the revo-
luton Vermont maintained an indie
pendent government unlike and more
Independent than any of the colonies.
She coined money, issued bills of
credit and treasury notes which were
promptly redeemed in specie, estab-
lished postal routes and rates, APP
pointed a postmaster-general, adopt
ed the common law and established
her courts of justice, and, when she
represented the first star added to
the old flag in 1871, she was little
giant of the greater giants OF the fed
eral Union.
How fitting it is that she should be
represented by this unique and CLASH
cal structure amid these grander edi-
fees representing as they do the
other and more populous states of
the nation.
Vermont yields to but few in the
products of her titled acreage. Her
organs, scales, granite, marble, and
maple sugar command the markets
of the world. She is the first to send
her members of the Press Association
here and she has always been one of
the first in the councils of the nation.
The moral, intellectual, and physical
development of our men and women
of every period of our history chal-
lenge the whole earth for superiors.
If all the heroes of our dead were here
they would put a tongue in every
stone of this building that would
chime the praises of Vermont in the
grandest music of the republic.
Mr.. Martin then made the formal
tender of the building to the EXPOSE
ton commission and was followed by
Director-General Davis, who accepted
it on hehalf of the commission. Gov.
Fuller made an address. The exer-
cises closed with the orator of the
day, Hon. William p. Dillingham;.