News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1893-06-01

Sons of Veterans, that you are WOr-
/ thy of the fathers mantle. In the
great host above the infantryman
ranks with the Chief, and we shall
hear the welcome words, "Well done,
good and faithful servants"
MEMORIAL DAY.
Favored with a delightful day, the
attendance upon the exercises of Tues
day was larger than ever before. At
1:15 the procession formed near 6.
A. R. Hall on Portland street, and
marched to the village cemetery,
where the beautiful ritual service OF
the Grand Army was rendered and
the graves of the dead veterans deco
rated with flags and flowers. The
procession was made up of veterans
in and out of Post. No. 4, the Sons of
Veterans as an armed squad, the Re
lief Corps, A young ladies represent
ing the States, the Boys Brigade and
citizens.
Following the exercises il the ceme-
terry the procession returned to town
hall, which was beautifully decorated
and was soon filled to Overlooking,
the seating capacity and ventilating
qualities being again taxed to the
utmost. Here the exercises were open
ed by words of greeting by Com
mander W. g. McClintock, who an
nounced that much of the ritual ser
vice would be omitted. Rev. r. L.
Nanton offered prayer, following
which male quartet rendered a Sc
lection with fine effect. "VermonU
Volunteers" poem by Julia C. r.
Dorr, was rendered in a very credit
able manner by Miss Florence Living
ston. A medley piano duet followed,
and was rendered in an artistic man
ner by the Misses Rublee and Irish.
The speaker of the hour, Hon. Henry
Ballard, was introduced and went at
once to the work of the occasion.
"Here amid homes of peace, under
an unchallenged flag, we are met to
do honor to our veteran dead. 1t is
a beautiful custom. 1t is a mingled
feeling of Joy and sorrow that we
have to-day. We mourn that those
have gone, we rejoice that the senti
ment for which they fought was worth
that costly price. We are Americans
to-day, American citizens; not YER
monters, not New Englanders, not
Democrats, not Republicans. Let us
remember that many graves are not
under our eye and care to-day. God
in his watchfuI care will decorate
those innumerable unknown graves.
The simple story of their lives is that
they did their duty as brave men,
and died brave and true to country.
They died as soldiers should. at their
post. But the lessons of this day are
for the living" Here the speaker
sketched the early history of our
country, its financial prosperity, up
to 1861, rehearsing the condition of
the country at the opening of the war
and facts connected with the more
important events leading up to and
continuing a war. How the people
waited in that dreary winter of '60-1
for the 4th of March, 81, and with it
the strong, brave, honest Abraham
/ Lincoln. He was 10th to turn loose
the dogs of war, but the first cannon
shot at Sumter opened the door, and
Abraham Lincoln, grasping his cOun-
try's flag, led on to victory, dying at
the assassin's hand amid the smoul-
dering embers of a republic finally re-
deemed. Our nation was not used to
war. The question is the govern
mentstrong enough to support ITSELF
trembled on every lip. The answer
came from every hamlet, school dis
trict and workshop. The question at
issue was, a country lost or a cOun
try saved. Vermont went to the war
She was there in the persons of near
ly 30, 900 of her sons. What histor-
ian shall ever write a true history of
the deeds there accomplished ? 1t
cannot be done" Here the speaker
recounted the introduction of Gen.
U. S. Grant as a commanding officer
in the army, and the brilliant sue
scesses following. "But peace came,
white-winged, at last. The greatest
war in all modern history was ended.
Her field of action was more vast
than that of the legiOns of Rome when
Rome was mistress of the world. Mil
lions of money, seas of blood. But
what is the meaning of all these re-
suits? Our victory means that no
combination of men or devil shall de-
strov this nation. 1t means liberty
and union, one and inseparable. 1t
means equal rights and protection to
all, as well in the cane-brakes of Lou
isiana as on the green hills of YER
mont. 1t means we are ind1visible,
under one flag, forever. The part of
the Vermont soldiers in the war was
an honorable one, first to enter and
services ending only at its close.
When a responsible position was to
be filled Vermonters were always Sc
lected. No colors of any Vermont
regiment were eyer captured in battle
by an enemy. The large per cent. of
loss attests her presence on the most
bloody fields. Fraternity, Charity,
Loyalty, if faithfully exemplified,
means the grandest of organizations
to US in the Grand Army" The
speaker closed with statement con-
corning the payment of pensions to
the veteran soldier, the alleged frauds,
the idea of which he exploded to a
considerable extent. 81 tell you, gen
tlemen, the pension roll is a roll of
honor, but it will not be always. The
reaper, death, is telling. Soldiers are
getting old. The youngest of us are
fast crowding past half century Of
years In few short years, alb, how
few! there will be but a handful of
white-haired veterans to totter in en-
feebIed ranks on such a day as this.
In the springing step of the Sons of
Veterans we see a typical resurrection.
Let US pledge ourselves never to omit
the celebration of this day. Let us
ever be found by the side of soldiers
graves on this day"
Mr.. Ballard was warmly applauded
at the close OF his address, of which
we give but a brief extract.
The Misses Niles were then intro
duced in an enjoyable vocal duet well
received by the audience, Miss S. Car
RE Chase, preceptress in the Acad-
envy, followed with an evolutionary
effort, greeted with warm applause.
The male quartette composed of
Messrs. Seymour, Whipple, Fleetwood
and Gates, closed the exercises, and
Commander McClintock, in behalf of
the Post and Corps, thanked all who
had assisted and invited such to re-
pair to G. A. r. Hall, where the ladies
of the Corps served refreshments.
Taken altogether, this annual OBJ
servance of Memorial Day may be
pronounced an unqualified success.
NOTES.
Commander McClntock made every effort
toward complete and successful observance
of tho dnI nIld SIlcnnnHnd 20