Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-06-01

ing the dedication of a soldiers memorial
hall. The hall, which was erected by the
old town of Rutland, is made of Vermont
mar ble and cost about $lOO, 600. 1t is the
ouly building OF the kiud in the State and
one of the Gucst in the country.
The exercises to-day included presenta-
tiou of the hall to the Grand Army by
Mayor Mead in behalf of the city, and an
Grafton bv W. G. Nea1ey, a past command
er-iu-chiof of the Grand Army, AMI tho
dedication proper by Commander Doty of
this State Mrs. Julia c. X. Dorr also read
selections from her poem "Gettysburg."
The attendance throughout the day has been
large and the exercises a success
Col. veaze,'s Address.
Occasion is required in order. to bring out
public expression of lofty sentiment. Pa
triotisin is likely to seem dead wnen moth
ing more than financial controversy eIcites
the nstion W hen an election involves
on,y a question as 10 (Which is tle best po-
lltlcaI policy in point of dollars and cents,
what room is there for patriotism to figure:
1t is Il great thing to live in an age when
somJ grand moral idea thrills the public
heart or touches the public conscience, or
when national peril threatens national safe
ty and continued existence. People arc
naturally patriotic, even if their govera-
uent Is not satisfactory and popular. Dis
satisfaction may find bitter expression at
ordinary times, bat when home and coun-
try and tag ara at peril, murmurings cease,
and, with only occasional exceptions, the
people rally in defence,
Eighteen hundred and sixty-one was a
year OF virlity. 1t would be impossible
to draw a picture OF that time that would
morse than sug gest the intensity Of feeling
then prevailed Mauy participants yet
live, but it is hard tor them to realize that
they took part IN the nob!est display of
true manhood ON a large scale, tuat has
ever been seen. In city aud country
throughout the loyal sections OF the land,
it wes the same. II seemed as though the
cannon roar from Sumpter was the signal
for prepared general uprising, when, in
fcct there was no preparation, 10 sxpectl-
tlon, nothing indeed but surprise, nothing
but cause. The Response was ins.entan-
eous. Apathy disappeared aud the out
burst was patriotism.
The evidence that the original sense Of
duty and purpose and devotion to flag and
country continued 10 the end here in Yer
mont, is found in the fact that the State
met every demand for men aud money
throug ghout tho four years and until final
victory and then had surplus of so dIsrs
to its credit The total was, ia round 30,
COO; about in every 10 of the entire popu-
letou. Familiar statistics show that sub
staptially the same wGs true throughout
that part of our country which was loyal.
1t is magnificent fact that there is but
little room among loyal State tor one TO
claim supremacy over others
In Patriotic Devotion and Duty.
The record OF Vermont is OF highest
character in every department of govern
ment in the world OF art and literature and
scieuce and commerce, but hsr greatest
glory rests in what her sons did a. Ticon-
deroGa, at Bennington, at Marle's Heights,
at Winchester, ct Getty burg, in the Viii
derne-s, at AppnmattoX aad on hundreds
OF other field. OF battle and conf CT. on the
sea; and also iu tno patr sacrifices of
all her peope in the crs'sss of our national
life.
The town Of Rutland furnished for SER
vico in the war total OF 94S men, ex
cess of all calls aud demands, and an excess
of 40 over the entire United States enroll
meat of men Ill the town Liable 10 military
duty on December 81, 1854, and paid to
these men and their families the sun Of over
$500, 600.
W ha wonder that people which so nobly
exceeded its share in the great work of ma
tional dsfonce and preservation through
four long weary years OF war, people IN
whose every household a vacant chair was
accounted tor by soldiers grave should,
when peace came with Ter sacred memories
OF suffering, sorrow and death, begin the
c!amor for memorial to the solder,
memorial to patriotism, msmorlal that
should point the lesson OF duty TO genera
ton after generation through unnumbe rcd
ages, n memorial i'll which the
splendid Record OF Eutland's Horoe,
il the greatest achievement yet known in
oil the worlds history for the freedom OF
the slave for the Liberty OF the free, for the
vndicuton of just government. should be
forever preserved. 1t is proud boast that
Rutland may rightfully make that she dedi-
Gates to-day the costiiest memorial structure
that has ever been built in ali our broad
land by any town or city OF equal popula-
| tion. Ii 10 as enduring as the ma bic al
iron of which it is built. IL is located in
tho very center Of our young and growing
| city. 1t is worthy OF the patriotic spirit
that induced its creation. 1t is worthy Of
the heroes whose memory it celebrates; it is
worthy OF the triumph, the grendest of his
! tory, which union soldiers achieved
| Comrades Of the Grand Army Of the Re
! public, ! con gratulHts you that you have
| lived t o participate in the ceremonies Of this
day. Ii is the fulilment Of noble hope and
effort on your part.
As soldier memorial it is probably, as
| before stated, The most costly as we'll as the
! most lastfal and appropriate ever erected
in any town or city of no greater popua-
! tiou in all the land. In it, comrades, yo u
see the realization OF your fond hopes.
Upon it you may we'll look as the substan-
tal completion of
| Your Patriotic Duty on Earth
My fellow citizens, | congratulate you all
upon the completion Of this splendid under
taking which we began 10 years ago. Nobly
| YOU have done your duty. In all your
great charities, this will reflect the greateat
honor and be the GROWING glory. Let
YOUR care Of 1t bs as generous and az broad
aud liberal as your patriotism was in pro
yiding 1t.
TIE ,ld historic town that mainly bull,
this hall has sincs been divided into three
munici ipalites which will henceforth have
their separate local interests. But in the