Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-02-16

tue department lie phiu an elo4uent uri-
butte to the services Of the veterans, referred
to the Woman's Relief corps and Soldiers
Home, and in conclusion wished the vet
Grams many years of health and happiness
Vermont is proud OF those who make orr
little common wealth strong, sturdy and al
ways in the right.
Hugh Henry extended a welcome in be-
half of the department Ie said his case
was like the governor who went into his
Office with very little opposition and went
out without any. lie said that the real
value Of the Grand Army of the Republic
had never yet been fully realized. He re-
ferred at length to the presence of the NOR
al element in the organization.
Marching through Georgia was sung and
telegram of greeting read from De-
partment Commander Noyes OF New Hamp-
shire.
Gen. Wsissert. Com IN and erin Chief
was next introduced the auliencs giving
three cheers. Con. We;ssort said that il
he had not been with tho boys from the
Green Mountain State on tho battle field,
he might not know what to say, but as it
was he felt perfectly at home among them.
He said that when the war br oke out, few
who entered the service thought it would be
for so long a time. When the great army
wes disbanded other countries said that 1t
would be attended with all sorts of crime;
but the veterans were only too anxious to
get home, and the past 25 years have shown
that they are equally good citizens, ther
in time of war or of peace.
lie referred TO some Of the great captains,
-Gra, t, Furrugut Sherman Sheridan,
Thomas, Hooker, Hancock and Butler. Re
ferring to pensions Gen. Weissert said
They sometimes tell us that the soldier has
boen paid for his services. Some OF you
entered the service at $ll per month und
later some cf you received Sl3 per month.
Do you know Of any one who would stand
up and
Ro Shot st for That sum?
am sure that our country is doing its Ut
most to help the Veterans and / give it as
next to the best of authority that the in
coming administration will not interfere
with the present arrangements. We are en-
deavoring to teach the rising generation
our ideas Of patriotism and loyalty.
Gen. Weissert next compimented the
work done by tao Womons Relief Corps,
referred to Gen. Stephen Thomas as a good
exponent OF the orders idea of patriotism
and loyalty and told the comrades geo |
night and good bye by telling an irish
story.
Department Commander Hall OF Massa-
chusetts was the next speaker. He believed
that it was good to keep tho camptires burn
ing and hoped that in AL State departments
there would be large Increase in tho ranks
OF the order during the year. He brought
greetings from 90 900 veterans of the old
Bay State. Inspector General Goo9els of
massachusetts was introduced es tho man
who looked after the com ,ort OF those at
tending the national encampment in Boston
and as the future commander in-chier
Gen. Gooiais', speech
was at first of humorou, nature. As
representative of Massachusetts, he knew
that his State would pou sustain the pension
! legislation of John Ii. O'Neil and did not
believe Il majority of the democrats in Mr..
o. Nei's district would sustain it. The lat
| ter portion Of Gen. GoodGle's speech was an
| eloquent tribute TO the services of veterans'
wives and mothers and tho greatest of all
| Americans, Abraham Lincoln.
At this point recess OF 20 minutes was
taken for refreshments, which were passed
around by msmbers of Roberts post, while
the orchestra played.
Five minute speeches by Gen. Stephen
| Thomas OF Montpelier, eX-Gov. FarnhaIn,
Chaplain Bodwel, Col, j. II. Gouldng OF
Brattloboro, Gen. W. W. Henry, l. NJ.
Read of Bellows Falls, Commander Doty
aud Col. J. c. Baker of Rutland, followed.
| The exercises came to an end just before
midnight with the sin ging of "Amerca' by
Benton Kelly and the audience.
George w. Doty, the new department
commander, was born in Montpelier 55
yeurs ago. He was the first man to enlist
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