Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1893-05-12
GOV. FULLER'S ADDRESS
At the Dedication Of the Vermont
Building
At the worlds Columbian Exposition,
lChicngO. MaY 10. 1909.

Vermont dHd IJinOtS:-Ihe interest taken
by the people of Vermont in this vast and
magnificent Exposition prompts the Exc
cutive, together with other officials, to lend
their presence to give distinctive expression
to the exercises dedicating the classic
structure to public uses during the life of
this "Whte city by the lake"
Constituting, as do these dedcatory ser
vices today, a part of the prelude to the
magnificent things which this Worlds CO.
lumbar Exposition promises, Vermont
comes to offer its congratulations on this
suspicious occasion and to felctate itself
that it can have part, however humble,
in the gigantic enterprise which so fittingly
commentaries the four hundredth ami
versary of the fearless Genoese navigator.
Pleasing as it is for us to glorify our local
habitations and state separations, yet es-
pecially delightful is It today, amid the in
spring surroundings of this occasion, to
give ourselves largely to the thoughts
which the occasion commentaries. While
many of the greatest inventions of the
worlds later triumphs found their birth
and earliest home within our borders, yet
Vermont prides herself most of all in the
wealth of that sturdy manhood which has
made itself felt wherever her sons have
gone.
So, while we come to dedicate our state
building as a suitable and convenient rally
ing point for the sons and daughters of
Vermont, we come primarily as citizens of
the United States, our hearts thrObbing
with patriotic pride as we take part in this
great international commemoration and
view the wonders of this Columbian EX-
position of the worlds industry and art
Il =. III. l.. H.
we feel as we look over this magnificent
exhibition, located by the side of this in
land sea, with its splendid array of build
ings, wonderful not only for their vastness,
but for their architectural grandeur and
admirably adapted arrangements for the
uses to which they are to be put.
Such wealth of beauty and art, such evil
dences of mans production and power,
have never before been gathered in any
country. Our 10Th century civilization has
here erected her throne, and, robing herself
in the costliest productions of every land,
will here wave her sceptre in the presence
of those nations gathered in industrial
brotherhood. Here will be the birthplace
of ten thousand superb conceptions which
will enrich the annals of the coming years
with new and transcendent feats of skill
GlOul hClt Will ~ lOllu DONtI llldl W Ill
bring the nations of the globe into greater
unity, and which will hasten the dawning
of that day when armies and navies shall
be harbingers of peace and the sword shall
be beaten into the ploughshare, and when
the nations shall have learned that their
interests and welfare are best subserved
by the arts of peace.
To this Exposition the governments and
rAaOula nf tba tsOrlh hox 4ol 4
are here represented in sublime contrast
and continuation of the spectacular cere-
monies that have recently taken place in
the eastern waters of our coast, and here
are seen their grand and imposing display
of industry and skill, in art, science, agri-
culture, manufacture, mining and COM
merce, including all the various occupa-
tiOns, business and industries of the human
race, placed side by side, in friendly rivalry,
with our own products, and we shall thus
be enabled to compare the progress made
in our own country with that of others in
all that affects and promotes the welfare of
man.
Out of this comparison the beholder
will see that the expression, westward
the star of the empire takes its way"
which, century ago was regarded as
rhapsody of the poet, was, after all, the
prophetic judgment of the philosopher.
To many of these nations who are our
guests at this great exposition, we are
much indebted for our present condition
and progress, for, while our national life is
measured by only little more than CEN
fury of existence, yet the first causes of it
lie much farther back along the stream of
time. Our nation is the outcome of many
a struggle for freedom ia far off lands. In
the Netherlands, in Germany, in France,
in England, were those who suffered and
died for u.s. Indeed the very discovery of
this continent itself synchronizes with
struggles and inventions and triumphs,
without which the civilization of this
Western Hemisphere would not have been
possible. When the bold navigator, Co
lumbus, stepped from the Santa Maria, to
plant the standard of Spain on this CONT
nent, he was but the fOrerunner of those
new forces of civilization that were the
outcome of the struggles in the old world,
and when, years after, amid the SHOWS of
Plymouth, another class of men landed
from the Mayfower, they brought from
the struggles of the older nations the ele-
ments that made possible our national
commonwealth.
So | say we indulge, today, justifiable
pride as, amid these splendid triumphs of
our national life, placed side by side with
those of other nations, we congratulate
each other upon our nations birth, growth,
vigOr, and hope, upon its tolls so well en-
dured, its battles so heroically fought, and
its victories so wisely improved upon its
developed wealth, its progressive intelli-
gence, its augmented morality, and its flag
unrent and floating over united people
Our republic is great territorially beyond
the conquered nations of the man of Ma
cedOn who wept for other worlds to con-
quer, greater than was ever Swallowed by
the outstretched wings of the Roman eagle,
great in the wonderful growth and develop
ment of our resources, great in the rapid
increase and variety of population, but
greatest in the written constitutions which
guard the rights of the humblest citizen to
life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,
But grand as has been our past, and in
spring as the exhibits here reveals our
present to be, our golden age is yet before
us. Our population is but a fraction of
what it will be, our productions are meagre
compared to what they are yet to become,
the resources of our hills and valleys are
but handful in comparison with what
the future is to reveal, our knowledge in
art, science, agriculture, commerce and
is but as the primer lesson
compared with our future mastery; our en-