Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-03-09
GOVERNOR FULLRR,s ADDRESS

Mr.. President, Ladies and Gentlemen.
Vermont and California meet today TO
interchange their greetings | thank you
for the cordial spirit. which, IN your gen
erous welcome to me, you extend to Y err
mont l am greatly Eonored in the priv
lege of being the messenger of the old
Green Mountain state, to bring, at the
same time, her heartlest congratulations TO
Cahfornians, and the blessings of the
Mother Commonwealth to her children.
We meet, however, today, not so much Us
citizens Of California or children of Yer
mont but rather as citizens of the United
States. The flag which waves in the air
from these buildings. and which was at
first unfurled with trembling hands 10y our
New England fathers, as il unrolls its am
pie folds TO these western breezes Is the
symbol, not of any single state but of the
government, beneath whose protecting
power the whole sisterhood OF states sits III
security
We recognize the fact today that we are
each a part of the happy family of states.
An illustration of our relation to each other
may be found in the natural features Of the
wonderful pass which opens the way
through the Sierra range, along which we
have journeyed on our trip 10 your coast
On either side of that pass rises mountain
peak upon mountain peak on the one side
and upon the other, each peak seeming 10
vie with the other in speaking forth the
praises of God as II reflects the glory of the
morning sunlight or changes into hundred
hues the mellow twilight of a closing day
But these opposite mountain peaks are
linked together upon the same bed rock of
the mighty Sierra system So California
and Vermont, standing as they do at the
opposite sides of the continent, are insep-
arably linked together by the common in
terests of our one great country.
Upon this one hundred and third ami
versary of the admission of Vermont to the
sisterhood of states, l know you will in
dulge the privilege | take of speaking of
that event 1t was on the 4th of March
1871, that Vermont, the latest of the exist
ing commonwealth, became the first to
Join the original thirteen states. With the
recurrence of this anniversary the loyal
SONS of Vermont read over, with a thrill of
pride, the old constitution on which Yer
mont's independent commonwealth was
founded. It's authors were neither states
men nor lawyers, but men, instead, who
were unframed in either political science OF
literary accomplishments; and yet that old
document displayed breadth and elevation
of view. and a sagacity and independence
of thought which were remarkable. We
never tire in hOnOrlng the memory Of those
stern and sturdy men, who before they
entered into the federation of states, sim
ply sought 70 lay the foundation of gov
eminent for the Green Mountain state
which should command the respect of the
world We are glad TO honor the heroisu
they displayed in upholdinR it through tn,
viscissitudes of fortune during the sever
years of its life, and who left their charac
tiers indelibly stamped upon the men an,
institutions of the state. And yet we re
joice to remember that they so early and 81
clearly recognized the necessity of fedora
union of all the states. Among the peasant
of Russia there is a legend about the river
Nolga and Nazuza, which says that the tw
rivers once challenged each other TO So
which could the soonest reach the Caspian
Sea. The smaller Nazuza started first at
rapid pace, but soon the larger Nolga cam
along with steady, even flow, and the one
not wishing TO be left behind. asked tina
she might Join the other and then the tw
streams mingled their waters, and nav
ever since flowed on together to the sea
So 1t was in our beginning, and Vermont
proud TO think she is part of that majesti
river of our national life, which flows IN a
ever deepening and broadening curren
toward that future in which is hidden tn
destinies of all nations But Vermont ha
never relinquished the proud privilege o
which she Is ever bOastful, of being tn
nursery of men who have carried int
other commonwealth the strength of he
hills, the ruggedness of her mountains, an
the charm OF her valleys, and have helped L
fertilize by their intelligence, energy AM