Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1895-06-07


charged with the duty of making, inter-
preting and executing laws presses with
constant, unrelenting force upon every
citizent, high ard low, rich and poor,
learned and unlearned, empowered to
cast ballot. Our citizenship has no
higher duty in time of peace than the
serious, fearless, conscientious exercise
of the elective franchise. Wherever
voters are guilty of neglect and indifler-
ence, wherever they are influenced by
favor or bribery or any base and mer-
cenary motive you may surely look for
Incompetence and corruption and the
Ills of misgevernment in high places.
... The same inspiration which
moved you, men of the Grand Army, to
follow the flag through the storm and
tempest of battle in order to preserve the
Union must lead you In times of peace
to guard and shield the institutions of
the country your valor saved. Bad
laws and corrupt and incompetent gov
eminent beget lawlessness, and lawless-
ness is anarchy. Purity in elections and
intelligent honesty in administration he
get spirit of loyal obedience to law.
49,. New England civilization, to
my mind the consummate flower and
fruitage of the prayers and struggles
and bloody sacrifices of all the genera
tions hitherto of liberty loving and God
fearing men, was erected upon the twin
| pillars of education and religion. 1t has
ever stood for freedom, for country, for
humanity. Let us, my fellow-citizens,
standing by the newlydecked graves
halowed by such tender and precious
memories, solemnly renew our fidelity
to those sacred principles in defense of
which our brothers laid down their
lives.
Mr.. Stewart spoke for 10 minutes. He
was given close attention by the large
and intelligent audience present and was
literally applauded during its delivery
and at the close. After more music the
benedction was pronounced by Rev. A..
w. Dickens, pastor of the Middlebury
Congregational church, which ended the
exercises in the hall.
The procession was then eXpeditiOusly
formed on Pleasant street, with the right
resting opposite the Addison House park,
and at once proceeded to the West ceme-
terry in the following order: Edison p.
Williamson, marshal, and his aides,
Judge w. II. Bingham of Cornwall and
Harry Williamson of Rutland with
Chief-of-Police VIM. NJ. Cushman; Mid
debury Cornet band, Is pieces, Joseph
B. Cobb, leader; Volunteers of IS Hose
Company, George Kidder, foreman
Camp A. S. Tracy, No. %, Sons of
Veterans, James NJ. Hodges, captain
William P. Russell Post, No. 80, Depart
ment of Vermont, G.. A. r., Charles E.
QUIT, commander; carriage with the
clergymen of the town; carriages with
the Ladies' Aid society. No. ), Mrs
Henry Currier, president, the ladies
being in charge of the flowers; and a
long line of citizens in carriages and OF
foot.
Arrived at the cemetery, the graves OF
the departed heroes of all our wars were
nicely decorated with beautiful flowers
a committee appointed for the purpose
performing a similar duty in the Catho
lie cemetery near by. The regular buria
F ritual of the Grand Army was then gon'
, through with under the direction o
Commander Youtt and Adiutant Cady
Rev. 5. B. Blunt, rector of st. Stephen
, Episcopal church of Middlebury, offer
ing the closing prayer, after which tn
o procession reformed, returned to the vii
lage and dlsbanded.
. NOTES.
t The only drawback to the proceeding
2 of the day was the excessive heat
= Even the circus did not interfere wit
5 there being an audience in the hall full
:, as large as usual.
h To the officers of VIM. p Russell Pos