Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1896-06-03
MEMORIAL DAY.
Flttingly Observed by e. II Stoughion Post q.
A. Rhine Address by Prof. II. c. Bristol
School Children Take a Part.

School Children Take Part.
Memorial day was fttingly observed last
Saturday by L. IL. Stoughton Post G. A.
r. The procession formed on the square
shortly after 2 o'clock in the afternoon in
the following order: Bellows Falls drum
corps Canton Skitchawaug, Is members !;
veterans, 30 in numbers sons of veterans,
IA; carriages with officers and guests !;
Charlestown band Division No. 2, Ancient
Order of Hibernians, 50 members; chill
dren of the public schools under the cap
taincy of 1. A. Adams, SO in all.
After the usual exercises at the cemetery
most of those in the parade and large
number of others gathered for the exer-
cises in the opera house. Music was fur
nished by the Congregational church and
an orchestra under the direction of c. l..
Barber, and the Charlestown quartet. The
recitation s"Union and Liberty" by John
Hughes was much enjoyed and warmly
applauded. Hughes has fine voice and a
gift for public speaking that promises bet
ter things as he grows older. The flag
drill by 20 of the school boys in building
No. under the captaincy of Edward Con
don was one of the best things Of the day
Much credit is due the boys tor the excel
lent drill they gave, and tor the pains
taking practice for the past two weeks
which was the real secret of their success
So long as the boys are enthusiastic the
country must be safe.
The orator of the day, Hon. Henry Bal
lard of Burlington, was unable to be pres
ent. and the address was delivered by Prof
II. C. Bristol of Vermont Academy The
opera house was crowded to its capacity
and every word of the eloquent address
was highly enjoyed by those present. The
speaker said in part:
Decoration day is peculiar among thu
festival days Of history. No other nation
has such day for concentrating historic
events and achievements. 1t is the mos
American of all our days. If the glory
and the gun powder of the fourth of Jul,
make the American holiday, the serious
thought of the nation concerning itself ant
the honor paid our historic dead make tn,
day holy. Decoration day is the Sabbath
of American citizenship. What is thu
meaning of this pause in the movement o
business; this dismissal of millions of schoo
children; these exercises in our cemeterie
and these addresses before the people
Decoration day perhaps arises in the though
of comradeship and in memories of tn
cause for which men died. But the da,
has grown to be far more than memor,
on the part of the G. A. R., it is recognized
by all. 1t is one which is shared by tn
blue and the gray. 1t is made matter 0
special teaching unto the children of tn
nation, it is the time when our countr
seriously contemplates the value and tn
significance of our institutions and com
memorates the fidelity and courage ofthos
The old states right doctrine at one tim
obtained throughout the land it was tn
obstacle that prevented for years the ratif
cation of our constitution. The South say
in it constitutional defence Of their pecu
liar institution, slavery. But the doctrin
of state rights died forever in the clash c
arms. It is persisted from the hearts Q
the southern people. The national ide
has triumphed. 1t is the love Of GU
country as one and indivisible that furnishe
the motive and the maintenance ofDecora
ton day. Let us then look at the par
that patriotism has played in the history {
the world. Let us contrast the patriotism
of the olden nations with our own.
Patriotism is the master passion j
ancient history. 1t made the monarchie
and the conquests of the ancient world
1t was patriotism that made possible tn
powers that sprang up in the valley Of tn
Euphrates, along the banks of the Nile an
upon the Peninsulas of Greece and Italy
But this patriotism regarded the individus
as creature OF the state. The man wa
nothing, the nation was all. All the custom
and convictions in early history are alike i
this fundamental way. The philosophy {
Plato distinctly advocates it. The Who'll
empire of Rome was built upon this relf
ton of the individual to his nation. A ne
idea came into history when it was, sal
..What shall man give in exchange fc
his soulp' The doctrine of the value of til
soul and the rights of an individual bega
to spread from the preaching of Jesus III
, til in three hundred years it had reache
the throne of the Caesars. Then came
long period OF eclipse which is known 8
the Dark Ages. 1t was not until fe
hundred years since when the discovery
America, the invention of gun powder, an
the use of the printing press began a ne
lite of intellect, of endeavor, of religio
and of Empire that this distinguishin
: belief of modern civilization, the rights
the individuals, began to come to the from
1t peopled New England, it has sprea
through our land. 1t has conquered lare
areas of the Old World and is moving on /
general dominion.
: The patriotism then, of our times is rad
cally different from that OF the Romans {
the Greek. Ours is the rational love an
maintenance of liberty. We CRITICS
our rulers without stint We laugh at OF
5 chief executive. We dispute the deliver
ances of our courts. We think we kno
about all civic affairs. Our patriotism to
is charged with large duties. 1t belong
to us to see what government is RICH
Public opinion is more powerful than legi
lative statute or judiciary decree. OF
patriotism then has the duty OF intelligene
and of performing all the offices that mai,
3 tain the honor of the state.
This modern patriotism is now bein
, spread as never before. Schools ha,
officers detailed from the United Stat,
, Army. The public school system has i
Soriac IF natriotic DAVIS whom ,atr;o+;o -