Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-06-04
Philadclphia's Tribute TO Garfield

Republics may be unErateful at times.
but our people in all sections OF the coun-
try have demonstrated over and over
again that they are not unmlndful of the
services OF the nations heroes. Few Of
our great cities are without their stately
mausoleums, their monuments, their stat
ues or other tributes to the memory of
some OF our great men. and there Ia an
increasing tendency on the part of towns
as well as individuals to cree. memorials
to departed leaders.
Philadelphia has Just furnished a fresh
illustration of this tendency In the hand
some statue erected to Garfield, which
stands in Paramount Park and which was
unveiled on the evening Of Memorial day.
The reports OF the ceremonies attending
the unwilling as printed in the Phiadel-
phia newspapers show that the occasion
was worthy Of the memory OF the lamented
Garfield. The exercises have a peculiar
interest for Vermonters, in view OF the
fact that John II. Converse, esq. was onoof
the active promoters of the project to erect
the statue. and that ex-senator Edmunds
was one OF the speakers at the unwilling
In the course OF his remarks Mr.. Edmunds
uttered thoughts worthy of the occasion
and deserving OF consideration by the peo-
pie everywhere The following extract
will show the abundance of wisdom which
the speaker compressed into few sem
fences:
I'm what we now do we offer a memorial
tribute to the man, the soldier and the
statesman, but, perhaps, still more do we
testify TO the spirit and progress of our
o,.I
struggling and earnest school boys; there
have been many great soldiers; there have
been many presidents. They appear. fill
their allotted space and disappear. while
the great stream OF human progress moves
ever onward.
whether this monument shall he for
good on for Ill depends upon YOU and me
and all the jewellers in our land. To real
lie this and 10 devote ourselves now and
always to the largest welfare OF our fell
low-men are the inspirations that occa-
sions like this Should make burn in our
hearts a living and quenchless fire. No
one Of us, or any other can say that this
Inspiration and the responsible duties it
implies are not for him Every member
OF society is potent factor, whether he
Will or no, In its progress, for II is the
great mass OF individual examples and eff
fort that achieve great results. Generals
are nothing without the private soldiers;
toilers in every field of human activity.
Each and all these are bound, then, to the
daily and unceasing work OF helping to
that good government which implies and
really gives equal rights and privileges,
This, and this only, Is the liberty that is
real and enduring May such liberty be
with us and our descendants through all
the time 10 come"
At tho conclusion of Mr.. Edmundss
speech Mr.. Converse, accompanied by Mr.
ST. Gaudens. the designer of the monu-
ment, advanced to it's bass and Mr. Gar
field. SON of the iamented president, pulled
the cord which held the cover of the statue
and at once the folds fell away, revealing
the monument in all its beauty. The
Ledger says that at this point the air was
rent with enthusiasm, whlls the united
singers sang to the air of America" the
hymn written for the occasion by a Mis-.
Pendleton. 1t is manifestations OF love
like this that demonstrate tho place which
the nations martyrs hold in the hearts o.
the people.