Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1897-01-29

The following words of Hon. E. J.
Phelps of Burlington, spoken before the
New England Society of New York, al
though some little time since are so APP
ropos in view of the approaching new
administration, and contain such valua-
bic suggestions to men of allparties that
they will bear repeating. After intro
ductorv remarks Mr. Phelps said:
We have passed through crisis that,
in my belief, is the greatest this country
has encountered. 1t went through the
revolutionary war; ii the revolution had
failed, some other would have succeeded.
1t went through the terrors of civil war;
but the conclusion of that war was fore
gone from the beginning, and we still re-
main the greatest and most powerful ma
ton on the face of the earth.
No party could have won the greatest
contest of this year, no section could
have won it, and whatever else may be
said, it never could have won but for
New England. The first lead came from
New England, in those early September
DAYS when the minds OF men were agita'
ted, when many were frightened and
many were skulking to find cover. 1t
was one of the smallest of the states
certainly, the least assuming of the states
the state of Vermont, whose voice was
first called for, and the response was
with no uncertain sound; the largest
majority and the largest vote ever giver
in that state-a great turnout of one
party, reinforced by about half the other
"WelI," it was said, vermont stands by
itself; we shall hear from Maine di
rectlv." Maine, the residence OF one
the adverse candidates, man who il
that great battle enjoyed the cxtraor
binary advantage of being on boil
sides; mistrusted by his party for tn
very qualities that made him trust
worthy as a man.
Well, after while. the country hear'
from Maine, and the voice of Vernon
was forgotten. 1t was not by the cleo
toral vote OF New England, unanimou
as it was. That was but small cor
= tribution to the great majority. 1t wa
not BY the lead, which was little NOR
than repetition of Nelson's signal a
Trafalgar: "New England expectsever
son Of hers to do his duty" The grea
battle ground was further west. 1t wa
in Ohio and Indiana and Illinois, and a
those middle western states. friend
mine in Milwaukee, calm man, nc
given to vainglory or Boosting, was sa.
ing early in the season that Wisconsl
was safe beyond all question. Said
friend: "How dare you undertake
assert that, in the face of all that is g
L., uu YOU know that, in the state
Wisconsin. there are more than 10000
men that were born in Vermont? D
you believe that they are going to allo,
this state to 60 for reputation and di.
honor?" Well, they didn't and when O
the night of that election day and the ft,
lowing morning the great response cam
back and re-echoed from Ohio and Ind
ana and Illinois and Wisconsin and low
and Michigan and Minnesota, each an
swered unto each in morning salutatio,
that all was well whoever was surprised
New England was not surprised, becaus,
high and clear and strong above the tn
mutt she heard the unforgotten voice O.
her children.
Well, the victory is won, and now what
shall we do with it? What use is to lie
made Off i? What good is to come of it
at last-the inexonerahle question that
time asks Of all the work and workman
ship of men. What are we to do whit ?
The war IS not over We have placed
man IN the presidential chair, and not be-
cause he vas a epublican--some of us in
spite of his being republican-we have
planted him on the constitution and put
into his hand the American flag. The in
tsgrity of his intentions no man doubts,
that know of. His utterances in the
campaign have commanded our respect.
ana now what have we all to do for him |