The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-11-09
Mr.. Isham's Address.
Representatives Hail Filled last Evening
"A Great Historical Analysis.

The hall of the II 1use was comfortably
filed last evening when Hon. G. G. h an
edict, president OF the Vermont Historical
society, called the meeting to order. The
Senatorial seats at the left were occupied
by four of the Supreme Court judges, headed
by the Chief Judge, General Mccullough
and Speaker HAskins. Ga the Speakers
right was Gov. Smith and his venerable
mother, and many distinguished citizens,
with ladies'. President Benedict gave
brief sketch of the treasures of the society,
where and how obtained and other matter
OF interest to the society, after which he
introduced Hon. Ell ard s. Isham of
Chicago, who said in part:
mo early settler of Vermont ever dream.
ed OF founding new colony. The pecu liar
isolation OF Vermont, originally, is worthy
of deep reflection. Vermont was first an
its sovereignty for seventeen years. After
ward the government of New III amps hire
was compelled to abandon its assum ID SOW
eighty, and that of New York was indig-
nantly repudiated. Ethan Allen was never
citizen of the United States The first
set lers of the southwestern part Of the
State showed their Eu glish origin by the
names OF the towns, from Bennington to
Rut and, inclusive. The battle Of Lexiug-
ton followed by five weeks the affair at
Westminster, in which, b, the killing OF
Will AIN French, was shed the first blood of
the Revolution. During the period OF the
committee of safety, before and during the
Revolution, foremost in all the councils Of
the little republic, appeared the figure OF
Ethan Allen We At times allow ourselves
to lose respect for this magntict Mt figure
which sometimes j4rs on our newer later
day sense OF propriety but he was nan of
the time, and the man of his time He WAS
a man Of education and reading, of self edu-
cation, and naturally a profound reasoner
and philosopher He had monotheistic
belief in God and in future state, but not
in inspiration or revelation Such a man
was Jefferson, and such have been many
OF the great statesmen of our time We OBJ
ject to his forcible language, but that of
Farragut, Porter and Captain Evans is evil
IDENTIFY looked upon in different light,
Washington said of him, Il have enjoyed
very much visit from Lieutenant Colonel
Allen. His courage and fortitude appear
to place him above the reach OF misfortune.
He does not disco YER, moreover, any desire
for high rank Paul Revere and Israel
Putnam rode over good roads to warn the
people, but Gresham Beach, Green
Mountain boy, walked sixty miles in eight
cen hours from Castleton north to call the
mountaineers to duty, and the next morn
ing Ticonderoga had fallen"
The speaker gave cta and accurate
statement of Col. Aliens appearance be-
fore the judges at Westminster, not AFRO
gantly or to intimidate the court, but to as
sure the court of his support and protection
1t was dramatic in its modesty of descrip-
ton and dispassonate statement OF fact.
No abstract can do justice to Mr.. Isham's
essay on ETHAN Allen-a Study in Civil
Authority" 1t was most mastery and
erudite production, historical gem which
must necessarily be of much benefi' to the
large audience which listened attentively
to IL for one hour and thirty-fve minutes,