Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-11-18
THE DEWEY TESTIMONIAL.
The Phoenix Has $751 at Com
mand

sents the Real Feeling Toward Ad.
mIral Dewey OF His Vermont Neigh.
bOrs and Friends.
The Phoenix has received from Gen. w
w. Grout, representative in Congress from
this district, very substantial contrbu-
tion to Dewey testimonial fund in the
1 shape of a check for 500. Gen. Grouts
y 9ift is conditioned on the testimonial tax.
3 fffA6orm of a drill hall for Norwich
II ..lfeis.sE and is payable when a sufficient
fun6aa ahas beet irnised for that purpose in
the jadeslaHt q \ IPs StIicers ef That insti-
tion' FfS bosl7dIfit foua, vssy -.
w. p. Eager etiAlI eitsle gFide-
awake Newfaneabsy, di1HnS aaiaiN Ell
mont should not on any account lettbsiegl
casion pass without pfssasllLhg % 'lgjtin|B
nal to her distinguished son, and he witEiet
to be counted in for $50 whenever the
proper time comes. One of the most well
come contributions is that of +. L. Bass
OF Randolph, who "would like to be first
among the thousands who may wish to
send one dollar" and he encloses a dollar
note to make his wish come true. Here is
SOL which The Phoenix has at command,
but 500 of this is conditional on the tes-
timonial taking one specific form.
President Allan d. Brown of Norwich
university is working with active zeal to
have the testimonial take the form of
gift to that shool He cabled Admiral
Dewey at Manila asking for his approval,
but that wise and prudent son of Vermont
answered with a request for "more def
mite information" President Brown then
consulted with the Admiral's brothers at
Montpelier who said they thought that
'if he were here and understood the situa
tion he would agree with them that a drill
hall was the thing to undertake" Acting
on this suggestion, evidently, the staff cor
respondent of the Burlington Free Press
at Montpelier announced on Monday the
opening of asubscription for that purpose,
with State Treasurer Bacon as treasurer of
the fund, and called specifically on the
members of the legislature to come down
with a bank-note apiece. Up to this time
no report has been made of contributions
received, but they will be heard from in
generous measure if the proposition de-
velops any carrying" momentum.
If the Dewey testimonial finally takes
the form of gift to Norwich university.
AMI the people of Vermont are cordial in
support of the movement, we shall work
for it actively, but the movement must not
be forced in that or any other direction.
1t is highly commendable in the president
of Norwich university to try 10 secure the
benefit of the movement for his school.
but in the absence of any information as
to the Admiraps own feeling, especially
since he has asked for further informa-
tion," it cannot be urged that this is what
the Admiral would wish most of all
Whether it is what he would wish depends
entirely about his feeling toward this
school where he was a student for two
years. If he feels that this was really his
alma mater, that it was here that he re-
ceived the inspiration for his life work, if
Norwich university is the mother toward
which his memory fondly turns, then by
all means let the testimonial be a gift to
that school and let it be a generous one.
But let us on no account be led into an en-
forced gift in that or in any direction I'M
der pretence that it is a gift to Admiral
Dewey. Let those who give money ex-
press their preference as Gen. Grout has |
done.
Within the past week we have had occa-
sion to learn the views of a considerable |
number of prominent Vermonters, and in |
every instance they have expressed the
feeling that Vernont's gift to Admiral
Dewey should be personal to him-some-
thing visible and tangible, for his own
personal use or pleasure, unless be himself
elects otherwise. To be successful, to be
really testimonial, it must be something
that touches the popular heart, which ap-
peals to the Imagination. And such a gift
or expression is sure to come in some form.
Vermonters who stay quietly at home
have no idea of the enthusiasm which Geo.
Dewey's name excites in the great centres
of population like New York and Chicago.
The sight of his picture in any gathering
of people like that of a theatre audience
sets the crowd wild and all other proceed
lngs must stop until theenthusiasm has vent
ed itself in cheer upon cheer. "When Dewey
comes home" is the day talked about, and
that time comes there will be such
scenes of welcoming as this country has
not before witnessed. Vermonters cannot
afford to lose their share of the glory and
-he rejoicing by their GOODNESS and apathy.
and they certainly will not.
There will be a Dewey testimonial by
his Vermont friends and neghbors, and it
will be something which will fit the man
and the occasion.