Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1898-05-06

SHALL "OLD TT BE SAVED?
To old Fort TiconderOga, that eloquent
ruin which lifts its sturdy fragments in
reproachful defiance on the hill below
which Lake George finds its outlet into
Lake Champlain, we have turned with
especial pride and regret. 1t is because
there is here more to preserve that is
worth preserving than elsewhere in the
historic territory between the upper Hud-
son and the Canadian border that "Old
Ti'' claims first place in the consideration
of these vanishing reminders of heroism
unique in the annals of revolutionary
assertion.
Fort William Henry, at the head of
Lake George, is practically obliterated.
Fl. George, near by, has scarcely more
to offer for preservation. In each case
commemorative monuments are the best
that may now be hoped for. Crown
Point, on the lower westerly bank of
Lake Champlain, is the finest and most
picturesque ruin in the state Identified
with either the French and Indian or the
Revolutionary war. A laudable effort
was made a year ago, by Congressman
Foote, to bring about Federal acquisition
and preservation at nominal cost, but he
failed. Crown Point, however, can with
stand the elements for century longer
than Ticonderoga-with a common ne
glect; and in addition it lacks the inspir
alton of the latter, because its checkered
career was innocent of blood. The name
of Ethan Allen has not enshrlned it in
the hearts of every American school boy.
1t was from "Old IT," completed by
the French in 1856, that Montcalm
marched, in 1857, in the French and
Indian war, to capture and destroy Fort
William Henry. 1t was at Ticonderoga,
in the following year, that Abercrombie,
supported by an army of nearly 10000,
was repulsed by the French and their
red-skinned allies, suffering the annihila-
ton of large part of his forces and the
loss of the gallant Lord Howe. 1t was
still year later that Amherst wrested
Tconderoga from the French on the eve
of the disastrous campaign against Que
bee. 1t was but three weeks after the
first shots for independence were fired at
Lexington and Concord that Ethan Allen
seized Ticonderoga in the name of the
great Jehovah and the Continental Con-
gress. 1t was three years later when the
fortress again passed temporarily into
the British hands of Burgoyne, who in
three months set out on a campaign to
the south which quickly ended In the
surrender of his army at Saratoga and
the dawn of American liberty.
Surely, continued appeal in behalf of
this ruin, above all others now existing
in the state, should command a favorable
response by the legislature or by our
patriotic societies. 1t is because of
recent events that we now return hope
fully to the charge. In the village of
Ticonderoga there was organized last fall
a society to aid In this labor of preserva-
ton. 1t has now a membership of GS.
1t has received encouragement from the
Order of the Founders and Patriots of
America, the New Jersey Sons of the
Revolution, the Society of Colonial Wars,
the General Society of the United States,
Daughters of l77G-lSl2 and other similar
bodies. 1t realizes, as must all who visit
the old fort, that comparatively few
years will now serve to level every
fragment of wall unless procrastnation
ceases and action is begun. And the
entire property associated with the fort
ress, some 800 acres of woodland and
meadow, situated in the garden spot of
the state, is to be had for $50 900.
New NOrk's part in the revolution was
decisive. 1t gave more than 10, 600 troops
to the cause of the independence. Its
territory, especiailyin the east, furnished
the vital battle-ground of that prolonged
contest. Upon the possession of the
upper Hudson and ChamplaIn valleys
with New York City, rested the flna
hope of the British, in the revolution
the hope of separating New England
from the balance of the colonies by sez
ing and holding the natural highway
from New York harbor to the Canadian
border. And of this vital territory
TicOnderoga was practically the center
of the conflict.
We talk of a constantly developing in
terest in our early history. 1t exists
happily. Then why turn needless from
these old stones which cry to patriotism
for help, and stand as memorial SECOND
to none in honor of the Republics san
culinary birth New York Mail ant
Express.
Sir Charles Dixie says that England
will not allow Spain to search British
ships.