The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-07-20
The Nobility OF America.


Clark University Summer School,
Worcester, Mass. His remarks pre-
sent wholesome contrast to sentiments
that have been expressed at Harvard
and they are useful and reassuring to
all Americans, even those whose
Americanism needs no nourishing.
Senator Hoar said in part:
There was never time when we had
q right TO feel prouder of our country,
as the American people show OF what
metal they are made under the supreme
test of war. We take every ten years
q census of our material advancement.
We are always astonished at the result.
l wish we might take once in while a
census of brave deeds and brave
thoughts, census which would show
the progress of our people in heroism,
in patriotism, in the instinct of honor,
and in the sense of duty. / think man
kind would be astonished at the result.
We need not fear to compare the
youth who go out from our simple and
humble American homes, like the eight
youths-four of them Massachusetts
boys-who went, as they supposed, the
other day, to sure death with Hob
son, to any Chevalier Bayard or Philip
Sydney. They were eight only among
thousands who were eagerly seeking
the same opportunity.
The poet of chivalry, Edmund Spen.
ser, has drawn for all mankind his por-
trait of the Red Cross knight. But his
imagination has drawn no loftier stroke
than the real character of Clara Barton,
an American woman, who, on her en-
rand of mercy, has penetrated the bar
barism of Turkey and carried her gen.
tie ministrations past the cruel and
bloody knives of the Spanish soldiery-
And on her breast bloody cross she bore,
The dear remembrance of her dying Lord,
For whose sweet sake that glorious badge she wore,
And dead as living, ever Him adored.
You can find no surer test of the
spirit that animates the youth of a
country in giving up its life in a great
war than in the battle hymns of nations.
The inspiration of France has been
found, and is still found in the stirring
strains of the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Of
France, Awake to Glory!" But the
American woman has struck for the
American youth loftier strain in the
"Battle Hymn of the Republic"
In the beauty of lilies, Christ born the
As he died to make men holy, let us die to make
men free.
thank God that l know that, day
by day, and year by year, my coun-
try is growing better. thank God
that my eyes, in the old age, look out
on fairer land; that my ears as they
grow deaf, will hear the tones of Drawer
voices. know whereof affirm.
We are told in some quarters that
this is a base and wicked war; that
it is entered upon from bad motives,
and that the men who enlisted in it are
actuated by a vulgar desire of fame, of
glory of office. But see personally,
or l receive letters, from the youth who
are eager to answer the call of their
country, from fathers and mothers, and
l find very little desire of glory in them,
and much of sense of duty. This war
was entered into because half million
people were being starved to death at
our doors, Our soldiers are enlisting
in it that they may do their duty to
their country.
From the brave Major. General, one of
the most famous heroes of our late war,
who, when wrote him that 1 could
only find for him lower place than that
he once filed, and to which he was en-
titled by previous service, returned the
answer, considerations of rank have
no place when duty is in question:" to
the youth who write to me by the scores
letters like this. my great-grand-
father was in the Revolution, my grand
father was in the war of 1912, nv
father was killed in the rebellion and
want to do what can for my country
to-day" there is little thought of glory.
The letters that come to me are almost
all of one kind.
The quality of the American people,
this especial quality of the people OF
New England, is making its way, as
never before, to the recognition and re-
spect of mankind. This seems to be
the season, for the first time, of the
fullest and completest reconciliation
between north and south.
England is learning to know her
daughter and to love her again. The
English people, of late 80 hostile and
contemptuous, are kindled with enthu-
siasm, as if the war in which we are
now engaged were their own. l will
read you letter which l received q
fortnight ago from friend in England,
man of large scholarship-secretary
of an important conservative club there.
You know that in England all clubs
are political;
We are forgetting all our feuds. We
particularly review all our old harsh
measures toward America as serious
errors. which have been long forgiven
if not forgotten. The love of race is
reviving. The old love of brotherhood
is being resuscitated. The two great
empires of progress and civilization
appear to be shaking hands across and
over the roar of the applauding waves
of the great ocean; which does not now
divide, but unites them forever. Eng
land sympathizes with America. We
wish her success with glory and honor.
We feel convinced Amarica hoo nm