Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-10-19

have given greater lustre to our navy
whose record has always been illustrious
The presentation of the sword voted by
Congress by the President of the United
States in the presence of the Cabinet the
Supreme Court. the Senate and the House
of Representatives at the Capitol was the
browning glory of this marvellous ovation.
Not yet its elimination and it's lesson;
not yet That is reserved for his Alma
Mater. I saw Grant from Appomattox
and Sherman from the March to the Sea
at West Point. There was an affectlonate
significance in the welcome ami approval
of the old Academy which no pageant
could give. The splcndors of the decoia-
lions, the brave array of sautng soldiers
/ and sailors have passed; the echoes of
| the guns and strains of martial music
| have died away. With the associations
! and surroundings of this seat Of learning
! the faculty and students receive their fell
| low student and honored alumnus The
| building which will arise upon the corner
| stone now laid by Admiral Dewey Will
roman for unnumbered generations ms
| monument to the advantages of a liberal
! education and the possibilities of Ameri-
car citizenship.
| The benefits of a college course are
not all found in text books, lectures and
! the library. They are the tools for use IN
practical life but can be had outside of
! the University. The contact and attrition
/ of ingenious minds seeking the truth
/ break the letters of prejudice and pro-
! viCcialism, and cultivate the cosmopol-
! tan spirit which Is necessary for success
at this time when the telegraph trlngs all
! the world in daily communication. 70
/ learn where and how to find quickly the
! history, facts cases and subjects required
! n liberal learning. The impress of great
! teachers upon susceptible youth Is fel. in
! nohler aims and purer ideals all through
! life. But the inspiration OF living, brea thing
and working where the famous among the
| Alumni We're college boys Is of incalcul-
/ able value. Their spirits are ever present
/ in rooms and halls, Mt recitations and IN
/ the campus. Every university man echoes
| Kipling's sentiment:
Bless and praise we famous men
| Men of little showing!
| For their work continueth,
| And their work continueth,
| Broad and deep continueth,
| Great beyond their knowing.
The victory OF Admiral Dewey has far
| wider significance than the heroism of the
| feht 1t opened new chapter in the his
/ tory OF the United States. The lifting OF
! the cloud OF battle smoke from the waters
| of Manila bay revealed a new and poten-
| tial power in the affairs of the world. The
| class which graduates here next June en-
| tiers upon larger citizenship than any Of
! its predecessors. A war begun by the Uni-
/ ted States for humanity and liberty, end
I ed in the conquest and cession of rich
and populous territory in the East. At the
very hour when our industrial Develop
ment and surplus productions demand the
| benefit of expanding markets. We become
! by the Providence of God neighbor to the
| Orient and its limitess possibilities. AZ
| ter three hundred years of oppression and
| spOilaton by the Spaniards, after CEN
| turtles Of promises made to be broken; he
! inhabitants of the Philippine Islands dis
| trust all professions. The good faith with
| which we are fulfilling our pledges in
Cuba will ultimately become known in
| every island in the Archipelago. Tn" gem
! OF the Antilles is feeling the thrill Of
| liberty Under the beneficent rule of law
J and order she is experiencing peace, pres
| perity and progress. We are leading her
to independence the mother does her
! child, and at each more contident step wo
! loosen our firm but affectionate hold for
| her education and safety.
| We must first subdue the rebellion. The
more quickly, the more energetcally and
the more overwhelming the force with
| which II is done. the more merciful will
! be the war. and the earlier will come the
/ regeneration of the Philippines. The
| demonstration for brief period of gov
| eminent which gives protection to life and
property. which grants liberty and law,
which plants school houses and encour-
| pineSs they have never experienced, and
only vaguely imagine possible through the
anarchy they would now inaugurate. Ma
| Mia. Santiago and San Juan have Won the
| respect Of Europe for our lighting quail
] tics, but our Craftsmanship and staying
powers are on trial in every cabinet in
the old world. When civil and religious
liberty was in peril before the united as
sault of all the great monarchs of the
continent William of Orange In under
taking their defence. registered the simple
oath, 81 will maintain" His was 4 gigan-
tic task against frightful odds. We are
for the time being the custodians of ciVil-
cation in our new possessions against q
foe whose defeat is inevitable, and for a
people who released from the thrall of
savage leaders and brought under the in
huences of peace, will become loyal and
productive citizens.
Pride in ones State is like love for the
old homestead. The absorbing duties of
his later life and tremendous events in
which he has been so distinguished an
actor have never weakened the affection
nor weaned the interest of Dewey from
Vermont. His heart has been ever fun of
the simple lives and homely virtues OF this
staid old New England commonwealth.
Her soil might not yield as rich returns
to the husba ndman as the prairie farms
of the West, but her marble and granite
have always furnished tombstones for her
invaders and statues for her heroes. Forty
years ago standing as young cadet IN
the Capitol at Montpelier and gazing upon
. the statue of Ethan Allen, he exclaimed,
Life can achieve no greater reward than
= that" He has won that reward. Beside
r the hero of Ticonderoga will stand a COM
5 panion figure. Under the one will be the