Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-05-04

utpUS anu ntIOlC COluutl Oi HldlN a. Ddl-
tle-fcld on the plains of Mexico and dur
ing our four years of civil warfare. an at
tempt was made at the annual session of
four Legislature I'm 1896 TO repeal the NV
constituting the university corps Of cadets
q part of the State National Guard. and
thereby depriving it of the small stipend
annually received on account of the mill
tary service of its cadets. | was not at
the time nor have since been quite abba
to understand the motive which prompted
the introduction Of the contemplated act.
It, certainly, could not have been in
furtherancc Of the public veal nor for the
reputation and good name of the state,
and the House of Representatives most
cmphatiCally SGT It's seal of disapprobatipn
upon the proposition.
In 1892 the Legislature enacted a law
creating thirty scholarships for the Uni
Versity. and provided for its use an appro-
priation of S2400 annually
In 1898 the annual appropriation was in
creased to $500 dollars. a State board of
visitation was provided, and by solemn
enactment the State sealed its approoa-
tion OF the excellent work OF the Unive--
sity and its confidence for the future by
recognizing II as the military college of
Vermont and In bestowing upon its presi-
dent and professors local military rank.
Nermont has never yet done for this
university what 1t ought. Indeed, I have
sometimes peCsl maze TO reel tnat tnelC
was too much jealousy exhibited by the
friends of other institutions of learning III
the state, so that the aid given has not
always been granted freely and without
manifestation of the spirit Of reluctance
and grudGng on the part OF some With
ing the walls Of Norwich University has
been reared and sent forth to ,eaVen The
world, manhood unsurpa ssed. and that
ii Will continue the same grand and no
BILE work in the future VIC cannot doubt
Here. as nowhere else save at West Point
and Annapolis. is taught, not alone the
classics, but military science, the art OF
government loyalty to country and deer
devotion to principle. which qualities me.
TO become leaders of their fellow mon
wise counSeiors. trusted and faithful Of
ficials, profound statesmen and great cons
manders so essential to the safety and
prosperity of the nation both in peace arG
in war.
May our proud State see It's way clear
to continue its hcnefaCtiOns mot grundg
inGly or Of necessity" but with liberaiity
for We are told that "God lovcth a cheer.
ful eivor." And may more and more OF
our sons and the sons of other States irt
their future Alma Mater here and within
. the walls of this University. made saCret
ana glor Gus by the name of Partridge
Of Ransom. and of Jackman of bles.sa,
memory, OF Buell., Dodge. Lander. Sey.
mour and Williams, Of Pauding and Car
pcnter, of Ward and many others. not for
getting the greatest hero of them all, ouI
own brave and honored Dewey, learn les
sons OF obedience to duly constituted al
thorltN, of patriotism and loyalty, and G
earnest and answering devotion to thcs,
great priruples of constitutional liberty
the strength and support of every free ar,
T. republican form of government
ThlS Is not the proper time nor place fo
a disnts..ip, nc "a,
the great questions, which have bee,
thrust upon us for adjustment, GROWN,
out of our recent war with the kingdon
of Spain. But | do here and now ventur,
the assertion that no hving graduate o
Norwich University, past present or in tn,
future, whatever may he his political nj
iiliations. can or ever will he found irwin:
aid or comfort, by word or deed, to tn,
enemies Of our country, or to an ignoran
ana heretofore long suffering and servil
people in distant islands, whom the marcl
/ OF events have placed under our care ar,
+ protection. people. who under III
providence of God. under the constitutio,
and laws and under all that pertains t.
liberty and humanity. it is our dun to re
heve from that condition of chaos. an
archY and confusion. the natural an
legitimate result of despotic rule and zen
turies of Spanish enslavement, ana y
breathe into their nostrils the true princi
pies Of law, order and liberty. and max
them people capable of enjoying the rio
blessings OF free government. such as "
Fave and is ours, only. to bestow
The motto of the intensely partisa.
My party. May it ever be right. Eu
right or wrong. my party" never V
found permanent lodgment in the brcas
of any honest citizen and true patriot
such as arr sent forth into the world fror
these halls. But, instead thereof, the
would rather have written upon the liIt,
OF every dccr-frame in the land that othc
motto, My country. May it ever be rich
But right or wrong. my country"
Admiral George Dewey, whose name
on every tongue, and whom We have me
this day to honor knows no political par
~ but bears true allegiance 10 his coun
Try. onlq. When he received orders To fin
and destroy the Spallsn feet riding i
oriental waters, he did not wait upon hi
going but at once weighed anchor an
sailed forth in search of the Spanish ad
miral that his ships OF war. one year az
to-day discovering the enemy in the Ia
of Manila, regardless of the dest:ucti,'
tolredocs planted IN the channel throuc
which his ships must pass, with his flag
ship Olympia, in tho lcal and bidding tn
others to follow, he sailed proudly fol-
ward. found tho enemy, "let loose the dos
! OF war ana the quiet stiffness of tina
SABBATH morning was broken with tn
terrific thunder of his guns So rapid wa
, the hrc and so sure the aim, that With
few brief hours, he was enabled to hci
, aid the glad tidings "to carthS remote.
hound' that the orders received had bee
ohcred, that the naval arm of Spain
the waters of the East had been effec
ually DESTROYED, and that. too, without II
loss OF single man, ship or gun. TO thS
one signal, glorious victory. won by OF
own GcoSee Dewey can he attributed II