Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-06-01

individuals, that has selfish aim will fail.
With his talents given to some worthy
cause Napoleon might have been one of
the worlds greatest benefactors and have
left a name that all could love Instead
he has left a name that inspires only
regret that such splendid powers should
have been so misdrected. Is it to be
wondered at, in view of history's oft re-
peated lesson that ambition for personal
fame means inevitable wreck and ruin,
that the age of chivalry is conspicuous
and shining epoch?
"We may well be proud today that the
spirit of the old crusaders was revived
within our borders. 1t died away only to
live again on this side of the ocean, Root
ed deep in every soul is love of freedom,
and higher power than mans is respon-
sible for its presence. But after the
principle of liberty had been fought for
justiiably, and won, there remained an
other question to be settled--whether this
liberty, good and right for some within the
land, was not equally good and right for
all within the land. Many did not so
regard it at the time, but in the lapse of
years all impartial eyes have seen the
truth. No knight of olden times ever
espoused the cause of the weak and oppres
ed more nobly or devoutedly than you and
the members of your army. We call it the
Civil war, but it was just as truly a crusade
in behalf of the downtrodden, quest for
the holy grail of Gods eternal truth of
human brotherhood. SO as liberty had
been won union was maintained, and
union is even greater than liberty.
THE individual or nation that would
climb to success must begin on the round
of liberty and move to the next higher
one, that of union. We have boosted Of
our freedom; we have perfected its
privileges. The present duty is TO eXalt
the principle of union, to merge self in the
good of all, to lose personal life in the
pursuit of altrusm.
sit has been for the truth that the
American soldier has faced danger and
hardship. That this is so is good reason
for our pride in America and in the sol
der. We cannot be called people who
like TO fight. Our nation has not been
quick or sudden in war But when a
question of truth has been up for settle
ment defenders of the truth have not been
slow to appear.
'No people have so much reason to rec
ognize an over-ruling Providence as the
people of America. When affairs have
been the blindest guiding hand has led
us through. When dangers have been
thickest a more than human leadership
has been our protection. Great causes
and great leaders have committed a re-
sponsibe trust to us. National life of the
best type has been bequeathed us, and it
is for us to preserve and improve it. May
we show ourselves worthy of our privi-
leges.
"What can be said today in praise of
the soldier, the defender of the truth, that
has not already been said? 1. is super
fluous to resort to a long list of adjectives
in eulogy of the American soldier, He
and his deeds will stand for all time, and
they constitute his best eulogy. On this
Memorial day, which has taken a deserv-
eddy permanent place in our calendar, the
graves of the departed will be the shrine
of comrades and friends. The American
spirit and character will preserve this day
and its significant features until time it.
self shall cease to be.
at is well today, also, to think of the
living. The veteran is conscious today as
perhaps no one else can be of an intense
love for the Union. This is their day; a
day when the countrys thoughts turn
with admiration to the Grand Army, visi-
BILE as well as invisible The thoughts of
millions will turn once again to those
days when, as men in the ardor of youth,
they went forth that future generations
might experience the ample freedom of an
undivided land.
"This Memorial day will also find the
newly made graves of soldiers who, prompt
to answer duty's call, showed that the old
spirit of 81 had not died out All honor
to those who fell and those who survive
American patriotism ought to be broad
enough to find room for the heroes of San
Juan Hill alongside of the heroes of Get
tysburg.
"There is no danger that time will altei
the verdict of the present, that your cause
was glorious one, famously upheld
believe posterity will be even more en-
thusiastic than the present day patriot fo
posterity will have the advantage of clear
er light and will be better able to see you
cause in its far-reaching results for good
This, then, should be your sufficient salts
faction, that you have had part in lead
ing the way to freedom and union. B,
your defence of truth on the battlefield yol
have done much to hasten the peace tina
shall be lasting. So with good reason to
day grateful people assures the member
of the Grand Army of The Republic tina
they fought for as noble a cause and will
as much chivalry as did those Knights o
old"