The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-08-21

| great enthusiasm.
In opening, Mr. Thurston said: Ladies'
| and Gentlemen: have new illustration
tonight OF the strength and power of Yer
m )nters. DIR. Spalding Ia the only man
| ever listened TO who could talk out the
| lights. l assure you that / hesitate TO fol-
low because you know Verm onters always
try to keep up with the best Ia the class and
l am tempted to talk now until 1 put the
lights out In the came way he did.
What splendid thing IL is that New
England people have established this Old
| Home Week at this time Of the year when
we can come back to the old familiar
scenes and places. What good thing it Is
| to come back to our old mother now and
and then; to lay down, for the time being,
the cares, responsibilities and duties Of &C.
tive life, and escape from the roar and the
rush and the hurry OF the city and business
affairs, and rest on the grassy slopes of the
beautiful hills, stand uncovered in their ma
| j3stic presence, and look in the faces of rel
atives and friends to come back and do
honor and sing praises to this good State
| that gave us birth.
Vermont is small in area but she is great
in the history OF the republic. Her heroes
have filed It's most prominent pages with
| the records of their mighty achievements
l. ca almost be said that in Vermont was
the birthplace OF American independence.
For it is almost literally true that the peo
pie OF Vermont alone were the only ones,
before the declaration OF Independence, to
insist upon independence In the govern
ment of their own affairs. Vermonters TN
der Ethen Allen and other leaders, refused
to recognize the jurisdiction Of the colony
OF New York, refused to recognizs the power
OF its courts, but set up their own independ-
ence, even against the sovereign power it.
self.
80 it was that long before the decara-
ton OF Independence was signed; long be-
fore Paul Revere rode through the night,
warning the minute men OF Lexington OF
the desperate danger of the country; long
before Bunker Hill; long before gun had
been red or a drop OF blood spilled in the
war for Independence, Vermonte were Or
gsnized and ready, and only waiting for the
time to come when they could set their
feeble powers against the mighty powers OF
the earth.
''Three times at least 1t can be said OF
Vermont that Vermonters have changed
the map of the world. First, when the
Green Mountain and New Hampshire boys
held in check the army OF Burgoyne until
it could be driven back into defeat. II they
had not held that army of Burgoyne at
Bennington 1t is almost certain 1t would
have formed junction with the British
army at New York and have overcome the
army OF Washington itself, Second: On
that great day a Gettysburg when Stan
nard held back Pickett's mighty charge
which seemed for the moment destined to
split the army in two. And lastly, Yer
mon changed the map OF the world when
Dewey sailed into the bay at Manila. Cloud
spplsuse) Aud L will say that he was
splendidly assisted in that grand work of
} change, when Clark steered the Oregon
AZ 600 miles across the world in order to be
ready to fight so successfully and splendid
ly that grand battle OF Captains over which
the Admirals are quarreling still. Gre
; mendous applause.)
; "And, my fellow Vermonters, it is we'll for
us to remember that Clarks appearances
was the result Of no good fortune aud no
chance. The Oregon was a mighty ship,
perhaps the best construc ed ship in all this
country, made of the best steel, furnished
' with the best machinery and certainly man.
ned by the best men, but yet II she had OF
8 had captain born and bred to the ways and
the methods of New England she might not
8 h we been half way to Santiago and Cerve-
ra's fl Get might have steamed out from the
1 harbor. For, greater than the courage of
, this man in battle, greater for his country
was that gdality OF MUD, that intensity of
purpose, that careful, psinstaking care for
, the responsibilities and duties OF his posi-.
l ton. that KEEP the Oregon aud her ma
r chiuery in such splendid condition that she
stood that test and made the most remark
i able record in the sailing of steamships in
Z the world, Great applause)
9 "Not only that, perhaps IL is not out Of place
4 while other heroes of the land have received
! their just reward, perhaps il may not be out
1 of place to rest Tor a moment right here and
: note why it was tina. the Oregon was ready
o to meet the Spanish fl set when it came ont
= the Atlantic coast past South America he
= heard from tbs naval department at Wash
I ington that Cervera's great fl SCI had set out
= from Spain to cross over to the United
i States. He was advised that his way lay
. through dangerous waters thai with the
!, Oregon alone he might come in contact with
y that great tiset, and it is "a part OF the I'M
e written history Of the naval department
' that Clark was given his own decision as TO
o whether or not he would take the chance.
Il | Rut az DaWay salad intn the bar hnr OF a.
J. nila 80 Clark took his chances and steamed
+ up the waters of the Atlantic ocean, read J
II and willing with the Oregon alone to NEE
$ the whole Spanish fleet. prolonged
IS cheers) And when he reached still fur
o Jher point on the upper South American
coast and cabled to the naval department
. that he was there ready for orders, he was
9 again advised that he mi ght exercise hi,
u own Judgment as to whether he would take
. his ship to the place OF repair or whether be
il would take it to the scene OF action. Some
- OF his officers, his chief macuinist, thought
x the Oregon should go in dry dock for ro.
" pairs, but Clark thought that the O.egon
It under Vermonter ought to 90 into actor
d immediately" (Long contisued applause
Is Mr.. Thurston said Vermonters and Amer
= leans are not warlike pee pie. They be
+ lieve in the doctrine taught by the lowiy
Nazarene, OF peace on earth and good will
- toward men. The American people have
d never gone TO war for conquest or ag
grandizement. and they have never been il
J. but ii We wars. And while we pray that WA
70 may never again come to vex US, we stauC
IS ready to take up the musket or unsheatl
Z. the sword in the cause of justice and hu
l. manity. Vermont statesmen and jIrists
70 and her common people have set an exam
4 pie OF high character second to none. Yer
J. mcnters have always held high place
y wherever they have stood In conflict with
e men. No State in the Union has 80 many
II native born sons in the Senate OF tn,
United States or native born vice-presi
% deuts. Although tney have not yet had
l chsncs al the presidency, the time is com
y ing when Vermonter, living here or some
/: where else, will be ssnt to the presldenJia
IL chair.
g. Drawing near the close OF his address, ii
g. burst of eoQuence seldom heard, Mr.
II Thurston eulogized Vermont and touched
3 upon what Dewey and Clark had done 70
1t the flag. Before the Spanish war the Amer
lean flag was hardly recognized in som
sr quarters, but since Dewey's victory at on
n, end of the world and Clark's at the othe