St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-03-20

when the heavens were dark with clouds,
saw sight that lives fresh in my men,
DRY. The officers of the torpedo station
had run up the starry banner upon the
staff and turned upon it as we moved
out OF the harbor two great electric
search lights. 1t revealed the banner
while the staff and buildings below it
were all hidden in the blackness. could
see 1T as il it had been hung out of the
battlements of heaven, lifting its folds in
the darkness of night, glori6ed emblem
OF the hope of free people. Let us keep
1t thus in our hearts, let no other flag be
borne in our professions. We have no
place here for the red flag of anarchy.
This emblem typifes free people who
have voluntarily placed themselves
under the restraints of the law, who
consented that individual liberty shall
cease where it inIringes upon the right or
property OF another. This is our con-
tract. This is the liberty which we offer
those who cast in their lots with us, not
a liberty to destroy, but a liberty to con-
serve and perpetuate.
l am most happy to witness in this
prosperous New England town so many
evidences that your community is intel
ligent, industrious, enterprising, and
your people lovers of home and order.
You have here some great manufacture
ing establishments, whose fame and pro.
ducts have spread Throughout the world.
You have here philosophical citizens,
who have established libraries, galleries
OF art and are ministering to the good of
generations to come. You have an in
teIltgent and educated class of skilled
workmen, and nothing pleased me more
as passed through your streets today,
than to be told that here and there
were the homes of the working people OF
St. Johnsburv, homes where every evi
dence OF comfort was apparent, homes
where taste has been brought to make
attractive the abodes where tired men
sought rest, homes that must have been
made sweet for the children that are
reared there, and comfortable for the
wives whose place of toll and RESPONSE
bility it is. Here is the anchor of our
safety. This is the stake that binds men
to good order, to good citizenship, to
the flag of the constitution, a contented
and prosperous working class. l will
not cross any lines OF division in my re.
marks tonight, for this reception is gen
eral, but l will venture to say that all
our public policy, all our legislation, may
wisely keep in view the end of perpetu-
ating an independent, contented, pros
porous and hopeful working class in
America. When hope goes out of the
heart and life becomes so hard that it is
no longer sweet, men are not safe neigh
bors and they are not good citizens. Let
us, then, in cheerful, loving, Christian,
good neighborhood, see that the bless
ings of our institutions, the fruits of
labor, have that fair distribution that
shall bring contentment into our homes.
But, my countrymen, did not intend
to speak even so long. wish it were in
my power to make some adequate return
for the generous welcome you have given
me. am not a man of promises.
abhor pretentiou, but every such assem-
bly, as this that see, this great cup OF
good will which you put to my lips,
gives HE strength to do what l can for
our country and for you.
The party was driven around town in
the morning, and left on a special train
for White River Junction at s 30.