News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1903-08-19
Old Home Week At Stowe.
Large Number Attended Exercises There
To-day. A Synopsis of Secretary
Shaw's Speech.

to-day were largely attended by peo-
pie from the county and state and by
former residents who are now resid-
ing in other sections of the country.
Among the prominent people present
were Congressman Foster, Gov. Hen
dee. Hon. c. S. Page, Judge Powers,
Hon. O. M. Merrill, Chas. S. Gleed
of Topeka, Kan, and many others.
The attendance was large and the ex-
ercises very interesting and in part
were as follows After music c. l..
Mcmahon presided and extended
greetings, after which prayer was Of
fered by Rev. Mr.. Excel of Stowe.
Report on building was read by H..
G. Thomas, followed by the presen-
tation by the doner, H. C. Akeley.
The response was made by G. S. Nc
Allister. Short speeches were made
by Congressman Foster, Judge Pow
ers and others, after which Secretary
Shaw delivered the address of the
day, synopsis of which follows
The Secretary took as his theme
American Citizenship. What it has
meant and.is to mean. He briefly re.
ferred to our colonial history, noting
the trend of thought and development
toward unifcation. He referred to
the fact that when the Revolutionary
war was begun, there was no. inten-
ton to assert independence.'aiIt was
six years after the final treaty of peace
with England before the formation of
a constitutional government. I'm
mediately there arose two schools of
political thought, the one asserted the
right of any state to withdraw from
the Union at pleasure; while the ma
tional idea found expression in the
immortal language of Webster
Liberty of Union now and for ever,
one and inseparable." This conflict
of ideas culmina ed in conflict of
arms and at Appomattox it was de-
cided that the United States is Ma.
ton and no one now refers to it in the
plural number.
Thus the explorer had become a
ettler, the settlement had developed
into colony, the colony had evolved,
the state and the state had been
welded into a Union. All this had
been along lines of cause and effect.
The Secretary then referred to. the
period of material development which
| followed the Civil War. The Ameri
can people had been industrious and
industry is the parent of competency.
Competency is the father of multi,
piled desires for comforts. These de,
sires breed necessities for increased
means of communication. Thus ma
turally, logically and irresistably was
developed the policy and a period OF
internal Improvement Rivers were
bridged, harbors widened, railroads
constructed, steam boats launched,
commerce multiplied and the tension
of human life frightened. Compe-
tency gave place to wealth, and veal h
like competency is the father of null
tiplied desires for luxuries. This de-
mand for luxuries makes necessary
enlarged and increased facilities for
commerce. Thus around the circle
of industry, competency, desire, de-
mand, supply, more wealth, larger de-
sires, greater supply, we have chased
ourselves up the ever enlarging spiral
and at an even exhilarating pace until
the light headed have become dizzy
and either fallen off or raised the cry
that the whole establishment is going
to destruction.
He then referred to the causes of
the Spanish War. He.said the Ameri.
can people were judicially minded.
| Our liberty is distinctly American and
law is supreme. Our war with Spain
was the outgrowth of duel character
istics. The American love of Justice,
of law, of equity had been inSulted by
Spanish rule in Cuba for more than a
hundred years. American love of JUS
tice plus American altruism was not
sufficient until we had become COM
mercially independent and were look
ing for outside markets. All these
considerations combined resulted in
our. interference. 1t was an unpre-
cedented step, but it was taken by the
unanimous vote of all parties in Con-
gress and with the approval of all
parties in convention assembled, but
in SO doing Congress turned the knob
and set ajar door which, if it ever
swings wide, will make the United
States the CONSERVATION of peace and
staple government throughout the
Western world. The trend of all
these events from colonial times to
the present has been towards strong
er government.
The Secretary then referred to our
military experience in China. With.
out an act of Congress detachment
of the navy and a detail from the
army was sent to the relief of the
American legation at Pekin. 1t was
without precedent, but the American
people, without regard to party, APP
proved the step. Later this govern
ment served notice that it reserved
the right to review judicial proceed