The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-07-30
A PASSING OPPORTUNITY.

Why did not ex-Gov. Stickney inn
prove the opportunity the presence Of
Barnum and Bailey's circus in the
State presented to secure the services
of that noble team of forty horses to
move the Arthur monument, now
stranded in Sheldon, to it's resting
place in Fairfield? Some Vermont
Governors have not been conspicuous
for forethought and enterprise, but
even the dullest ought to have seen
this opportunity and seized it, to get
that memorial stone out of its very
humiliating straits.
Somehow this whole business of the
Arthur monument appears to be strik
iugly illustrative of some conditions
existing in Vermont. There is, and
has been here for nearly half cent
ury, practical lack Of progress, as
shown by that chiefest index, popula-
ton. The State has been marking
time, or travelling in the ruts worn
i'll the previous years of progressive
existence, and needs a mighty pull,
and a pull all together, to bring it up
into sight of the tail end of the pro-
cession of States.
If the late lamented President could
take cognizance-which God forbid
of the circumstances attending the
conception of the proposition to honor
his memory in the State which had
the chance honor to be the place of
his birth, and the bungling efforts to
deliver the stone that is to be the en-
bodiment of the measure of comment
Grafton proposed for him, the turf
must heave above the place of his en-
tombment. Chester A. Arthur was a
man of energy. He did things He
did them with the despatch born of
brain for great affairs, directed by
burning zeal and animated by great
soul. When the nation was confront
ed by its greatest crisis in the war for
the Union, and Father Abraham was
calling fol three hundred thousand
more soldiers to rescue the government
from imminent peril, the quota of
New York was the largest of any of
the States. Its proximity to Washing
ton, also, rendered the Empire State
the readiest source of immediate and
effective help. The Presidents APP
peal was to Governor Morgan. New
York's great war Executive sought
the man for the mighty task of rails
ing, organizing, equipping and send
ing to the field the States quota of
troops, which aloue was an army corps.
Chester A. Arthur's demonstrated fit
ness marked him for tine arduous task.
Governor Morgan appointed him to
the work and New York's manifold
regiments we're raised and sent to
Washington, fully ready for duty,
with despatch and perfection Of sup
ply and equipment that was a joy to
the troubled spirit of Lincoln, and
was, also, one of the most brilliant as
we'll as serviceable achievements of the
war This was but one of long Sc
ries of great things Chester A. Arthur
did for his country, and he did them
all in modest way, with quiet
effectiveness, that was characteristic of
the man.
- Now the State of Vermont, after
much persuasion and labor with it's
Solons, appropriated the munificent
sum of $500 to erect memorial stone
on the spot of the birth of one of the
Nations most gallant and meritorious
citizens The monument was builded.
The railways were importuned to
transport it free of charge to the point
nearest to final delivery. The memoir
ial freight was suffered to go to the
railway sta tion in the ordinary course
of private business, and was shipped
by route over which the charity of
free transportation had not been
sought and, as has been reported, is
| now stranded at Sheldon. Local horse
| transportation was not equal to the
necessities of the haul to Fairfield,
and for some two weeks the ex-Execu-
tive intrusted with the duty of con-
tracing for the monument, getting
the stone delivered and erected, has
not yet found adequate transport from
Sheldon.
Unquestionably Mr.. Bailey, Of the
imperial circus combination, without
| charge WOuld have detached his mag
nifioent team, even at the sacrifice of
a days exhibition, for the delivery of
the monument at Fairfield He is that
enterprising and patriotic.