Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1905-06-02
"Middlebury To Her Soldiers
Continued from Page 1.)

bO"iioiiiP hioeSAS'
The dedication of so attractive, so
beautiful, so costly a monument is a
subject of very sincere congratulation,
feeling that is intensified when we
remember that we are indebted to no
foreign benefactor for this splendid
gift; Tor we are deeply grateful to real
ize that the gracious donor is one of
our own highly esteemed and truly
respected fellow citizens. Sometimes
it is easier for one to feel gratitude than
to express it, yet l know that the pre-
vailing sentiment this afternoon is one
of heartfelt gratitude intermixed with
laudable pride in both the gift; and the
giver, for if the gift is ours we feel that
by higher title the giver is also our
very own.
Some men are remembered because by
some heroic deed their names have
found place upon the pages of written
history, but the truly loved by some
act of unselfsh service or generosity
nscribe theirs upon the fleshy tablets
of mems hearts. Such is the wise
course taken by our benefactor. Al
ways will he be remembered in this
community as one who gave largely,
freely and wisely to benefit his fellow
men.
The day that we celebrate is pregnant
with undying memories, undying be-
cause they find their home in the hearts
of an appreciative people. Time may
entirely obliterate all traces of the
noblest works of men; the thing that
claims our attention today may possess
no charm in the tomorrow; the purpose
of men may change with the spirit of
the age, but those principles (which are
enshrined in the hearts of the,.people
live forever.
Some one has said "There is a prin-
ciple back of this day which is en-
shrined in the hearts of the people and
the principle is vastly more than the
hearts that enshrine it for it holds with
in its grasp the destiny, the welfare,
the manhood of future generations"
This principle by growth and age is
thoroughly American and is embodied
in our national life. The principle
which gives this day warm place in
American hearts is of no recent origin.
In the awful fires and conflicts of the
first part of the 18th century our prin-
ciples of liberty, equality and justice
were conceived. To defend and per-
petuate these principles men bled, and
suffered, and died in the founding and
preservation of our country.
AS speak remember that our state
is historic ground for the early history
of Vermont inspires and thrills us, when
we remember the unselfish devotion, the
ardent love of liberty, the unalloyed
patriotism of our unassuming, resolute,
god fearing forefathers, who with hearts
of oak and faith sublime, fought
against tremendous odds to achieve self
government, to establish homes, to per-
petuate those principles which are the
basal principles of our nation. We re-
member that within the confines Of
this state some of the most sanguinary
battles of the Revolution were fought,
, Benningtonland Hubbardton and West
minister will ever be remembered with
patriotic reverence as fields upon which
American patriots gladly laid down
their lives in defence of their convic-
tons
In that crucial time from 81 to SO
VIII hral-on #
: an enslaved race, these northern states
rose like young giant to emancipate
people, who although black of skin,
were like themselves, the children of
IGod; the sons of the Green Mountain
State volunteered in large numbers, and
by heroic deeds and unspeakable suffer
ing wrought out their part in the vic
torious result. The history of the war
cannot be written without repea ted
mention of the part taken 10y the men
of Vermont. The historian tells us that
the Vermont regiment was the first TO
throw up the sacred soil of Virginia into
union intrenchments, Vermont troops
made the first assault upon a Confeder-
ate fertilization. In almost every battle
fought in the succeeding years by the
army of the Potomac, Vermonters took
an honorable part. In the turning point
of the turning struggle of the war, on
the red and slippery slopes of Gettys-
burg, it was the Vermont Brigade
under the intrepid leader, Gen. Stan
nard, which beat back Piokett's furious
charge and decided the fate of the day.
In the dark jungle of the Wilderness,
and in the final piercing of the defenses
Of Richmond, Vermonters took deci-
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