Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-09-14
Surg. hdqrs.

fathers for Union of states one and
inseparable. The strength and influence
of the one would have been annihilated in
the two, and would have afforded for
eign powers the opportunity and tempta-
ton to further disintegrate both. The
war was inevitable and absolutely nee
essary In order that those questions
which had been found all too hard for
adjustment in our civil experience and
had divided the different sections Of the
country for more than 60 years might be
settled for all time. And so 1t was that
amid the roar and carnage of battle and
the widespread devastations of war was
sealed into perpetual life the Just pow
ers of the general government under the
Constitution-the sovereignty of unity
over its several and constituent parts,
and the oneness and indestructibility of
American nationality, which never would
and never could have been won in peace
That war taught this county to trust
In its own resources. and not to lean
with too great confidence upon the friend
ship OF any foreign power. 1t has taught
us to rely on the strong right arm and
the intelligence, the sense of honor and
loyalty of the great mass of our citizen
ship. 1t gave us back our country in
its entirety; and now after forty-one years
the broad chasm that once separated the
two sections has been filled and sodded
over and there is no longer a north or
SOUTH no east nor west, but all are one,
proud of their heritage and Of their COM
mon country
Our recent war with Spain has demon
strated the loyalty TO country and our
beautiful flag of those who wore the gray
equally with those who wore the blue in
that great struggle fought for the ma
tons integrity, supremacy and honor.
While differing in many things, as po-
litical parties always have and always
will, with reference to governmental pol
icies. / firmly believe that those who
fought against the government on more
than two thousand battlefelds, and their
sons. are today as loyal to the Union and
as jealous of their countrys honor as are
those who fought with us
To you. my comrades, occasions of
this kind bring to your memory sad rec
objections which will not down. Nor
should they. for they are among the most
treasured of your memories. They tell
YOU of the height and depth and length
and breadth of what our reunited country
is worth. Costly as has been it's preser-
alton to you and yours, you feel that
il is worth the sacrifice. No veteran
soldier. Of either army, would today wish
back the blood he shed, or the robust
health which was shattered, or his leg or
arm. No father, mother or wife would
wish to receive back the loved one to
life and health, II the restoration of any
or all of these must bring back with II
divided and ruined country. The bless
ed comfort that comes to all is the firm
and unalterable conviction that the dead
did not die in vain, and that those who
now drag out lives of infirmity and dis
tress are not suffering for naught The
blessed reward which we daily enjoy is
the fairest land on EARTH the happiest.
most prosperous people in all the world,
and a certain future for our country and
our people, which seems now to have no
limit to its Wondrous growth
We have been making history rapidly
in the past few years. We have been
brought face to face with complex prob
lems with momentous, far-reaching
questions in our national life. We have
been thrown out into the great arena of
nations by a power not our own. Our
greatness and dominion far exceed all
our brightest dreams of the past. Today
1t can be said of us as it is said of the
British empire. that "The sun never
sets upon our flag, and our morning drum
beat is heard around the world" While
the rays of the setting sun shine on our
flag in the distant islands of the sea, II
is greeted by the morning sun as 1t floats
from our mountain peaks and along the
shores of the Atlantic How truly Won
derful has been our nations growth and
history. I have faith to believe that
we shall continue in the future, as in the
past, equal to our opportunities and
worthy the grand and noble destiny that
awaits us. We have but to remember
that it is the primal duty of the people of
this country never to forget THAT man
| is more than nations, that wisdom is
more than glory. that virtue is more
than dominion OF the sea. and that JUS
tice is the supreme good"
Lord. God of hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget, lest we forget
Hoping ever and praying always, 1
give in conclusion and leave with you
this sentiment:
"And so 1 give you all the ship of state,
Freedoms last venture is her priceless
freight.
God speed her. keep her, bless her, while
she steers
Amid the breakers of unsounded years.
Lead her through dangers paths with
even keel
And guide the honest hand that holds the
wheel"
Message from ex-oov. Holbrook.
A message from Vermont's war gov
ernor, Hon. Frederick Holbrook, was pre-
scented by James F. Hooker, following