St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1908-06-03

never failed and, in making necessary
changes, move slowly, cautiously and
sagely as may be along the new and
unbeaten paths
THE BATTLEsHIP OR THE SCHOOL.
History is chiefly record of battle.
Must it forever be =? Can it be that God
means that His children shall continue
to tear at each others throats to the
end of time? Is peace really unattain-
able Is it not worth even striving for
And to what Nation, if not to ours, falls
the opportunity by precept and example
of pointing the way? The strength OF a
country is not measured by armies and
navies. Intelligence, character, CON
science constitute the true and impreg
nable bulwarks of national welfare. The
schoolhouse at the corners is more
potent ultimately than "Dreaduought'
of the seas the little church on the hill is
worth score of regiments, Success in
agriculture, commerce and manufacture
presages certain triumph in war it the
cause be Just During the scores of years
when foreign peoples looked generously
upon our rich inheritance and realized
the apparent weakness OF possible re-
sistance none ventured to land upon
these shores. Think you one would do
so now, now when we are strong-aye,
stronger in ultimate resource than any
one or two or three foreign Powers Is
it conceivable that in these days of
enlightenment a ruler, much less
he. yl,s.lttt
reprisal which would surely ensue from
an unwarranted attack upon or tenn
porary victory over any portion OF
territory shielded by our flag Modern
warfare, whether in trade or with guns,
is the battle of gold. So long as we have
money and keep our cause just so long
will we have peace. We need no great
fleets, no mighty armies for or against
foreign enterprises-only schools and
churches, as of old, for the uplifting OF
oppressed human beings gathered from
all corners of the earth. Such, the
Fathers of the Republic and our fathers
believed. was the true and holy mission
of this new people under the protection
of the Pilgrims God Let us not now
be led astray in worship OF idols which
demand for their sacrifice the Likelihood
of Nations. Rather let us continue
steadfast in the purposes, the ideals, the
faith of our ancestors and to ourselves
at least be true.
THE CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS.
NV friends, we have placed the wreaths
of spring upon the graves OF our heroic
dead; it is now our privilege to pay
homage to those who yet live on-sur-
vivors of the great war for unity, for
freedom, for stability of goverpment, for
peace among men.
Incredible it seems, as we look into the
faces of so many scions of hardy stock
still active in mind, body and patriotic
impulse, that nearly half century has
glided by since they and their comrades
in wonder cemetery gave to their country
not only themselves, but the peace and
happiness of those whom, left in sorrow
and solicitude at home, they loved better
than themselves. Through the mist of
years we behold the vision OF that dread
time. We feel the tense apprehension
that preceded the bolt We breathe the
atmosphere of foreboding that dimmed
the light of eyes and yelled with gloom
the countenances which so long had shone
with the happiness of personal liberty
and common, prosperity. From the en-
veloping clouds we see the lightning
fash, and hear the thunder echo from
Sumter to every nook and corner OF the
land. No need to interpret the shock!
In this peaceful community, no less clear
" than in the capitals and cities, the
message was understood. 1t was death
for the individual or death for the Nation.
And how splendid the response! We see
the grim determination stamped upon
the faces of those who awaited i'm
patiently the word of their great Chief
We note the eagerness in their eyes, the
clenching of their hands, rejecting not
the lust of battle, but the love OF coun-
try. And then the call for volunteers!
Could we have but stood on this spot on
that quiet evening, we would have heard
no blare of trumpets, no beating OF
drums, no fervid oratory; not a sound
louder than would have reached our ears
last night or will again tonight; but we
would have seen men, first one, then an
other, emerge from their homes and pass
silently along or across this familiar
street to the room where they might
pledge their lives and sacred honor to
the maintenance of the Union and the
glory of civilization.
AMERICAS NOBLE WOMEN.
Before our retrospective vision picture
after picture appears to complete the
panorama. We aTecognizant OF the Dus'
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