Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-10-01

Inc nlStbllC Importance OIL tnlS ami
versary. and proper consideration for
the good name Of tho State, alike de-
mand that this commonwealth take or
flcial notice of the occasion. Such n cele-
bration will be an inspiration to n more
earnest and careful study of history; to
&. truer appreciation OF the important
place held in the annals Of the nations
by the territory in which we live; and
to a higher standard Of patriotism.
1t is we'll for us to recall the
prominent place which Lake Champlain
holds in the story of North America
From prehistoric times It has been a
great natural thoroughfare between the
st. Lawrence river and the Hudson
valley.
Three great nations. France. Great
Britain, and America, have made It a
highway In war and in peace.
The French erected fort at Isle
La Motto in 1866. which was the FIRST
settlement within the present limits of
Vermont and although 1t was not literally
a permanent settlement. yet It was
frequent stopping place for voyagers
through the lake. and It Is believed
never thereafter lapsed into wilder
ness.
The first public observance Of tho
Christian religion In Vermont was held
at Isle La Motto and relics Of that early
period of French Occupation may still
be seen at the shrine OF st. Anne In that
place.
At Crown Point. France established
Fort Frederic. with the single excep-
tion of Quebec her strongest Ameri-
e
Great Britain built a stronghold with
ramparts twenty-five feet. high and
twenty-five feet thick. Mt a cost Of over
two millions Of pounds. For these great
fortresses that guarded the route from
Canada to New York and New England,
the armies of France and Eng.
land contended in series Of cam
paigns for news of which the CAPITAL,
OF Europe waited in eager expectancy.
In no small measure the manner in
which America should be developed was
fought out between some of the greatest
captains OF the age In the valley OF Lake
Champlain. The British flag was first
lowered In the War of the Revolution at
Ticonderoga upon the demand OF Ethan
Allen. in the name OF the Great Jehovah
and the Continental Congress" an even:
of tremendous Significance in Its effect
upon the country. and In furnishing the
artillery which enabled Washington to
compel the evacuation of Boston by the
British. The first important naval battle
of the Revolution was fought on Lake
Champlain. The first aggressive move
ment of the American colonies on a con-
siderable scale, the invasion of Canada,
was undertaken by way OF Lake Cham
plain; and by tho same route the army
returned, broken by defeat and disease
to take post at the Champlain fortress
1t was by way OF Lake Champlain that
Burgoyne came In III, with boasts and
threats and a powerful army to cut in
twain the American colonies, and 1t was
at Bennington that he received the de-
feat that was the beginning of his down
fall. At Plattsburgh was fought one OF
the fiercest battles OF the War OF 1872;
and McDonough's victory was one OF the
most important in American naval his
tory. 1t will be recalled that McDon-
ough's fleet was built at Vergennes on
Otter Creek. and at the mouth OF this
river Is Fort Cass!n. where another I'm
rortant naval engagement took place
In 1909 the Vermont. the second success
full boat ever navigated by steam, began
regular trips; and so the year 1909 will
make the Tooth anniversary of steam
navigation on this body OF water.
1t would be difficult to find in America
a region richer in historical associations.
President Roosevelt has declared that In
his opinion no section OF America is rich
er in historic lore than the Champlaln
valley.
When Samuel Champlain first sailed
into these waters his Indian guides
pointing to the eastward, to the land we
call Vermont, told the great French
pioneer that there were in those
parts beautiful valleys and fields fer
tile In corn. with an innumerable
variety of other fruits" And from
that day to this the beauty Of our val
leys and the strength of our hills
have excited the admiration Of all
who love the grand and beautiful.
While the commission believes that
this anniversary should be celebrated
primarily because of Its historic i'm
portance We cannot ignore the fact
that its observance will afford the best
possible opportunity to make known
the great natural advantages OF Yer
mont.
The State of New York has appro-
prited the sum OF flfty thousand dol
lars for the Champlain celebration and
there Is a strong probability that an
additional appropriation may be made
1t Is also confidently expected that
Congress, during the next session, will
make an appropriation for tho enter
tainment OF representatives of the
governments of France. Great Britain
and the Dominion OF Canada together
with the President of the United
States and such ether officials of our
own government as may properly be
invited on such an occasion.
Practically the only historic celebra-
ton TO which Vermont has contributed
by an appropriation In more than a
century and quarter of existence as
an Independent commonwealth, is the
anniversary of the battle Of Benning-
ton and the erection Of monument in
connection herewith.
We therefore recommend that the
General Assembly appropriate a sum
is certainly desirable that thts important
event be celebrated In n fitting manner
by the people of this State.
From time immemorial the observance
OF times and events has been found
desirable and in the truest sense profit.
able Those States and nations that
of money sufficient to enable the State
Of Vermont in cooperation with the
State of New York to carry out the
proposed tercentenary celebration in
"A dignifed and fitting manner. avoid