The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1909-10-28

) mont, as we'll as that OF our sister
= States, would not be properly re.
: sponded to, If the statue of Old Ethan
, Allen should be missed from our con-
: tribution. 1t may be said that we
have already done enough in this di-
rection by having placed one such
{ statue in the capitol of the State, but
! 1t should be remembered that that
must be mainly for the qualification
of our citizens, while the one now
J proposed is for the capitol of the ma
ton, for all it's citizens and for its
throng of visitors, whether drawn
thither by public inducements and
living attractions, or by the glories
of art, including not only perman-
ent structures, but such as we are
|, now inaugurating, of the best artists
of the age, and representing an as
semblage of historic persons Of
widest fame and most extraordinary
virtues.
The final extinction of slavery in
our land history will record as an
event of such magnitude as to mark
the age, and all those who have rend-
cred any prominent aid therein will
be remembered upon its most lumin-
Gus pages. We have had earnest
anti-slavery men in our State de-
serving our admiration, but hardly
those who could be considered as
reformers of our own people, or who
dreamed of any action beyond the
non-extension of slavery or the di-
vorcement of the government from
it's national responsibilities. The
universal principle of liberty, appli-
cable to all men, has been, and Is
now, so freely accepted here, that
an adherence to it's laws confers lit
tie more reputation than an adher-
ence to the laws of common honesty.
1t is no exceptional merit, though a
lack of it is a positive disgrace. 1t
would seem more appropriate that
those should confer honors upon the
memory of reformers, where re-
formers were needed, and where
such were singular, Here it can
hardly be claimed that any man has
been so conspicuously in advance of
the people of Vermont, as to be en-
titled thereby to very marked dis
tinction. One representative from am
ong the founders and Revolutionary
heroes of our State by no means ex-
! hausts the list, yet the reputation of
civilians and men of more modern
times-even of the days of recent
peril-have strong claims to our at
tention. Here scholars, jurists, ora
for recognition, and we are more
than ever embarrassed by our rich
es. If we could limit our survey to
any specially, as for instance to
those most illustrious in learning,
jurisprudence or craftsmanship, our
embarrassment would be largely
diminished; but we have to seek, if
possible, a combination of all these
! merits making up one full man. A
giant in intellect may not be pro-
foundly learned, may not be elo-
guent, may not have served the
State with any considerable distfnc-
ton, and, though his greatness IS
indfsputable, he could not be COM
pared with one who was both able
| rxytf1 xuh Js1c q
not only eloquent but had rendered
distinguished public service, much
less with one who embodied all
these qualifications in one character.
When contemplating our public
men, who have won fame in various
spheres of life, the eye fondly ling
ers over the memory of several
whose personal traits greatly en-
deared them to their generation, and
whose merits will not grow dim
though others are reverentially men
toned. To bring forward others
with kindred characteristics is in
fact to reflect honor upon them.
The late Senator ColIamer has left
so many records of service in the
various walks of life that it is i'm
possible he should be overlooked
He was blessed with health, a fine
constitution and length of days. Pos
sessing a vigorous intellect, trained
, in schools and in his profession, he
, was able to adapt himself to varied
. employments and was held long II
>, prominent service, State and Ma
g tional. Whether at the bar or on thu
bench, in the State Legislature or IL
the Federal House of Representa-
. tives, whether in the Cabinet or II
q the Senate of the United States, h
-, never failed to acquit himself witt
: signal ability and fidelity,-such a
9 to cause him to be remembered witt
!. honor in all these places which h
q successfully filled. In the Cabine
! and in the Senate he proved rip
II statesman, and enjoyed very larg
= share of national confidence, ceI
:. tainly as much as any of his con
J. temporaries, and, remembering VIII
ia they were, this is no moderate CON
~ mendation.
h If he essayed no dazzling noveltie
" to surprise and captivate the tow
"a he could always be relied upon fe