The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-02-14
private soldier.

private soldier.
So we start in our analysis OF this
resolution with the official declaration
f the supreme lawmaking body OF
he commonwealth that the governors
ecord as private soldier Is so con-
Ipicuously typical of that of thous-
lnds OF his comrades that his like
ness shall be chosen to perpetuate
he valor and sacrifice of the private
soldier for all time to come.
Is there anything in the war record
If the governor to single him out
lbove thousands of other private sold
ers from this state in the Civil war?
No The Messenger will do the gov
lrnor the justice to say that 1t does
not believe he thinks there is him
self. The Messenger believes the
governor is sensible enough to appre-
,iate the very plain fact that public
opinion would not pick out to typify
he private soldier Of the Rebellion,
my more than 1t would great many
,ther gallant heroes OF 81 that will
read these lines.
Very well. Now the obvious con-
clusion is that the governor was sug-
rested for this medallion simply be-
cause he was governor, and for no
other reason
The first query. then, is, whether
his selection is consistent with the
terms of the resolution itself, whether
the medallion is chosen to honor the
man as a private soldier for what he
accomplished in war. or whether II
is to honor a private soldier for what
he afterward accomplished in politics
Is II the war record or the political
record that gets the governors face
on the tablet?
The conclusion OF the resolutiondoeE
not consistently bear out its first de
clared intent.
Therefore, The Messenger argued
simply. that II men we're to be honor
cd on this tablet because, after ser
vice in war. they had been governor
OF the state, then all the governor
that had served in the war should b,
so honored. whether they served al
privates or major-generals.
The Messenger has not meant Il
direct its criticism OF this resolution
at the governor personally. II ha
no personal animus in the matte
whatever and is conscious OF the nj
most good faith when II says that
would offer the same objection OF an
other governor or any other man no
governor were to be chosen to repres
ent the private soldier OF the Civl
War on this tablet. Ii believes IA
living man should be represented 4
the medallion. II doubts II any dea
man should be represented there eitl
err II has In mind even as thes
words flow from the pen gallant DO
OF Washington county. who was real
ed on farm not so very far from tn
capitol where II is proposed to cree
his tablet, who was private soldie
In the War OF the Rebellion, who pc
formed more than one extra hazardou
feat OF bravery In battle when volur
teers we're called for and who flnall
gave his life for his country In on
Of the bloodiest battles OF the wa
IN sacrifice OF this private soldie
was greater hath no man done tina
this"
But his face will not appear in IN
medallion.
And this instance is only one
thousands.
Let the medallion represent an ide,
4 symbolical. head OF vermont's pri
ate soldier OF 81 and everybody wi
be satisfied, Let Il represent N
head OF any living man. and Il will M
reflect the true sentiment OF Vernon
people as The Messenger reads Il.
We must be careful how we han
lp memorials In our capitol by whlc
pun lusmnues eqi puulsIepun pr
conclusions OF our own time.-St. A
bans Messenger.