The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-06-19
BENNINGTON

While the official celebration of the
l5Oth anniversary of the settlement
of Bennington will not take place I'M
til August, the actual birthday of the
town occurred on Sunday June IS.
On Saturday the town completed its
first century and a half of history
and on Sunday entered on a new
period of life and activity.
The Banner needs not to expend
any great amount of time and space
in referring to the past. We all
know the glorious character of Ben
nington history and are glad that
our lot has fallen in so fair a place
and that our heritage from history
has been so inspiring.
No town in America was settled by
holder or sturdier group of citizens.
They may not have had all the deli
cacies of refinement of which the peo-
pie of today boast but none were
Drawer, more earnest or more patrio-
tic. They founded here a town that
through its own strength and virility
took the leading place in the contest
with New York and also in the for
nation of the new state of Vermont
which for fourteen years maintained
its independence until in 1871 it be-
came free commonwealth in the
sisterhood of states.
II is fair to presume that had 1t not
been for the sturdy men of Benning
ton there would be no Vermont to-
day. 1t is a matter of history that at
one time the representative from a
majority OF the Vermont towns were
on the point of dividing the state
between New Hampshire and New
York along the line of the Green
Moutain range, when a self appoint
ed committee led by men from Ben
nington descended on the convention
and fairly bulldozed it into reversing
its decision. The history of the state
of Vermont is full of incidents in
which the citizens Of Bennington
have led in patriotic fervor and de-
votion to the interests Of Vermont
It is a wonderful record and one
which the sons and daughters of
Bennington should cherish and main
tain, and transmit without spot or
stain to the generations yet to come.
And it is of the future of Benning-
ton that The Banner desires more
particularly to speak. It seems trite
and tame to repeat that the future is
what we make it, but of town and
community no truth is more impor-
tant. Bennington is fortunately
situated, close to main lines of
travel and surrounded by natural
beauty and advantage excelled by no
other town in Vermont 1t is
clean town with high moral and bust
ness standards. 1t has wealth and
standing equalled by few towns OF its
size.
Its future depends on the enthusi-
asm and public spirit with which To-
cal and state problems are
solver. Vermont is ultra con-
servative. This is no dis
grace for it cannot be otherwise
when thought is had of the tremend-
GUS losses the state has sustained
through the emigration of its young
active and ambitious people, but 1t
puts upon US a responsibility to seek
to overcome the handicap. Every
particle of progress which the world
has ever made has come through hav-
ing the courage to try new things
and to hold on to and support those
which prove good.
The danger that comfronts Ben
nington and the state of Vermont to-
day is the danger of over timidity,
we shall never 20 ahead unless we
dare 70 try. Our ancestors dared to
break away from the old settlements
and came up here into the wilderness
and through their daring and indus
try built up town and a state OF
glorious history and noble achieve
ment. We have inherited their lands,
their homes, their freedom--their
very names. Are we ready to admit
that we have not inherited their
courage their patriotism and their
determination to progress?
God gave all men all earth to love
But since our hearts are small,
Ordained to each one spot should
prove
Beloved over all"