Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-10-17
WAR HAS IT'S BENEFITS.
Impossible to ignore Them, Professor
Emerson Tells Daughters Of 1919.


Montpelier, Oct. 1S-Fully 900 people at
tended the exercises in the State House
yesterday afternoon when the Vermont
Society, United States Daughters of 1912.
observed the centennial of the great war
meeting of october 49, 1872
Mrs. c. II. Spooner of Mortified pre-
sided and the Rev. s. F. Bloomfield of
Bethany Congregational Church offered
prayer in the absence Of DR.. John NJ
Thomas. Governor A. NJ. Fletcher was
unable to be present because of illness
Mayor j. b. Estee gave the address of
welcome.
A happy incident was the presentation
by Mrs F. Blodgett Of this city, great
granddaughter of Col. Luther Dixon, to
Colonel Luther Dixon CHAPTER of n hand.
some silk flag
Dr. Guy Potter Benton of the 1Jnivers,tv
Of Vermont was represented by Prof. q.
f. Emerson of the faculty, who said in
| part:
In these days war Is discrcdited The
war spirit rests under stigma. It re-
qures no little courage t, appear in de-
Tense of military budgets and naval ar-
preparation. Yet it is impossible to shut
ones eyes to the benefits of war
I'm the scheme of things war is that
extraordinary and super-organic force
which accelerates natural processes and
achieves in Il brief period esults which
in the normal course Of events might &C.
cupy centuries. War Is great social
precipitator. The goal may not have been
attained but to have set 1t forth as the
ultimate objective is OF greatest i'm
portance for conscious development.
| 10 Of A
had for It's goal American independence.
| 1t would have come doubtless perhaps
reaceably, but only after an indefinite
| period. Oppression and concession might
have reproduced in the colonies the un-
wholesome temper of ireland and fettered
national resources in their development
Gs those of that country have been fet
tered.
War foreshortens chronological per-
speCtve 1t quickens the pace Of the
marching races. 1t releases latent social
agencies of marvellous possibilities 1t is
a social explosive, dangerous. but useful.
War is destructive. 1t appeals to force
rather than to reason. 1t extols the brute
in man. That must be admitted. War is
capable of great destruction. Dynamite
may be used to blow up a printing press
or open copper mines. so may art and
literature he perverted to the viest uses
The brute in man may be trained to fol-
low the highest spiritual development
Are there not social developments which
ought to be destroyed and upon the de-
struction of which progress depends?
"Can the most representative social
reformer regret the destruction of the
Spanish Armada or the French fleet at
Trafalgar. War is no less constructive.
1t stimulates the organizing capacity OF
the race to extraordinary degree. II
government by discussion il the crown
ing glory of the modern state, we must
, and primitive applause was the crash
of spears. War has n noble mission of
, gov ernmental organization. It unifies
, the people, without which unity the
, bonds of law are like ropes of sand
"Thc war of 1872 Is regarded by many
as an occasion for apology. 1t did not
extend our possessions by foot and
placed upon us a heavy debt. That truth
, full appraisal is not just, however Wal
, disclosed to ourselves our distinctly.
capabilities and significant limitations
1t sobcred us and exploded visions OF
conquest. 1t brought to recognition tn,
necessity OF a strong central govern
ment, the exponent of an expanding
social aspiration of a people sinsularlA
fitted to advance society"