Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-05-08

up 10y the roots The world has few true
radicals; posterty calls them prophets.
our problem is to distinguish radical
ism in the present day. Applying rad-
Calism to the student, he noted that ne
enters college with many of his habits
FIRMLY rooted with a certain fixed sub
stratum of character. There is danger in
ths. Instead of being merely guided by
his accustomed mental attitude, he is IL
able to stick to it. He must take more
than passive interest in his studies.
Often it happens that in his reading Re
is awakened by certain radical phrases.
Henry George and George Bernard Shaw.
70" instance may arouse one to real =
cation that the present order is not neces-
sarily the best or final order of things
Sucl a contact with the keen radical
thinkers of the day serves to break IN
our prejudices.
England Is fine example, as ilustrat-
Ing the value of the radical spirit in
undergraduate life. oxford in particular
has nursed many radical young men, and
has ever been regarded as ruling force
in the English nation. Although many
Oxford graduates later became conserva-
int" them n spirit which modified their
| later viewpoint. 1t must be noted, how.
| ever, that radicalism is not mere desl-e
FOR change and novelty. True radicaiis,n
Is the advance guard of civilization. Its
voice we must ever be ready to heed.
ELOQUENT SPEECH BY JUDGE
| POWERS
| The orator of tho DAY was .Judp,
George NJ. Powers, S. OF M,rrisville
lie spoke of Ira Allen the early IN
| flIences which moulded his character
and his work in establishing a Stat,
educational policy; he then discussed tn,
obligations of colege-trained men +,
| their commonwealth, BY way of I'm
PRODUCTION he asserted that IT was moth
ing less than an Inspiration that cam,
10 Professor Goodrich when he proposed
such commemoration as Founders dav
NO day in the university calendar /,
more full OF significance to the reflective
mind 1t is profitable for us all to pause
on the anniversary of Aliens birth and
give our attention to the man who
is chiefly responsible for founding the
college,-Ira Allen. the scholar, soldier
statesman, and diplomat
Judge Powers then traced the in.
nuences which entered into the composi.
ton of the State. Men of extremely
liberal ideas came to the New Hamp.
shire Grants from other New Engla nd
states, Some migrated from Massachu.
setts where spirit OF dissenson had
sfven them strong prejudces against
the executive and judiciary From Con.
N a
tached to a very liberal government in.
GLIDING the Aliens, the Chittendens, and
the Chpmans Many separatists sought
religious freedom here. and some cam,
from Rhode Island where they imb!bet
radical ideas Of democracy and In
dlvldual liberty.
Physical influences mould character
A man reared in excitement will be NOR,
keen than one reared in quiet. mar
tends to become like his surrounding.
IN temperament and character. Ira Aller
grew up among surroundings that were
specially favorable TO the development
OF strength of character and love OF
liberty.
1t seems very probable from ali the
evidence that Ira Allen attended the
convention at Windsor and had an influ-
entail part in the framing of the first
constitution and in the deliberations Of
the convention. Here were laid the foui.-
dations OF our educational system. Pro-
vision was made for schools in every
town, for grammar schools, and for one
| State university. Some think that Allen
himself drew up these provisions In
| 1880 the first high school was chartered
| For some years there was discussion as
| to the location of the State university
| At first Bennington was considered II
was then the center OF culture, and citi.
zens began to subscribe for the college II
| ii should be located there. Williamstowr
was favored by one wealthy subscriber
In the Legislature of 1888 the matter OF
location was taken up Ira Allen being q
| prominent member. He favored Burling.
ton, and after some activity. was abb,
to offer $500 pounds If the college should
be located here. In 1871 the universit,
was chartered and It's location was fixed
| In Burlington, then an ambitious town OF
S2 people (applause). No larger benefit
ever fell upon this city This institution
Is her greatest and most valuable asset
Some question having been raised as t,
the original land grants to the univer
| sity, the Legislature OF 1902 conflrme,
| these grants, and removed all doubt TIL,
| charter of Middlebury in 1900 expressl,
| excluded these State land rights. From
| this time on the legislation of the Stat,
seems In the main to have strengthened
| the original policy of comprehensive
1 educational system. More recently ths