The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-04-30
THE sATTLs OF PlArTssUReH
Plans Ger cslebration Ct the iooth
AnnisersaV

Plans for the celebration o. the leoih
anniversary Of the Battle Of PiAtts-
burgh. scheduled 10 take place Al
Platisburgh on lake Champlain on
September eli. are nearing compile
ton.
Now that the state has made its az
preparation OF Sl25.eoo and the
pros poets OF n liberal appropriation
f-om the federal government are
brifht. the Plaitshurgh Centenary
Commission. which has charge OF the
a -raneements. feels justified In out
lining It's plans on a definite scale In
keeping with the importance OF the
event.
This battle has been described by
historians as "one OF the most decis-
i've in the war 1879" and as -un.
doubtodly the greatest naval battle
of the var. The commission feels
that Il should be celebrated in a man
ner which viii M once be- an inspi--
alton 20 patriotism and a fitting hon
or 10 the memory OF the brave men.
sho. under the spendid leadership
OF Commodore Thomas Macdonough
on water and Gen. Alexander Ma
ccmb on land. won for the United
states a permanent place in history
as world-poWe- and al the same
time contributed to that complete in
ternational comfy which has made
possible a century OF peace among
English speaking peoples.
The members OF the commission
have entered into tie work with
spirit and fervor and hope to lead IN
promoting popular enthusiasm.
While the dc-ails OF the program
have yet TO be wo-ked out the gen
oral plan is TO have a six days cele-
bration. starting on sunday. Septem-
her 9. and ending on Friday evening
September II. the actual date OF The
battle
ON Sunday appropriate religious
services will be held In the various
churches Of Plattsbursh. and at the
Catholic summer school at Cln Ha-
ven. Distinguished chu-chmen OF
the various denominations will
preach and such other cognizarce
taken OF the event as will be suit
able to the day.
Il Is especially fitting that the cele
bration should start on Sunday be-
cause the battle itself was fought on
q Sunday morning and the hero OF
,he engagement. Commodore Thomas
Macdonough himself was deeply re.
ligious. Before the battle he knelt
on the deck OF his flagship and pray
cd with his men for Divine protec-
ton and guidance; after the battle
he pc formed the offices OF the dead
in manner which showed his de-
yout nature. Even in his message
to the secretary OF the navy he gave
the credit TO the. Supreme One by
saying; The Almighty has been
pleased to grant US a signal victory.
etc"
Monday. September :. being Labor
day, will be given over to the hosts
OF labor. the heroes OF peace. who
will mark the event with appropriate
ceremonies, with parades. speeches.
etc. Samuel Gompers. john Mitchell.
and other labor leaders have been
invited and viii make the principal
orations.
Tuesday. September S. the commits.
sion hopes to visit ve.gennes. to as.
sist the Vermont commission in oele.
braiing the battle on that side OF the
lake. At Nergennes the ships wlich
swept the British invaders from The
lake were built.
Wednesday and Thursday. Septom.
Der 9--lO. will be devoted to his .ori
cal pageants under the expert super.
vision OF Miss Marga ct MacLaron
Eager and Miss Elsie Eager. her
niece, and Chairman Goldsmith of
the pageant committee. The Misses
Eager have been slngularly success
full in this kind of work and the pa.
geant bids fair 20 be historically cor.
rect and intensely interesting. II is
hoped also to devote one or moe af-
tcrnoons to the Clinton county fair
| WHICH W III ltclA ut III DiOS4tSo anu
az which Secretary Houston of the
United States agricultural depart
ment. is expected to make an adj
dress. The pageant will probably be
given on the parade ground Of the
Plattsburgh Barracks overlooking
the lake. the site of the beautiful
and memorable tercentenary exercis
es in July, 1909.
Friday, the actual date OF the bat
ties music, TO oratory. etc, ending
with banquet and fireworks display
in the evening.
At this dinner il is hoped to have
President Wilson and his cabinet
present. Former Presidents Taft
and Roosevelts have been invited
and Gov Glynn of New York, and
the governors of Vermont and Con
necticut will probably attend and al
will respond to toasts. or make pub
! lie addresses during the day.
The commission was clothed by
the act creating it with power anC
| dufN bv iiCaff in ffNr