Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-09-10
VERGENNES PAYS
TRIBUTE TO LAKE
HERO MACDONOUGH

Nergennes, Sept. 6.-The Macdonougf
memorial celebration opened here to-day
Macdonough memorial services were held
IN the morning at all the churches ano
were very largely attended.
At two o'clock there was n band con.
cert at city park and at 2:3o memorial
mass meeting was held In the park with
prayer by the Rev. r. g. Woodbridge
official greeting by Mayor ]. A. Harring-
ton; music, Hail Gentle Peace" by a
chorus of 100 voices under direction of
Miss Effie Stewart, New York
The Hon. Rodney Nlcdonough of Bos-
ton grandson of Commodore Ma
donough, delivered a mastery and inter
esting historical address on his grand
rather. America the Beautiful" was
rendered in an artistic manner by the
chorus. The address OF the afternoon
was given by William P. Dillingham;,
United States senator from Vermont.
Senator Dilinghams theme was the
development of national spirit. On an
occasion of this character said he, when
We are met to commemorate the valor
and the commanding ability of a great
figure in the military and naval annals
of our country It Is well to remember
that each individual achievement is a
contribution to that record of the pro-
gress of mankind In civilization which
has marked the progress of the world
since the period of the dark ages and no
greater tribute can be paid to Commo-
dore Ma cdonough than to say the VIC
tory he achieved in Plattsburgh bay, on
that memorable day, just century ago
helped in a conspicuous degree to estab-
fish among the people of the United States
that sentiment of manifest destiny to i'm
perial greatness which has given every
one deterninate direction, and an ener-
Cetlc life.
In our desire to commemorate the
achievements of great commanders and
to give prominence to the bravery Of
the rank and file constituting our
army and our navy, we are prone to
overlook the Importance of battles, as
incidents in the great movements
among the moral and political forces
of society, which must necessarily af-
feet for good or evil countless millions
who are TO follow But to my mind,
In order to assure the value of
Commodore MacdonouRh's services,
and to define his proper place in his
tory, 1t is necessary to have some un-
derstanding Of the perils attending our
national life in the early years of its
history, and to consider the marked
effect resulting from the struggle in
which he was engaged and in which
mis- victory was the most commanding
incident in the firmer establishment
of our government and in the develop
ment among the people of a stronger
national pride and an earnest spirit of
progress. The speaker then described
the articles of confederation between
the colonies which is rightly termed
In the document itself a league Of
friendship and has been described by
most hstorious as a rope of sand. 1t
closing the speaker said:
The news of Macdonough's victory
reached London October 81. Its impor-
lance having been recognized and fully
set forth by wellington it created a pro-
found Impression upon the British govern
ment. So discoura ging were the condi-
tons that even before the new year was
entered upon a treaty of peace had
been negotiated between Great Brit
ain and the United States. in
spired by that spirit of natonalism which
before the war had been of such slow
growth, but which since the war had so
firmly been established upon that career
of development and power which has