Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-07-23


manity were put In force against the
perpetrators OF cruelty.
For it's participants the conflict had
its hardships, its sacrifices, its tears-and
It's victories To the nation 1t brought
compensation in great and far-reachins
results. It changed the map Of the world
and gave this nation a more respected and
honored place among the great powers
Of the earth.
It united our country as It had not
been united since the foundation of the
republic
It is an inspiring truth that not since
the days when Bunker Hill and York
town were Redeemed with the mingled
blood OF Puritan and Cavalier; not since
the time when Gen. George Washington
OF Virginia and Alexander Hamiltou OF
New York stood side by side in the con-
stitution convention-have the people OF
the North and the people Of the South
been hand IN hand and heart TO heart as
now.
The war oblterated sectionalism; the
Lees, the Wheelers the Buffers Of the
South shared the camp and drew sword
with the Miles, the Skaters and the
Roosevelts Of the North And the laurels
Of victory won-and CALAMITY won-in
the eyes OF the whole world wreathed the
brows Of Schley of Maryland and Dewey
of Vermont.
out Of this war grow the organization
Of United Spanish War Veterans found
ed upon the ennobling principles of free
dom. patriotism and humanity.
! Every camp is university for the
preparation and graduation of ideal citi-
2ons 4 patriot Is one who serves his
, country because he loves her-an ideal
citizen IL a patriot in the way and walks
/ Of peace. What Is the meaning OF pa
trotism? Love of country. What is this
country We love? Is It the land itself?
We are proud Of our vast domain. OF
the grandure Of our mountains, the beauty
Of our lakes the vastness of our prair-
ies-but is that our country? Is It the
home? Is 1t the place where you were
born? Is It the room where your mother
lured you to sleep with the cradle song?
Is that our country? Is It the people?
Does the patriot make the sacrifice for
an individual? Did you ever look upon
a vast assembly and feel the thrill that
quickens your pulses as when you look
upon the flag?
NO IL is not lNH larl, the nome, nor
the people--it is a sublime creation of the
heart and mind It is an idea-or better
still 1t Is an ideal. 1t is an ideal mother
of millions of living sons.
Men of Imagination have striven to
make this real TO US. Sculptors have
loved to chsel her in marble, or cast her
I'm bronze; poets have sung of her; music
has breathed OF her; orators have in
voked her; until although we have rever
touched her robe, nor looked into her
eyes. we have heard her voice, and she
has become a real and living presence to
everyone of us.
Did YOU ever stop to think how
much has gone to make up the inspir-
ing conception? Why. all of her past
is in It.
The Drawing of unmapped seas, the
perils OF the pioneer, all the great
deeds. all the noble sacrifices of her
creation. All the pure, generous lives
that have been lived, the lives and
deaths OF the millions gone-all these
have blended to give beauty and gran
deur to the idea that fills our minds.
when we say our Country"
We think of what she has stood for
before the world-for liberty. for JUS
tice, for equality between man and
man,-for the universal brotherhood
of man.
We think of her great achievements:
'"7' o'' me io' e'sH Sohe'
. yum. = e"'
' Gu 0Aoo's lux
n,.a nn W." oes'
"'Ntu Wv ''"7'e e.a'
pN- D'"N''4u VI Da'''ie' anu tnei'
1"'' now III '"eSe later uays'
sue 'eVa'''e the champion Oh an ops
p'eN'e peopie' no" She put an eho
10 spanish tyranny ana proudly
cialiheu new pace among the ma
lions ANA then we think or all wa
nope ana believe II yet to oe-we min
gle the golden frult OF the past with
the flowers OF hope of the future
All this we see and mean when wa
say, our Country"
, 1t was some such splendid vision
p Nathan Hale had before his eyes
, when as he stood with his hands
= ed he lifted up his face and exclaimed.