Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-02-26
HIGHER EDUCATION
IN VERNON Mt.
Continued from pagc %.

we nave greater cause OF complaint
than any other. Our official representa-
tive has been Inundated and wrongfullv
punished. We as State have been in
suited. We have shown our opinion of
the law, but 1t IL the law, and we obev
Nor do we consider that the States as
states have any right to attempt to an
null statute duly enacted by Congress
The people alone, through their chosen
representatives. are empowered to up
hold or repeal"
Here again was made manifest a clear
conception of the principles underlying
our dual government, here again was in
dicated marvellous foresight of prob
lens which were bound to arise and did
arise, only to be determined by the
arbitrament Of the sword. How fitting it
was that, three years later when a Con-
gress had been elected to repeal the
obnoxious statute and the choice of q
President developed upon the House OF
Representatives, Vermont was enabled to
make that repeal certain by casting the
one deciding vote that sent Thomas
Jefferson to the White House instead OF
Aaron Burr.
VERMONT HAS NEVER lrALTERED.
IF :ime permitted, Instances of the
sagacity of the elder statesmen of Yer
mont might be adduced almost without
number. But # is not necessary. We
know that she has never fa,tered but
has invariably led the march OF progress.
enlightenment, Christianity. and peace
among men. And when she married the
Union she married Il Cor all time, and
when the great crisis came she gave FREQ
~ more sons in proportion than any other
State-almost 1.-THE of all her people.
Pitiable. indeed, must be the spirit
or one not proud to own such com
monwealth as his mother state Seat
ed high among the beautiful hills, she
still Keeps alight the torch of liberty
under the law. True as steel to the
Union she has proven. True may she
ever be! But 1t is not without a thrill
of exultation that we realize that the
flag under which we sit tonight is
her flag, the flag of the free and in
dependent Republic Of Vermont. adopt
ed by the same convention that abol-
ished slavery, the first flag made in all
the world that guaranteed universal
freedom. the flag that was maintained
Tor thirteen long years against odds
that might have dismayed the heroes
OF sparta. the flag untarnshed, its
blue and gold as pure as the CLEAN
ing snow which rests lovingly upon
the hills. the meadows, and the little
about which there cluster
memories so precious and so sacrej
that like the storied Zion to the He
brew singer Of old, her very dust to
us Is dear
NIX. EULlOTT DEFENDS THE RAIL |
ROADS.
howard Elliott presented the side of |
the railroads in a straightforward. sim
-ere manner. big. strong man. with
honesty written in every line OF his face.
ne began deliberately without ornament
Dr oratorcal effect, and plodded on with
strong speech which was entirely an
appeal to the sense Of fair play and the
business logic OF a hard situation. There
vas nothing of manufactured optimism |
loout his talk or of optimism of any
ana, nut every word spoke of confidence |
n ms Judgment and of unlimited de-
termination
Mr.. Powell. in introducing him, had
said that VIC had great sympathy for
lim in his difficult situation. Mr. Elliott
ook up these words with the remark
nat sympathy was good thng-at fu-
'erais' lie implied that support was
Nhat the situation demanded. He said
nat unless the people of New ENGLAND in
hese difficult times came forward with
heir support there was danger that wa
night have some railroad funerals 70
over
lie said that he thanked Mr. Vail and
'lr. Powell, both of whom invited him
lhu urged him to come. But he said
mere was another person to thank. He
AID mis- presence there was due also 10
ne encouragement of the United States.
o whom he had been compellcd TO te,e-
none an explanation of what he intend
"a to do. In these days, he said e. u,,s
impossible for railroad to move very
ar without consulting either the sttor. /.
ey-genera or the Interstate commerc.
commission Il
lie then proceeded to take up the oues
ions confronting Vermont WHY the neo-
lie mad left Vermont In such numbers
'hat they had done elsewhere what
hey could do here now and how grant
the country needed the qualities which
we're distinctively theirs He smoke of
ne conservatism and thrift which had
cen shown by Vermonters nt HOWE
M IN the newer States 10 which
'eN had gone to seek fortune He ,
'uched upon the value and thc dam
or or the immigrants who are norr-
X INTO this country, and Of the
eed that this lump should be leayenod !
theSc Vermont qualities I,
Mr.. Elliott was of the opinion that
lc rise in the price of lands which
al come with the filling of the West {
'ust surely mean an increased pros ,
Gritty for Vermont. lie took IN IN ,
etail the farming development which
thought should come in Vermont ,
hen he launched into the railroad sido .
the situation. .
There is no difficulty now In having
lie railroads of the country we'll req |
lated, according to Mr. Elliott. Tho ,
'aI difficulty, as he sees il. is in hay ,
g them kept able, under the present ,
EQUATIONS, to add the equipment and .
eep up the service necessary to give ,
lie people what they should have. Al ,
resent many of the railroads are at +,
standstill owing to "A compIexity OF
fuses ohwise management has ,
'obably contributed to this. The peo-
e who run railroads are human and
} make mistakes. But higher rates
interest are also compicating the
'oblem. The frightening of capital out :,
railroad Investments is also doing .
lrm Regulation is also somewhat to :