The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-07-24
THE SPIRIT OF VERMONT
Address of Judge Wendell p Stafford Delivered at the
Annual Dinner of the Greater Vermont Association in
Montpelier July II

Freedom and Unity the great |
legend on our shield, is both history /
and prophecy. We shall be united III
the years to come as we never were be |
tore; and out of common counSelS shall !
come better law, and better. admins
tratlon of the law We want the best
wherever we can find or borrow it. In
our courts we want the simplest forms
OF procedure consistent with the pre-
scrvation of legal rights. the speediest
trials that fairness can permit, and the
promptest decisions, provided only and
always that they be well weighed. We
hope to put an end to frivolous appeals
and to the granting of new trials
where the result was right before. We
mean to make it possible for the poor
est suitor to have his case tried bv
! competent counsel, even if in such
eases, the state must provide a public
| prosecutor; and we mean to make it
| impossible for the richest litigant to
tire his adversary out and rob him by
| delay.
70 do all this we must have our
ablest men III office, not only to make
| but also to interpret and execute the
laws. And we shall send to Washing
ton not necessarily those who wish TO
90. but those the nation will have need
of in the trying days at hand For
what Vermont nceds-is not that also
what the nation needs! And this above
all, Il rcawakening of our old ideals of
courage, seltdcnial and heroic forti-
tude, Lowell was right:
THAT is best blood that has most iron
in it.
And if America is to he saved out of
the thickening perils that surround her,
it will be because, in spite of all ap-
pearanccs, she does still carry in her
bosom the spirit of Vermont
The spirit of Vermont is the spirit
of the mountains, hardy, bold and free.
/; Another state might be painted as a
) Juno,
"An in robe of richest grain
Flowing with majestic train. -
and wearing round her iewelled throat
= the treasures Of an empire Another
You might paint rs Ceres, gazing with
coutcntcd eyes upon the bundled gold
of her interminablc harvest. One | ear
think of would appear as Vulcan
welding his thndcrous hammer.
4 among the Iightnings from his tlarinl
: FORCES. And still another might b,
- shown as IIcr2cs, with winged heel
ready TO run the crrands of the world
r Rut Ncrmont-vou must paint her a
b an oread-her footsteps on the cragS
r her green scarf Swapping in the nortl
a wind, and All the stars Of winter il
9 her eyes, That, and much more than
5 that, must have been IN Allen s mint
b when he exclaimed, ''The gods of tn
q valley are not the gods of the hills, =
T. Fellow Nermonters, ut the close o
i this day that has awakened in all on
n hearts heroic memories and inspirin,
n hopes, may | not propose somethin.
that may be called a pledge! Let u
g all stand and take it together:
" To Nermont-New England of Ne,
1 England-child Of the Puritan. expose,
a on the mountains, handled by lance
d ahd slucWcd hy advcrsitv-wrenehin
$ independence from the hands of he
n opPressors- fourteen years a republi
I IN her own strong right against cruC
c odds-iirst state admitted by tn
union, giving to the union withou
e stint of her blood and Of her store -
r clear and cool in council. II catamoun
y in action-equallv devoted to libcrt
h and to law; 10 her sc give anew tn
r pledge that was given by the father.
"Onr lives. our fortunes. and our $;
e red honor to make her futr~e q
t, glorious as her past.