Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-07-20
y membership at the business

orary membership at the business
session
| ton with the artillery of which he
was a member. accomplished Turning
of the work which they, in coniunc-
ders batter than whom have never
| yet bern heard of. The Vermont sol.
Colonel Cowan, in responding, dwelt
upon the service of the old Vermont
brigades which were made IN of SOL
President Benton said that while
the present contest beyond the seas
has eclipsed every other international
conflict since men began to struggle
with men for International supremacy,
it will nevertheless be admitted bv the
impartial student of history that our war
between the States need not thereby
be minimized in the extent OF its on
eventualities. In this war. under the
impetus of the inspiration given by
the founder of your efficient orRaniza
ton, the Army of the Potomac made
a record of solderly achievement that
VIII challenge the admiration of in.
ltelligent patriots throughout the eter.
nal aeons We who belong to later
generation rejoice to honor Won and
your comrades who have crossed over
the river to await your coming on the
other side. A half century ago Yer
mont gave larger quota of soldiers
to the Union Army in proportion to its
population than any other of the loyal
states. In the hour of national peril
the University of Vermont. that his
toric institution which found its origin
one hundred and twenty-five years
ago. coincident with the admission Of
Vermont as the fourteenth State Of
the Union, has never been found want
ing in it's offering of men
President Benton then spoke of the
departure Of the university COMPANY
for the border a few weeks ago and
referred to his attendance Last week
upon the annual meeting of the Ma
tional Education association. the lar
gest organization of teachers on this
continent where addresses were made
by william J. Bryan. General Leonard
Wood and former President william
n. Taft, who might he considered rep
resentatlVes of the three groups into
which the people of this country are
divided. the pacificists. the militarists
and at the golden mean between the
two extremes. those we'll balanced
men and women of unquestoned pa
triotism. anxious for the maximum Of
preparedness consistent with our ira
lditional conceptions of the United
states as "a peace-loving nation"
When the members Of the association
gathered to, debate the resolutions which
were designed to represent the attitude
of the teachers Of the country toward
N ha 10
committee report which recognized the
right of governmental authorities to in
troduce military training in the public
phasized the principle that the educa-
tonal ideal should be given precedence
In public school work, was overwhelming-
ly adopted.
President Benton then argued that.
Notwithstanding the horrors of the
gigantic struggle now going on in Eu-
rope, civilization has not been set back.
In this country, where We have made
more rapid advancement than in any
other place on earth. it is the part Of
wise precaution for us, with faith in the
ultimate triumph Of righteousness to
safeguard our borders from the attacks
OF nations that have not yet attained
to our ideals. 1t would be sheer folly
for us to assume that We shall never
be called upon to defend ourselves. On
the assumption that defense may be
necessary, It Is the part of wisdom for
US, without running to the mad extreme.
to prepare ourselves for attack against
the coming of the day when universal
disarmament will make war impossible
The United States of America should
not prepare for war In order to con-
quer other nations, Without any ex-
pectation of national aggrandizement
though, We are justified in making sane
preparation to defend our national
integrity and the rights of all our citi-
zens, from the humbest to the most
exalted.
President Benton closed an eloquent
peroration with thes words THE best
greeting we can give you. the most
comforting assurance We can offer you
soldiers of the republic. is our covenant
to set before the citizens of tomorrow
the flaming ideal of faith in a Christian
democracy that 1t is to make every man
regarding of his neighbors' rights and
that will keep forever burning upon
affairs erected to the worship Of God and
the service of men the sacrihcial fires
of true patriotism
The poetess was Miss Theodore
Peck of this city. Miss Peck was
made an honorary member of the So
ciety Of the Army Of the Potomac at
Utica. ~ V. in 1901. where. as the
poetess. she read her original poem.
The Bivouac." At that time she was
presented with a medal of the society
! and when she was conducted to the
stage yesterday afternoon to read her
poem, THE Soul of Gettysburg" she
was presented with another medal
which was voted at the business meet
ing in the morning. The presentation
was made by General King on behalf
of the members of the society and the
medal was pinned on Miss Peck $
dress by Mrs. King. She read her
classic and stirring poem in clear
voice and received hearty applause.
At its conclusion she was presented
with two arm bouquets of roses. The
poem follows;
THE SOUL OF GETTYSBURG.
(Ry Theodore Agnes Peck)
o men of Gettysburg and Bunker HILL
OF Yorktown and Antietam. even vet
Our hearts re-echo 10 that patriot thrill .
Upon your brows the el-wreath is
set
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