The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-07-24

depends upon the state.
Men are hardly entitled to he proud of
their state, as some appear to think,
lust because il is thcirs-lust because
il produced them. OF course a man
should he devoted to his state. A man
should hc devoted to his parcats, be
cause nc is their son; but whether he
may be proud of them depends on
other things. Every state, | suppose,
has something to be proud Of. To the
ma king Of each there went some tolling !
courage, some devotion to high prin-
ciplc some cheerful sacrifice for those
that should come after; and of these |
men should be proud. But whca we |
speak with pride of territory and popu- |
lation, overlooking hurvests, exhaust !
less mines. luxurious cities, we talk |
like children, who are proud of clothes |
and TOYS.
What Vermont has contributed to
the upbuiIding of the nation has been
"a favoritc theme. Figures have been
arraycd to prove that out of all pro
portion TO her size and wealth she has
had her hand in business, in war, in
studies aud professions, in making and
execution of the laws. Her vigorous
blood has made its pulse felt through
all the arteries of the republic: and it
is there YOU must look to find the
greater Vermont in our first century
and a quarter of statehood. We would
not have had il otherwise. And vet we
cannot help wondering what Vermont
would have been like if all this energy
aud intelligence had been kept at
home Some loss there might have
been some never would have come to
their full stature here for lack of OBJ
portunity. And here at home struggle
for survival, Yankee against Yankee.
would have been fierce indeed. But
when all allowances have been made,
who can doubt that we should have
seen here q development to challenge
the attention of the world! Something
like that is what we dream of for the
future. The cry is no longer. West
ward IlO! but Vermont for Vermont
crs. Earnest men are saving, " Here he
tween the Bay state and the province,
between the long, bright river and
azure lake we will build a greater
| Vermont. -
Greater in what? That is the ques-
| tion to be asked and answered when
| ever we are met as we are now. Great
! cr of course, in a fuller development
! of all her natural resources. We mean
| that every mine ,bould Give nm it,
! treasures. every ouarr,- or,,n it, nrip,c
| val corridors to the sun; that every
! sleeping giant in our unused water
| course shall hc awakened and put to
work. onr forest. shall he fondoa. AM.
! fields shall be fed. that they in turn
may feed the coming generations. We
mean to be husbands and not ravishers
of the land that her fruitful ,-on,L
NAV never know strrilitv, ANA we
mean TO make this labor 50 ATTRACTIVE
that the children will not he bIrnd
| away. as the fathers were. bnt turn
! with caocr evcs Ana hands ~ H. raalrn
around their doors.
We mean to knit aud lace the statc
| together with the best roadwavs in The
worId-roads that fanI lilo ,aI,at md
stand like ada.nont ana lool, rLn -
rich brown ribbon in the shade aud
sun. And over these shall come seeker.
many IanJsrano. Tho cncbsnto5 dranc,I,t
that makes Tho ra,cr rag+lasg MIL ~
can return
We moan to orord With in,1o,. cor,
scenery. Hero is tbat La.,nt,. that ,,..t
he iov forever IIorn l. that ,,.oaItj
that can never Inc srrnt Luf L,- a,,,
own stunidity
to ,ual,n nnr NH. scbnlI ,l.,,, ,,rf.'..+
from tbo lowest to +ho Liotnst rn,,nd
. ladder whose foot sbaI1 ros+ Wv ~,
doorsiIl Of tbe bnmbIrst rotta1e Will,
And. better sim wo moan 70 ru+ n,
whole community ia school Inv = new
application of the old prinrinle of do
/, nocracv. q moro comnleto fnIGlImon
ucighborhood shall be '' riv i""' center enter