The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-07-22
THE SPIRIT
OF VERMONT
Address Of Judge Wendell Phillips Stat
ford az the Annual Dinner OF the
Greater Vermont Association
in Montpelier July ~.

/ SNsF -
state pride may he a wholesome senti.
ment-that depends upon the state. Men
are hardly entitled TO be proud Of their
state, as some appear to think, just be-
cause Il is theirs-iust because il pro-
dueed them. OF course man should be
devoted 10 his state. 4 man should be
devoted 10 his parents, because lie il
their SOM but whether he may be proud
Of them depends on other things. Every
state, ! suppose, has something 10 be
proud Of, To the making Of each there
went some toiling courage some devotion
20 high principle, some cheerful sacrifice
for those that should come after, and OF
these men should be proud, But when
we speak with pride OF territory and
population, overlooking harvests, ex.
haustless mines, luxurious cities, we talk
like children, who are proud Of clothes
and toys.
What Vermont has contributed TO the
upbulding of the nation has been a IN.
vorite theme. Figures have been ar
rayed to prove that out OF all proportion
10 her size and wealth she has had her
hand in business, in war. in studies and
professions, in the making and execu
ton OF the laws. Her vigorous blood
has made its pulse felt through all the
arteries of the republic; and il is there
YOU must look 90 find the greater Yer
mont in our first century and 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 and intelli-
gence had been kept at home. Some loss
there might have been. Some never
would have come 20 their full stature
here for lack of opportunity. 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 development to /
challenge the attention of the world [
like that is what we dream \
of for the future The cry is no longer,
Westward Ho! but Vermont for Yer
Earnest men are saying, Here .
between 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
ion to be asked and answered whenever
we are met as we are now. Greater, OF
curse. in fuller development Of all her
resources. We mean that every
nine should give up its treasure, every
quarry open its primeval corridors TO the
sun; that every sleeping giant in our
unused water courses shall be wakened
md put to work; our forests shall be
ended our fields shall be fed, that they ]
n turn may feed the coming generations.
We mean to be husbands and not raw
shers of the land, that her fruitful
Womb may never know sterillty. And
ye mean to make this labor 50 attractive
hat the children will not be lured away I
S the fathers were, but turn with eager
yes and hands to the realm around q
heir doors. t
We mean to knit and lace the state to-
ether with the best roadways in the {
that feel like velvet and d.
tand like adamant, and look like a rich J
rown ribbon in the shade and sun. And
yer these shall come seekers of health
nd beauty, drinking in from many land
pes the enchanted draught that makes
he gazer restless until he can return a
We mean to guard with jealous care t
be nobility and freshness OF our scenery. II