The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1916-07-27

The currents Of the lives Of men,
The blood that left the Common Heart
Shall leap with common pulse
again"
II has been well said that for the
first hundred years Of our history the
emphasis was laid on freedom--here-
after it shall be laid on unity. And
80 Freedom and Unity" the great
legend on our shield, is both history
and prophecy, We shall be united in
the years TO come as we never were
before; and out Of common counsels
shall come better law, and better ad-
ministration Of the law. We want the
best wherever we can find or borrow
il. In our courts we want the simpl-
est forms Of procedure consistent with
the preservation of legal rights, the
speediest trials that fairness can per-
nit, and the promptest decisions, pro-
ivded only and always that they be
well weighed We hope to put an end
to frivolous appeals and to the grant
ing Of new trials where the result was
right before. We mean TO make it
possible for the poorest suitor to have
his case tried by competent counsel,
even If in such cases, 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.
To do all this we must have our
ablest men in 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
go, but those the nation will have
need Of in the trying days at hand.
For what Vermont needs--is not that
also what the nation needs? And this
above all, reawakening of our old
ideals of courage, self-denial and hero
ic fortitude. Lowell was right:
"That is best blood that has most
iron in it,"
And if America is to be saved out
Of the thickening perils that surround
her, it will be because, in spite of all
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,
"All in robe of richest grain
Flowing with majestic train"
and wearing round her jewelled throat
he treasures of an empire. Another
you might paint as Ceres, gazing with
,ontented eyes upon the bundled gold
If her interminable harvest. One
,an think of would appear as Vulcan,
welding his thunderous hammers
.mong the lightnings from his fiaring
'orges. And still another might be
ihown as Hermes, with winged heels
.eady to run the errands of the world.
But Vermont-you must paint her as
in oread,-her footsteps on the crags,
Ter green scarf swapping in the north
Wind, and all the stars of winter in her
yesl That, and much more than that,
must have been in Aliens mind when
Ie exclaimed, "The gods of the valleys
re not the gods of the hills"
Fellow Vermonters, at the close OF
his day that has awakened in all our
carts heroic memories and inspiring
opes, may | not propose something
hat may be called pledge? Let US
Ii stand and take it together;-
To Vermont-New England of New
,ngland-child Of tho Puritan, expos
d on the mountains, dandled by dan
er and sinewed ny adversely ,
'renching independence from the ;
ands of her oppressors-fourteen
ears republic in her own strong
ight against cruel odds--frst state
Omitted by the Union, giving the
Tnion without stint of her blood and !,
{ her .tore-clear and cool in council,
catamount in action-equally devoted !;
, liberty and to law; to her we give ,
new the pledge that was given by the
lthers, "Our lives, our fortunes, and
ur sacred honor" to make her future
5 glorious as her past. II
->>~---------- &