St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-05-30
MEMORIAL DAY inst. ].
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nation that it is" He took the audi
ence hack to the days when American
patriotism first made itself clear, tell
ing of our forefathers IN the revolu-
ton. and of Nathan Hale, a mere lad
of 81, when as he was about to be
hanged by the British, regretted the
fact that he had but one life to give
for his country. He said that it was
patriotism which caused Washington.
Lafayette, Green and Wayne with a
half-paid, half-fed, half-clothed army
to gain for us our Independence. He
next took up the war of 1912 giving
instances where patriotism had pre-
served the nation in it's salad days.
Mr.. Phelps took up the great pat
riotism which the men Of the sixties
displayed throughout the Civil War,
without which I'VE. today. would be
a disrupted and a divided nation
The speaker brought forth the point
that every war in which the United
of America had engaged in was just
war, and one fought to uphold some
great principle. He gave instances of
where other nations had gone to war
for commercial gain, and some to try
out the power of their armies. Mr..
Phelps said that such a war never had
been Americas. In 1916 it was good
government and independence we
were fighting for; in 1872 we fought
for the principle that the rights of
American citizens on the high seas
and in any other part of the world
must be up held; in the Civil War we
fought that the nation might live; in
1898 we fought to free 100000 Gu
bans from the barbarous rule of the
Spanish tyrants. with all these grand,
noble deeds of valor, bravery and pa
triotism, extending over nearly cen
fury and half" said Mr.. Phelps, "let
us never for one moment scorn this
idea of patriotism but rather let us
foster and cultivate it,
The speaker asked that we all show
our patriotism in this present great
national crisis by helping in every way
that the war may be brought to sue
cessful conclusion. He went on to give
details of the terrible expense of war
in the present day, and said that il
meant a sacrifice by every man, wo-
ried on successfully. Instances of the
wonderful sacrifices made by the peo-
pie in the Civil War were given by
the speaker. He asked that we do our
part in this war, telling of the deeds
of Fermonters in time gone by, from
the days of Ethan Allen to the pres
ent struggle. In the Civil War Yer
mont sent $4,000 sons and fathers to
the front and they fought so that the
name of Vermont and the Vermont
Brigade is q remembrance of historic
glory.
Mr.. Phelps said that as we pay hon.
age to the men who fought in that
great conflict we should not forget the
mothers and wives who gave their
dear ones to the country. Are they
too, not patriotics?" the speaker ask
ed. He expressed the wish that I'VE
never forget them, or to pay them the
tribute which they so justly deserve"
Taking up once more the subject of
the sacrifices made by the soldiers in
the Civil War the speaker said that
we have no house of lords, and no roy
atty, but we have mobiles, 1--WE have
nobility in it's larger and broader
sense And the mobiles referred to
were the men who were willing to
face all odds, to lay down their lives
that the nation might live Mr.
Phelps took up the subject of the
present war saying To-day finds us at
war again. Not q war of conquest,
not war where we have been the
aggressors, not a war to show the
world our great resources, but war
for dying and suffering humanity. We
have been patient and long suffering.
We have extended the olive branch
until it has withered and been re-
fused. Our men today are answering
to the class as they have in the past.
We will be tried and not found want
ing. May the cruel, unrighteous and
ruthless hand Of Prussianism be
crushed forever! Democracy is hav-
ing its most severe test Civilization
hangs in the balance. But righteous
ness will be triumphant
Mr.. Phelps said that America must
win. The valor of other wars would
win, this war. at was not southern
valor nor Northern valor in the Civil
War" said Mr.. Phelps, "but it was,
thank God. American valor!' And this
valor will prevail through the pres
ent conflict.
Hr. Phelps closed his address by
saying: and so I say, as we pay hon.
age to the nations dead today, let us
bear in mind that they were all Am
orleans with these same sterling and
noble qualities. They fought and died
for them. AS they fought and died,
let us live and honor.
Honor because it is the land of the
free and the home of the brave; h onor
because it knows no color, no race, no
creed; honor because it is a God-fear-
ing and God-serving nation. Guard
well the principles for which our SOL
dlerS have at all times so nobly and
CALAMITY fought. May the Stars and
Stripes continue to be the emblem of
Liberty, respected on every land and
on every sea-"
The address was enthusiastically
applauded by the audience. Follow
ing tableau "1776-1917" was pre-
sented. The Spirit of '76" was ex-
cellently portrayed, while the spirit
OF IT. was equally impressive, con-
slsting of soldier, representation of
Liberty enlightening the world, and a
sailor boy of the navy. The meeting
closed with the singing of America"
by all. led by the band.
PEACHAM.