The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1922-08-17

S"N~NN 49, 60 AstfNiOAi ~ lAii lICsN VII |
this country a system of universal /,
military training, with. yearly en-
campments for all young men. The |
movement never came near to sue
cess and would not have been ben
ehcial. 1t would have required a
far larger number Of officers of the
permanent army for training pur-
joses. The expense would have
been enormous and most vital of
all, would not have claimed that
solid backing of public opinion
without which in a democratic land
no scheme of military training can
hope to succeed.
The aftermath of war has
brought US many: difficulties and
perplexities of which our minds are
full, but fortunately we in the
United States of America have
come through clean Of militarism.
We have no military caste with
policies and traditions diverging
from those of the common people.
We have no class Of professional
soldiers to become id!ers and the
prey of dangerous social propogan
ia. Four years ago this summer
our armed forces totalod over four
million men. Today our combined
army and navy number only little
more than two hundred thousand.
All the rest hove merged so rapidly
and completely into civil life that
,,-o ,ro -, r.,o1,o 1ono,a, IF forofa4-
ting the magnitude of that effort.
The Rehabilitation was accom-
plished even more rapidly than af-
ter the Civil war. The dissolution
of a great army is not so Specacu-
lar as its assembly, hut the pro
blems invovled are scarcely less
acute and We may congratulate
ourselves as Americans on the sue
ces of the operation.
1t may be that some of YOU in
the Legion now present are inclin-
ed to feel that your heroism with
the A. F.. F., or your faithful ser
vice in this country, has faded too
quickly from the thought and con-
vergation of your community. But
is it not better so than that the
spirit of militarism should he car
ried over into the DAYS Of peace?
| trust it will be many years be-
fore Craftsbury is called upon to
add any names to this tablet, but
if the demand for men should come
again, viii your community remain
UGH that it can produce the same
type of soldier as in the past? That
is the real problem of preparedness
confronting this town and this ma
ton. Do not misunderstood me. |
am not asking that you become re-
actionists or standpatters. Under
the influence of sclenSa as applied
to transportation, agriculture, and
other activities, social and econom-
ic changes are becoming ever more
rapid and pronounced. Craftsbury
cannot and should not stand aloot
from such progress, but through 1t
all YOU will make a safer and
surer advance if you adhere to the
fundamentals; if you maintain the
character Of the town as it has''
been known for nearly century
and half.
If we Americans continue to
train our boys and girls to under
stand and participate in town and /
state affairs, if we promote edu-
ction for all and encourage true
religion, if we look to the health
of the common people and main
tain equality opportunity for each /
according to his ability, then we /
shall have kept pure ard undc- /
filed the fountain head of military /
strength; we shall have preserved /
that democratic Americanism |
which has brought US here today in !
honor of a contingent of American
soldiers, and we shall have assured ,
future armies of the same charac- /
ter for the defense of liberty.
Gov. Graham then read the let
tiers from President Harding. Gov.
James Hardness, Maj. Josiah |
Circuit Of Derby, Gen. John ].
Pershing, Mai. Gen. Edwards, ex-
of War Baker, ev-Sec- /
rotary Of Navy Daniels, and Mrs.
Mary f. Boutwell, Benedict of .
BroOkline. Mass.
FROM GOV. HARTNESS
Montpelier, Aug. IA, 1922.
Dear Gov Graham:
Your request for = message to
vour tOwnspeople to be read at the
dedication of a Soldiers Memorial
brings q most hearty response. I
only regret that previous appoint
ment makes it impossible for me
to deliver it in person.
Vermont is proud Of its war
heroes, Vermont is conscious Of
the great burden of war that has
been imposed on the homes of The
men who served. Vermont appre-
ciates the high spirit Of loyalty
and patriotism that inspired our
men and women to heroic action.
Vermont knows the anguish of
the families at the time each man
If the home entered the service
Vermont remembers the thrills of
and tn stress of anxi-
atv at each stare OF the wars de
These impressions
have been deeply marked into The
hearts of mothers, wives, fathers,
brothers and sisters Of each h0r7o
for whom this memorial is dcdi-
Gated.
Vermont knows that the hiph-
est interests Of the family, the
state and nation depends on the
of these memories.
Vermont knows that a careless