Year: 1875

bending will and unhinching persistency,
led our boys to q succession of victories
ION that line" which his profound sagaci.
ty and military skill had marked out
Was he not one Of the common people, the
tanner, Ulysses s. Grant?


The rank and file Of our patriot army
and navy, who served us so faithfully
and SO we'll, were drawn from all classes,
but large majority of them were from
the industrial class ; and may we not be
proud Of our representation there Was
ever an army made up of better material ?


Was there ever one more intelligent, more
susceptible Of thorough discipline, more
patient and orderly under trials and re.
verses Did ever an army before so
perfectly comprehend the principles for
which they fought, and the issues which
were staked in the contest2 Were ever


bullets sent against an enemy with less oi
murderous hate, or more of christian
principle behind them? Were ever sa.
bre strokes dealt more reluctantly, yet


more effectually than those by the SONS
Of our farmers and mechanics in the
ranks ?


We have lost by that contest an army
of heroes but we have saved our coun.
try. We cannot recall them. The grass
grows green upon their graves. No
drums reveile can wake them from the


bivouac of death. For them no bugle
notes shall sound the charge again. They
fell on bloody fields, while fighting for


civil liberty for the overthrow Of caste
and the elevation of labor and the labor.
er. They went from hospitals by wounds


received, or disease induced, while in
their country's cause. They expired in
rebel prisons where they had suffered
tortures more fearful and long continued
than were ever inflicted by American


savages No Spartan valor could save
them from their vile prosecutors; no hu.
man power of endurance could avert the
fearful death by starvation to which fiends


in human form had doomed them, No
prayers or entreaties could induce their
tormentors to remove the cause of loath.
some disease which prevailed among
them, or furnish the needed remedies


fate, but shall we heed the lesson which


it teaches us.


African slavery in the south caused


the ruling classes there to despise labor


and the aborer. This led to ignorance


and degra dation in the laboring classes !;


to pride and moral depravity in the edu.


Gated aristocracy. The degraded masses


became the helpless tools of the unprinci.


pied few, thus combining the mental pow


er Of civilization with the cruelty of the


savage; hence the intensified barbarsm


of which | have spoken, and its horrid


consequence.


The only remedy for all this would


have been the abolition Of slavery in the


early days Of the republic, and the con-


sequcnt increased respectability of labor
and the elevation of the laborer; this


would have led to improved educational


facilities, as in the north these to intel.


ligence, virtue and integrity in all classes,


the degree Of which, in all countries,


must determine the degree Of civilization


social happiness and political freedom TO


which people will attain.


The true ideal Of perfection in the Or


ganization Of society, is found in that


state. where all its members start in life
upon an equal footing, with no distinction
save that caused by the unavoidable var
iation in natural ability, and inherited
wealth where every pursuit which the
Legitimate wants Of society demand, is
equally honorable; where The members
of every calling, have equal opportunities
, provided them in youth, for selfimprove-
ment, and for preparation for the success.
! full prosecution Of the business in life,
} which they may select. Where caste is
: unknown, and where the social standing
of every individual, is dependent upon
} his own exertion, and his own attainment
in mental and moral worth.


do not say that we, or any future


generation will ever witness the perfect
) realization of such an ideal, but l hold
that to be the goal to which true chris.
tian civilization tends, and for which we
!, should strive.


If you would create caste in society
build up your colleges, and degrade your
; common schools and academies Educate
the few, while you neglect the education
of the masses But all of these should
receive our fostering care, and an increase
number of Normal schools, and also
schools for practical education in the
sciences employed in industrial pursuits
: should be added to the list. AS | have
shown the creation Of new capital, the pc.
cuniary prosperity of Vermont, and with
this the success Of every other interest
depends upon the intelligent skill of ouI
class yet We have not solitary schoo
where practical knowledge in any of the
departments of industry pursued among
us is taught. Can we longer afford tC
overlook the obvious defect in our educa
tional system Can the professiona
classes afford it Can the state afforC


it2


If we have not all those educationa
=, advantages which we could desire, it il
our own fault 1t is not with US as will
the laboring classes Of Europe; we are
not ruled by selfish, ,monied aristocracy
J. they are what their rulers make them
0 we are what we make ourselves. With
our free government, the will of the ma
7 ority should become the law Of the state
and as the producing classes in Vernon
: are vastly in the majority, with US rests
. the responsibility of determining wha
D our institutions and laws shall be. IL
our quiet, agricultural state, we have nc
$ conflicting public interest to breed con
; tention no pride or caste to sustain ne
> large cities, and few great mOuopOlies tt
!, corrupt our political integrity and de
mand unjust special legislation. We arr
o rather one great brotherhood, with suct
J. a unity of interests that each is dependen
s upon others for success, and all alike in
n terested in the promotion of the publi,