produced embittered and deep-seated hatreds between the tribes and the races, which have been inherited from generation to generation. What kind of an American State could be carved out of this hodge-podge? Would it be pagan, or Moslem, or Christian? Would a Vermont March meeting be an eminent success there? If never a State, do we want vassals? Do we want tribute-bearing dependencies? We are playing with great forces that may shape our own and the world's future. If the hand of a Higher Power directed our fleet to Manila Bay, if it was decreed that the boom of Dewey's cannon should drown the voices of the earlier and the later fathers of the republic, if it be our duty and our destiny to assume this new responsibility, our people will have the capacity and the courage to undertake the task. But it is Britain's system, not America's, and to England, the mother of colonies, must we go for instruction and example. We must establish a colonial system and have a permanent colonial policy, not subject to change every four years. We must organize a bureau with a colonial secretary at Washington to maintain constant supervision over distant possessions, whose department shall embrace the general management of the affairs of these outlying provinces, with full power to decide at once every question, however momentous, that may arise in the administration of any colony. We must inaugurate an elevated civil service. We must raise up a class of highlytrained young men, especially educated and fitted as governors and administrators. In the appointment to these positions partisan politics should not be permitted easily to enter, and the terms of the appointees should be for a long series of years or during good behavior. Nothing but a firm hand, the largest statesmanship and incorruptible patriotism can prevent these distant dependencies from becoming the political plague spots of the nation. In each colony we must have an adequate standing army subject at all times to the call of the governor. In this way we may assure to these peoples, thus become the wards of this nation and under its paternal care, an enlargement of the blessings of essential liberty and local privilege up to the limit of their receptive powers. We may give a helping hand even to these benighted races. Not our aggrandizement, however, but their permanent well-being must be our aim. The new epoch in our national life will overshadow all the incidents of the war. The closing years of the 19th century witness the young republic of the West entering upon a new and a broader career of progress and accomplishment. All at once we are lifted to a loftier plane of world influence and elevated to the front rank of the nations, and the old world powers recognize as their peer the robust and growing giant of the new world. The opening years of the 20th century welcome us to a wider arena and a grander future of peaceful achievement. We see this people with gigantic strides multiplying in numbers, growing in wealth, in a fuller knowledge of the sciences, in all the arts of enlightenment. We see the building and completion under governmental auspices of the Nicaragua canal, thus binding together our Atlantic and Pacific coasts. We see a great and growing navy commensurate with our international position and large enough and strong enough to command the respect of the other powers, and to ensure lasting peace. We see our merchant marine traversing all the waters of the globe and swarming in the harbors of all lands and rivalling England in the carrying trade of the world. We see our flag floating above ample naval stations and coaling ports dotting every ocean, and the sun of heaven greeting Freedom's banner during every hour of every revolution of the round earth. We see in the long years of the future the onward and outward march of the forces of civilization with America by the side of Britain, and the stars and stripes and the union jack interwoven, full high advanced at the head of the columns of these leaders of nations, in the mighty contest between the Anglo-Saxon and the Slav for the supremacy of this world. All these achievements lie legitimately and logically within the pathway of our national destiny. But the sublime purposes of the republic as conceived by its immortal founders should not be obscured by the sudden impulse of the hour in a delirium of territorial conquest or commercial aggrandizement, nor yet by a misguided sentimentalism toward a semibarbarous population of a remote Asiatic archipelago. Our primary duty is to ourselves and to our posterity, and if we to us. justly perform that duty we shall transmit unimpaired to our children and to the world the priceless institutions which, through so much struggle and sacrifice, have been bequeathed We should resolutely shun every innovation or doubtful experiment which may tend to undermine the foundations on which they rest. To maintain a watchful vigilance is the sacred and paramount obligation imposed by the guardianship entrusted to the present generation, to the end that this government, thus far led by the unerring hand of Providence, shall not perish from the earth. Gen. McCullough's masterly address was warmly applauded and the thanks of the society were voted to him. THE BANQUET. After the close of the exercises at the State House the society, headed by the band, returned to the Pavilion. At the hotel the party, headed by President Butterfield, Gov. E. C. Smith, Hon. Hugh Henry and wife, and the ex-governors and their wives, marched into the dining room, where for an hour the menu and gossip claimed attention. At 10:45 President Butterfield rapped for order and in a few fitting words introduced Lieut. Hugh Henry to serve as toastmaster. Mr. Henry resented somewhat the intimation that he was from New Hampshire, made by President Butterfield, and told the ladies how they could make him loyal to two States. Congressman Grout was asked to respond to the toast "To the President of the United States." He spoke in glowing terms of the wisdom, prudence and patriotism of the President. When the time for renomination comes we will let Dewey and Roosevelt wait and name William McKinley as his own successor. Governor Smith was called upon to speak for Vermont and paid a high tribute to Vermont soldiers. He looked upon the soldiers of the Civil War as in effect the regulars who served the country and defended the principle of free government in a great crisis. "A United Country" was the sentiment to which Col. G. T. Childs of St. Albans responded. He referred with eloquent words to the dedication of the soldier's monument in Boston about 25 years ago and to the regard shown by Gen. Grant to the men he had conquered. Grant did not live to see his prayer answered but thank God we have seen it. The reunion of this country came when the men of the North and the South marched side by side up the hill at El Caney; when the Spanish power was driven from the western hemisphere by Southern dash and Northern pluck. Ex-Gov. S. E. Pingree responded effectively to the toast "Our Army." Ex-Lieut.-Gov. Mansur spoke for the ladies and closed the exercises of the evening. THIRTY-SIXTH REUNION. NEWPORT, AUGUST 9, 1899. The thirty-sixth annual meeting of the Reunion Society of Vermont Officers was held at the Memphremagog House, in Newport, Tuesday, August 9, 1899. The business meeting of the society was called to order at 4 p. m., by President Z. M. Mansur. After the reading of the records of the last meeting by the secretary, and presentation of the treasurer's report, which showed a balance of $21.94, on motion of Lieut.-Col. W. W. Grout, a committee was appointed to take up the usual collection for the benefit of the treasury. The amount so raised was $24.35. On motion it was voted that the next meeting of the society be held at Montpelier during the session of the Legislature in 1900. On motion of Lieut. B. J. Derby, a nominating committee was appointed, which reported as follows: Huse. OFFICERS FOR 1899-1900. President, Captain Fred E. Smith. First Vice-President, Surgeon J. C. Rutherford. Executive Committee, L. W. Shedd, J. H. Lucia, H. A. The report was adopted and the meeting then adjourned until eight o'clock p. m. At the hour the society formed at the Memphremagog House and marched to Lane's Opera House, where, after |