The Champlain tercentenary

by New York . Lake Champlain Tercentenary Commission; Henry Wayland Hill

During the past few days, since I knew that I might be called upon to speak for the Governor on this occasion, I have been endeavoring to keep up with my everyday work, follow the events connected with the two great national political conventions which have been held, and several other local political meetings, and at the same time to accumulate in my mind the history of the past three hundred years. This effort has resulted in a state of mind which culminated last night in a dream in which it appeared to me that at the point in these ceremonies when Vermont’s share in this memorial was about to be surrendered into the keeping of the representative of the United States, there suddenly appeared on the scene one of the most strenuous of the recently defeated national political candidates and demanded that the Champlain Memorial be turned over to him as the only safe and rightful custodian thereof.

I would be remiss in my duty on this occasion if I did not express to these Commissioners Vermont’s appreciation of their efforts in carrying forward so successfully this memorable celebration which is here completed in the dedication of this beautiful, substantial and useful memorial. It is to be exceedingly regretted that Governor Mead could not have been present in person at this ceremony to speak for our State. In his absence, gentlemen of the Vermont Commission, the Governor directs me to accept this memorial on behalf of the State of Vermont, and to assure you that your task has been well performed and that your work merits, and will undoubtedly receive, the approval of the people of Vermont.

There is one thought which I would like to express to you on this occasion. We are all more or less influenced by the achievements of the past, and through the energy and the daring of such men as Champlain, there probably does not now remain on the earth any such unexplored wildernesses as was this valley when Champlain first saw it; even the poles have been discovered and located. It remains for us of the present and the future to make the best possible use of the advantages which we have thus gained. Let us not sacrifice the beauties of this Champlain Valley to the greed of commercialism. Let it be our effort, rather, to preserve and conserve it in all the magnificence of its natural resources, so that it will remain a haven of peace and rest to which the tired workers of the world may come for recreation and gain thereby renewed energy and ambition for future explorations into the still undiscovered realms of noble art, helpful literature, useful science and honest business.

And now, by direction of the Governor of Vermont and in his name, our custody in this Champlain Memorial is transmitted to the representative of the government of the United States of America, to which, by this act, we again acknowledge our allegiance and pledge our support to the utmost extent of our resources. But while this memorial is thus placed in the hands of the whole people of these United States, I would remind you that the waters over which its light will shine will continue to separate, yet unite the shores of New York and Vermont, to one of which you must always come if you wish to see Champlain in all its beauty, and to both of which, and especially to Vermont, you will always be welcome. (Applause.)

President William H. Taft was unable to be present and commissioned the Hon. William Cary Sanger of Sangerfield, former Assistant Secretary of War of the United States, to receive the memorial on the part of the United States and, in doing so, he spoke as follows:

These interesting ceremonies illustrate one of the great principles which the founders of our country and the framers of our Constitution so wisely made a fundamental part of our national life. To each State is left the care and supervision of those matters which directly and exclusively concern the citizens of the State, and thus individuality and initiative in the development of local spirit and character, are stimulated and encouraged, but those matters which properly concern the people as a whole are cared for by the representatives of the people in one department or another of the National Government. The lighthouses are not only for the use of those who live in their immediate vicinity, but they protect the interests and they encourage the activities of all the people, and consequently they have been placed under the control and care of the National Government.

Col. William Carey Sanger speaking at Crown Point Memorial, July 5, 1912

It was my pleasure on one occasion to hear President Eliot of Harvard University deliver an address on the subject, “Democracy and Beauty.” At first the title seemed strange, but before President Eliot had finished it was apparent to everyone who heard him that it is a privilege, as well as a duty, for those who constitute a democracy to see to it that what is beautiful in nature, in art, and in architecture, should, so far as possible, be brought within such easy reach of the people that the pleasure and benefit which come from beauty may be theirs. This lighthouse marks a step forward in a most important direction. It is true that our public buildings and our private residences and our parks have been growing more and more beautiful under the careful work of those who are responsible for them, but this is the first instance in which an attempt has been made to make a lighthouse a thing of beauty. For this, those responsible for its construction and the architect and the sculptor are entitled to our most grateful appreciation. The lighthouse will be none the less useful to the mariner and will be vastly more valuable to the community because architect and sculptor have united to make it so attractive and interesting that it is a pleasure to look at it.

This light will not only guide those who voyage on these waters, but we can see in it and in all those other lights which mark our coasts and the harbors of our inland seas a symbol of what our national life should be, not only for our people but for the entire world. The lighthouse guides to the desired haven; it warns against shoals; in the dark and in the storm it enables the mariner to find his way in safety past the perils which threaten him. There is storm on land as well as on sea; there are in our national life perplexities and dangers; amid the turmoil of our political, business and social activities there is the right course which leads to the well-being of our people, and there are rocks of error and wrong which threaten with peril or destruction those who do not avoid them. May these lighthouses serve their useful and beneficent purpose, and may the light of liberty and truth burn so brightly that our country, through stress and storm, may see its way clear to such a course of national life as will bring to us the full rewards and blessings of a national life well lived and wisely directed.