The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-02-18
Mr.. Poor and the E. & N. A. Railway.


particularly of this city, have never been
found opposing any enterprise because it was
likely TO enure more to the benefit of the
East4rn than to the Western portion OF the
State. In 1859 the Representatives Oh ibis
city gave their united and hearty support to
the Aroostook Railroad, and voted Ior the
grant of nearly all the public lands of the
Ssae to promote that enterprise, and wnen
this question was submitted to popular vote,
our peop,e voted for it with unanimity al
most equal TO that OF Bangor, although it was
to bs to that city what the Grand Trunk has
bsen to this, and would benefit Portland only
as it benefited the State at large. 8Jtbf
Last winter our Representatives united
with those of the east 10 secure all proper
grants of aid to the European and North
American Railway, Of which corporation Mr..
John A. Poor is President. Our people also
favored the effort to secure aid from the Gen
eral Government for the construction of this
great highway as a Military road from Ban
gor to the State line, and large committee
of Congress was authorized to visit the east
ern frontier of the State, our people urging it
In hope that favorable report from them
might serve to ensure the building of thai
great line Of communication between Bangor
and the lower Provinces "a work the consum
masion OF which would be of the first com
mercial importance to Bangor as well as of
great military Importance to the national gov
eminent.
THIS committe came to this city. Here was
their rendezvous and base of operations. Mr.
Poor met with them as the representative of
the road referred to. Our citizens with
liberality to which they have never been stran-
gsrs, raised about $4,000 to give suitable en-
tsrttnment to that committee aud their
friends, and to send them on their way in the
discharge Of their official misson-the Gov
eminent paying nothing towards the expense
OF le visitation. Our Board of Trade, our
merchants and business men generally took
hold Of the matter in earnest, knowing that
the completion of the road in question would
bsneat Portland only incidentally, and as
msmoer Of the commonwealth, while it would
be OF incalculable interest to Bangor, and
place her in position perhaps successfully to
compete with our own city, in many impor-
ataat respects, for commercial supremacy.
That committee visited the whole line OF
our eastern frontier and were so favorably i'm
pressed that no lingering doubt remained in
aay mind that they would unanimously report
in favor OF the aid desired, and thus render it
almost morally sure that the grant would be-
made. When Congress came together in De-
cenbsr, 1t was reasonably supposed that Mr..
POor-an accomplished lobbyist-would visit
Washington, and with such aid as he could
command, watch the progress of the question,
urge action upon it, and thus reap the prac-
tical fruits of that Congressional visitation of
which we have spoken. Has he done so p
Not at ALL Since Congress met we have
heard nothing from him at Washington; we
have heard nothing of the Government aid to
military road from Bangor to the State line.
1t ID nov only two weeks to the close of the
session, aud yet this great interest has been
entirely neglected. It has slept with no one
TO urge its consideration.
But where has Mr.. Poor been all this time,
and t0hat has he been oboatS Has he been
laboring at home or elsewhere, to bind the
State together in closer ties, and to unite pub
lie sentiment in one common INTEREST," Had
he been employed in a work of this charac-
ter his neglect Of the other matter referred to
mlg't be paliated if not excused. But has
he been engaged in any such work? MOI
What then has he been doing? -
This is what he has been about. He has
bsen found nearly all winter lobbying around
the State House and Board of Trade in Bos-
ton, advocating measures, writing newspaper
artlces, urging &C ion and fomenting feeling
ciculat d, Gad only calculated to diride the
people Of our o1n State, and specially to set
Blngor and Portland at loggerheads, and to
Envelope and foster internal jealousies between
cities and sections that should stand shoulder
to shoulder in all matters of State pride, OF
State i1t,r and Of State coneernment. To-
gether and united Portland and Bangor should
be abe to carry through any public measure
that commends Itself to sound judgment and
to wise forecast, and is botGomed on general
Interest; but divided and occupying antago-
nistic attitudes, they can effect no great enter
prise, and only succeed In para!yzing effort and
In striking down those interests upon the up-
building of which our prosperity as a State
must ever depend. 1t will be sorry day for
~tNuSA VI taooO SieISS WHtu IL SNAIL ailOW any
Soldier of fortune, . for his own personal profit.
10 ALLEVIATE 1t from its loyalty to the best inter-
ests OF the whole State, aud bind it to the tri-
unphsi car of a rival State or rival metrop-
Oils, which stands with open, watering mouth,
ready t. swallow either or both, and would ne
gotiats with their own recreant sons for such
bsorption. frr.ewr