The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-04-30
vesers Of Partlamd! /!

To the Editor Of the Press: iAii rlfi t li-9 1n 4
We are glad to see that your paper arouses
the voters of our city to action In q matter
which scars far above all partizan discussion,
and fayors the contemplated loan to the pro-
jected railroad to the West. Nop is cur oppor-
tunity, as city, to show that Notwithstanding
the d1s astrous fire of July. which has crippled
our people, we are determined that no pant of
enterprise and public spirit shall prevent our
being redeemed and disenthralled" from our
misfortunes. @Es' 5i ir.r N.ifr
~. @. w." writer in your columns, advises
the voters not to loan the credit of the city to
one Of the safest and most magnificent pro-
jects which will ever present itself for our ac-
ceptance, merely because he "cannot see it, in
the same light with others. In other words, he
sees through glass darkly," which obscures
his vision, and is timid to q fault 81. G. W."
fears more an increase of his personal tares "a
groundless fear) than anything else. Under
such tinaid counsels no city could ever be built
up, and no public enterprise could ever sue
ceed. ~ "ihH if
He u. C. W. is astonished that the last leg
islature should pass an act authorizing cities
and towns to loan their credit to railroads
while most other people wonder that such a
wise act was not passed years ago. Probably
it would have been the law of the State long
since had our State taken example by the pros
porous State Of Massachusetts. ''The tide, tax
en- at its food leads on to fortune; omitted, all
the voyage of our lives Is bound in shadows, in
miseries" Such was the opinion of Shakes
peare century ago. How true it has proved
Of oil eyraof antorpr;aaa ON ch "a fba coual. "a
railroads of New York and other great States.
De Witt Clinton, with far seeing sagacity, pro-
jected the canal enterprise and was laughed at
for his pains, but in few years his project had
become one of the greatest and most profitable
sources Of revenue ever known in this coun-
try. 'i. '''
Opposition to the railroad loan Ia loan Of
credit merely to be voted on to-day
will only come from selfish and tinaid men, re-
tired from the active business of life. All en-
terprising men in Portland, rich or poor, will
welcome the opportunity to vote in favor a
measure tending directly to build up our
city and promote the prosperity of our State.
Maine should no longer be under the
tuteldge and dependent upon Massachusetts, as
she has been for years. We are capable, with
our natural advantages, of becoming her rival
in everything calculated to promote the pros
perity Of an independent people who are de-
termined to be free, and By favoring the pro-
jected railroad communication with 1.-THE
great West, we shall, without risk to ourselves.
make Maine one Of the most prosperous and en-
ferpyising States IN Me Union-a State to emf
CRATE to and not a state to en,igrate from. si"
Let US call to mind the plan suggested at the
Railway Convention held in our city in 1850,
to favor q European and North American
Railway"-a project started by our citizens,
calling together the great men of Maine and
the Canadas in convention at our old City
Hall. Sixteen years have elapsed, and what
is the resuit9 The road is noao being butt and
meets with the favor Of the entire country and
also Of the government Of the United States.
| Bangor loaned her credit to this enterprise, as
| Portland did to the Atlantic & St Lawrence
| road and no one ever regretted it or ever will.
IT. ia trpe MANY of the friends of that road are
| aeaa-but although we have lost the venerable
Judge Whitman, Josiah Little, John NJ. Wood
Iuther Jewet. and others of this city, and sey-
eral distinguished friends of that road from
abroad their example and encouragement Of the
enterprise have resulted in its assured success
Let the voters of Portland arise in their
might, and the ballots deposited this day
will insure the prosperity of our city for
generations yet to come.
All our merchants and business men favor
this loan, knowing tnst it is of vital Importance
to the best interests of the
FOREST CRY.