The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-01-04
PORTLAND.


juncture when the changed condition of the
country invites, if it does not compel. change
in our industries,a and all our great interests are
seething together in process of transition
and change-as we may reasonably hope-for
he better.
The only topic of special Importance in our
relations to the National Government con-
Germs the pending Constitutional Amendment,
which has been received from the State De-
partment at Washington. This amendment,
the Governor hopes, will be ratified by the
Legislature, as no doubt it will The pretend
ed rights" Of the rebellious States, the Gov
ernor regards as clear-headed men, accustom-
ed to respect facts and with but little respect
for theories which do not square with facts,
are apt to regard them. "When men stake
their cause on their strongest arguments and
fail" he says, "it is poor logic to urge weaker
ones" The Southern States tried to carry
| their point by force of arms, and failed. How
can they undertake to dictate terms now?
The Governor recommends that the pension
act, which expires in February, be continued
in force, and that provision be made for aged
and destitute parents of deceased soldiers and
sailors. There ought to be no objection to
this proposition. He further recommends
that measures be taken to secure the exclu-
sion of deserters and runaways from the draft,
from the polls. Not advising complete Or
ganization ofthe militia at present, he suggests
that the volunteer companies now authorized
should be encouraged.
The subject OF education is briefly but ade
quately treated. The two most important ed
ucational institutions in the State are beyond
doubt the Normal school and the Agricul-
tural college. The liberal policy recommend
| ed toward the Normal school will be unques-
tionably judicious The suggestion that the
trustees of the Agricultural college should be
men who can and will attend the meetings of
the Board, ought not to be neglected. 1t de-
| pends wholly upon the choice OF these men,
| whether this enterprise, SO promising, so suit
! ed to our needs, shall prove magnificent sue
| cess or a pitiful failure, and we take leave to
add that crotchety, meddlesome trustees are
| quite as dangerous as Indifferent and neglect
full men. Their authority must be delegated,
when the school goes into operation, to the
instructors, who while their general course is
marked out tor them ought not to be hamp-
| cred by constant interference in matters of
| detail.
Governor Chamberlain thinks in regard to
the death penalty, that we ought either to
make our practice conform to the law, or to
make the law agree with our practice. Why
not indeed dispense with the hangman finally
| Coming finally to the business interests OF
| the State the Governor warmly recommends
| photographic survey OF our principal rivers,
and repeal of that section Of the constitution
which forbids the State to lend her credit to
her own great Ell terprises. The survey is de-
signed to develope and advertise our magnii-
cent water power, as has been suggested by
Mr.. Walter Wells, in recent article publish
ed in this paper. The credit Of the State is
needed, in the Governors opinion, to complets
our railroad system and prepare cur water
power for use-both important objects, tend
ing directly and powerful lily to develope thu
resources of the State. We me disposed tt
believe however that the end would be gained
as well by legislation permitting towns moi
simply to loan their credit but to take direc
interest in such enterprises as they are dis
posed to favor. 1t is better to let the people
| have voice in the management of railroads
at least: and it is better to let the tax payer
decide for themselves whether to invest II
them or not.
Other suggestions which merit favorable
consideration are those touching assistance tt
be furnished to the Historical Society In pro
curing important documents from abroad
and the adoption of the metric or decima
system of measures, as authorized by Con
oress and recommended by the Board of Ag
riculture and the Superintendent of Common
Schools.
We cannot regard the scheme for consoli
dation of the British Provinces as in any de-
gree so Objectionable to this country as tht
French invasion of Mexico. We had righ
to protest against the violent subversion
republican institutions on our Southern boz
der. We cannot with so good grace objec
to change in the relations Of the Britisl
colonies to each other and to the mothe
country. The opposition to confederation
comes chiefly from the Maritime Provinces
and the inhabitants of those colonies hav'
never been friendly to this country. The sui
iect however is too important to be discusses
in a paragraph. We hope Governor Chan
berlain will take occasion to express his view
upon this topic more fully
We have dissented from one or two of tn
suggestions of this Address, respectfully as
due to their source, honestly, as is due to on
own convictions. Nevertheless, there is but
single passage in the document which, if
were possible, we would be glad to see chang
ed. Gov Chamberlain says, speaking OF ii
returned soldiers of Maine, The doubts I
their loyalty which some pretend to entertain
: need not distress the patriots who were so gls
! to trust them a few years ago." The allusio
is too direct to be misunderstood. We shs
not affect to misunderstood it, and we decla
it to be, not intentionally of course, but ne
ertheless actually, unjust to large portion
the party which elected him. Nobody has
any time pretended to doubt the "loyalty"
! the soldiers. There were loyal men and 10y
; soldiers who favored the Presidents policy Ia
summer Henry Ward Beecher was one
: them. The Republicans of Maine did not 1
yor that policy, and when General Chambs
j. lain was proposed to them for a candida
they wanted to know how far he agreed wi
them. They did not doubt his " loyalty" 70,
moment. They did not know and until t
convention had actually assembled could n
learn that he had ever acted with the par1
At the last hour his friends realized their blu
der, furnished the greatly needed informatic
and thereby secured his nomination. If G.
: Chamberlain supposes the uncertainty viii
: prevailed respecting his political views "
d not real, he is greatly in error. If it was &c
: uine, he must admit that the caution she Y
r by his opponents was natural and right I
= position is now well understood. 1t is fu
D acceptable to the entire party. 1t is time tn
the misconceptions and jealousies OF 1u
should cease, and perhaps the best way
u make an end of them is to bring them to lig
T. :; as the Governor has done, SO that they c
Of be corrected and cured.