The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-12-17
The "NaturaI seaport"


The fact alluded to by Mr.. John A. Poor
in his sneech at Saratoga, Wednesday, viz,
that the Monarch" having on board the re-
mains of George Peabody, will enter Portland
harbor in preference to any other on the
coast, has all the significance that the
speaker attributed TO it. Nor, we hope are
we guilty of irreverence or dsrespect to the
great philanthropist who is now coming to us
over the sea on his last voyage to his native
land, if the circumstances of his advent sug-
gest anew the peculiar advantages Portland
enjoys as commercial city.
The Monarch" comes to Portland because
our harbor is superior in point OF accessibility
and safety TO any other. Nor is this the first
endorsement of its claims as "the natural sea-
portn which has been received from sources
equally disnterested and competent. When
the Great Eastern was built and designed for
commerce Portland was fixed upon as the
American terminus Of her route; but when it
was concluded to place the gigantic craft on
exhibition New York was selected as the show
ground.
alleged assumptions of importance beyond
what is warranted by her consequence, actual
or potential Even the harmless descriptive
phrase that serves as the caption of this arti-
Gle was either bestowed upon our city in deri-
sion by the humorists of rival ports of less ex-
pectations, or else, having been properly adop-
ted here in just self-appreciation, it subse-
quently got enclosed in permanent quotation
marks by reason of the scornful jealousy of
rivals. But Portland no more deserves the
reputation of a boaslful municipality, than
Charles II deserved to be called the "Merry.
Monarch" We are modest folk, distrustiul
of our own merits and always underestima-
ting our own accomplishments. "Boastful,
say you? Why, the EMANCIPATION" of frog
pond in Boston is attended with more pride,
pomp and circumstance than we have
thought best to bestow on public works Of
first class Importance.
For the most part we content ourselves
with mere enumeration of our res gestde.
We may sometimes refer to our magniti-
cent harbor, our marginal railway and to our
facilities for transhippiag merchandise. These
things are truly noteworthy, and ought and
will be more extensively advertised than they
have heretofore been. Attention is some
times called to the position of Portland imme-
diately on the line of the great natural high
way of nations across the American CONT
nent. If New York or Boston were so situa-
ted it would be the first item of information
communicated to pupils in geography in those
towns. A city rebuilt in three years-an
event, by the way, that ought about this time
to receive some formal recognition in the way
of celebration-is also the occasion of some
little self-consratulatio on the part of our
citizens. But this is not all. Sebago water
places Portland among the most fortunate
cities of the world in a most important par
ticular; the Ogdensburg railroad, large part
of which is already under contract will soon
place "ths natural seaport in direct commu-
world, besides opening our markets to pros
porous towns and villages on the route, while
the Portland and Rochester road with its con-
nections will perform a service of almost
equal Importance.
"The natural seaport" has not seen its best
days, but gives every indication of being on
the point of enlareing its borders and entering
upon great career in the future. The main
point is for our people to have faith in the
destiny of the city, and to keep up good heart
and courage amid the temporary discourage
ments and disappointments. that may attend
our transition state.