Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-01-14

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the failure of mperfectexperiment, comes
to awarm support OF the measure. ! con.
TESS can see no reason why wc should
not make good work of this. as well as
the Western States, who findi an element
of wealth and power. little retouching
of our color by the infusion OF fresh.
young northern blood, would do us no
harm.
Two instrumentalities, which VIII
powerfully aid us in proportion rs they
flourish, are manufactures and railroads.
II appears To me that the last three Years
have witnessed such an awakening OF
interest in these matters rs almost To
mark an epoch in orr history. Capitalists
from abroad are beginning to understand
our extraordinary facilities, and improve
their own opportunities yet much.
almost all--Iemains to be done. l VIII
no. weary you with iterations upon our
wants and our advantages-you already
know them or you may. The now COM
pletcd work on the water power oil
Maine. which cannot mention with any
telling less than that of pride, commend
TO your careful perusnl. and to = W ide
distribution. You cannot contemplate
the astonishing results so admirably
presented In this report without seeing
where our nearest way to prosperity lies,
and what is vet to be the work and the
wealth and the fame of Maine. Shipping
has been our glory, but we shall look in
vain for that preeminence to return.
Cons,s more noverril than any within hum an
control have wrcbched from our hands the sceptre
of the seas. still our powers in the waters. Z
may lay hands upon their wild career ana ASK o'
them service and blessing ere they mingle with
the sea We mus, foster this great interest which
is the hope OF the state gcncrously,yct Jndclous-
w. We have stu 10 bear the sight OF our noble
powers running wild, our rich materials lying
waste. waiting the magic touch OF mind and skill (;
our abundant products 4cnt away, raw or T""eiy
shaped to receive their chief value elsewhere.
To export abundance Of raw maieriai u thoush.
by some to be great prosperity: hough the part
that they receive in payment - portion OF the
same material finished Into costly fabrics Tor a
thousand uses by the skill OF other hands. rms
may do where civilization has not mucn hn' ahoe''
mt does not seem wise policy for n state which
j. mature and has abundant facilities Tor manu-
featuring. Take for example one OF our nouie
trees. worth in the rude shape we give u lot u'o
market, say hity dollars
Now SET talent AMI skill at work upon II, lash
ion I, all for the fine use- aud finish 10 To the high
perfccriun which sooner or later u would nave
found clscyhere--puI sJD worth OF such work
unnn n aud Won hsve made IL worth a thousand
Yon have done more You haze gained the count.
less advantages OF oherishng the industry ana
skill-the talent and character employed upon ~
Carry this ont on 4 large scale ana into all the
n.Ids OF enterprise that invite on every side and
YOU are doing something for others ~ Wen rs
Yourselves. lou encourage diyetsiue' uiua
and incrcA 90 wealth You lend helping hand la
humble toll and honest ambition. on quicken
hone and pride and higher aspirations ipucarry
life into deserts and happiness INTO hnmc-: ihi-
somew hat more than fancy Is the righi pohcy Tor
sf IA h.r IA lY1
aud her -trong sinews anxious ana eager 20 on III
work
Then ne 10 Railroads we are doing all that Is
possible. More Than 20 miles oi ne" Ioa! arr
now builiing I'm many directions, wherever enter
pr,se points The great road which connects Us
with Halifax -hcnreis already iTeShIed WIN su
many stirring hope. of good. now lacks but about
INV miles ~ completion: Ia secure and hasten
This I'm, stat, has already made generous giits,
and sn effort l. io he made To induce Congress 10
recognize the claim assigned 10 the road by Maine
and Massschusctts, We trust this may nc sue
c.ssll, and that the year may witness the cohsuuf
In the West too We have openings which arc
scarcely less. II not indeed more, In Their proml-e
of good The courage and energy OF Portland ~
Undertaking the task Of cutting her way through
10 the grca, lake, aud the greater West, proving
thus link IN the magnificent continental chaln
ha. already ensured victory. oiher efforts "a
worthy can scarcely name here, but thcy also
deserve our interest snd care.
The Railroad Commissioners make valuable
suggestions in their report. which commend Va
yonr attention. The feature of Immediate interest
that will como before Us IS the proposed consp!
idation Of prominent lines IN the State. II TINS
means 20 place the public at the mercy 81 mo-
uopoly unrestraincd hy responsibility Ia The state
and relieved from the checks of competition can
not rec ommend Il 10 Your favor But this PROB
ably IL not the case. The roads, however, have
already the power 10 consolidate - all praSucal
interests by lease III not the mere authority 10
AZ times anil rato- which they ask, tha' uhey
al,c nj claim to have.
do not believe. however, that they are inde-
pcndcnt 81 the state. Whatever their charters
may contain, do not believe II II competent Tor
state o. grant away her powers over public
thornughfarcs like these. IL i 10 ccde away her
right or eminent domain These corporations
took private property for public uses Is II ikcly
thai they have responsibility 10 that public Tor
whose uses this property wa taken IL - the IN
defcas bc duty OF the state 10 take care oiherref
and of her citizens. Everything II hers, need be
--our fortune and orr lives. Shall railroads claim
immunityy With this understanding, | need moi
f,elhi necessary Ia oppose consolidation.
There are manifest advantages for The state IN
IL Ii, w. NAV take the occasion II there - any
doubt Ia declare or reaiiirm the ultimate right Of
th, s,atr over the roads. 2d The public con
yeni,n e. NAV De thereby facilitated. 81. Better
security a-cd the hole property and franchise
would be- given In exchange for old Onc- 'th,
The usual wrangling which railroads have in.
obliged In before tc legislature and the political
control which they have sought, would be entirely
III an end 3th, The waste of money and strength
In building needless NrahNNtNs lUtrt tAlIk5 I
can see in favor Of the roads. II We cauno, aid
them otherwise, let them combine their own
strength HUI leave the decision 70 your better
Judgment.
matters We must not let them driu; but seize
them with strong hand and WELD them Tor the
common welfare IL u not enough o call apowcr
into exercise, we mu-t be able To guide and con-
troll II and shape II 10 useful ends We must be
ready when the Incubus i ltftct from entcTpri 90
and Sle bolts thrown back from capital to receive
the influx OF strength AMI population that viii
surely come and 20 take part Ia the great reciproci'
~ ofciyilzation which are the tides Of life to
nations.
our existence A. State. We are not ashamed OF
her history. one OF the earliest IN discovery and
colonization, she is one OF the --latest IN the de-
velopmen OF her ources and the nuts or civil
iiation 81 all the Obscure trial aud toll That nave
interviewed wrought for the times that were TO
come The state sees her place and owns her du-
" and does not spurn the task that unfolds the
triumph. The gates 81 destiny are Opened me
enters on her proud career We shall watch with
admirng interest and help with untiring skill her
onward way. Nor can Il be that We hope and
prophecy in vain. Our work may he obscure and
In. reward FAR OF; but both Will live. The early
disroverers Of this territory foresaw the future
aud foretold its glory. Then by reason OF human
weakness and immature times, they fell short or
peri,hed Then came two centuries OF duh me
rhanicai adyance-slow IN owing by mere force OF
phy steal laws without any grand mastery OF mimi
aud inspiration of idea. But in fact beneath this
ton. elements in ferment, and germs matuI ing
which were in due time 10 ripen into blessings OF
which all that work and waiting were actual ele-
ments The seeming death foretoid and foreor-
dsined the life The thrilling story of the yoyag-
ers rang round the world and seemed In have rang
itself away. But IL is heard again coming round
on the other side, swelling with the vet more won
drous harmonies OF prophecy fulfilled.
50 we may be "building better than We know"
Our humble works wrought in faith are regenerat-
ed By ightcr Spirit than that in which they con-
ceiyed, and built into loitier monuments than our
hands have reared We pass and are forgotten,
but amidst the silent tumultuous years our good
seeds ore working free from the faint of our i'm.
perfection. and stand solid and SHINING In the per
Ter, doy God deals with men rs the melter Of
metals He puts the earth mingled ores into his
cTucible, and seals IL up in fiery furnaces out OF
view. Men forget II, but He does not In the iull.
ness of time Is openedlo, on one side, the dull
earth, on the other the glitterng ore Surely, He
"sts as a rehner Of silver
He who thinks Of these things will be humble,