The Portland daily press., 1870-03-17

Festival Of the Sons of Maine Mt Lowell.
1t is little curious that the 18th of March
the fiftieth anniversary of the admission oil
the State to the Union, passed unobserved in
Maine, while the "Sons of Maine" elsewhere
have not been unmindful of the interesting
nature of the occasion. To the "Sons Of
Maine" in Lowell is due the credit of cele-
brating the anniversary most deliberately
The following is the list of officers on the oc-
casion, and, by the way, they represent some
three thousand natives of this State who are
now residents of the "city OF spndles: Presi-
dent, Nicholas w. Norcross; Vice Presidents,
Cyrus d. Latham, 2. E. Stone, Benz. Patch,
James B. 1rueworthy, Aaron R. Grant, Mark
II. Cook, True P. Jordan, William Kelley,
Albion J.. Dudley, Joseph A. Patten, Alfred
D. Chandler, 81. G. o. Weymouth, Myrick A.
Benner, Jonas Stevens, N. ]. N. Bachelor,
Philetus Burnham. POSTMASTER, ]. J. JUDD
kins. E. 81. Ellwell, ESQ.,, OF this city, editor
of the Transcript, delivered the address, Of
which we make the following abstract:
The speaker first alluded to the wandering
propensities of the sous of Maine, which, he
said, arose from vigor of health and limb, and
bred spirit of adventure that greatly assist.
ed in colonizing the country. He next gave
sketch OF the early history and colonization
of Maine, and especially alluded to Sir Fer
dinand7 Georges, who became the first proprle-
tor of Maine, under patent from King James
l., in 1920, which was further confirmed in
1889. This granted to him that portion Of
the State lying between The Piscataquis and
Ronnohoo WV A.
tent to Massachusetts, in 1877 for 9126O. The
speaker then alluded to the separation OF
Maine from Massachusetts,, movement for
which began in 1855, and continued until the
admission of Maine in 1920. He alluded to
the agitated condition of the country
at this period, and spoke of the part
which Maine subsequently took in the over
throw OF slavery.
The State of Maine had no heroic history
Her soil had not been the scene of great
events. 1t had witnessed only the patient
toll of an industrious people who had felled
the forests and set ships afoat ON every ocean
thus nurturing hardy race of seamen and
rearing people among the most active and
enterprising of all in the United States. But
if Maine had little to boast of, she had little Of
which to be ashamed. If she could not claim
to be the mother of States she had at least
done her fall share toward peopling them
Her soDs and daughters had largely emigra-
ted to the western prairies and to California,
carrying with them the love of liberty, indus
try, frugality, and the religious principles in
which they were nurtured.
When Maine entered the Union her popu-
iatlon was 29S,395. In the past half century
it had much more than doubled, being now
ABOUT 7O0OOO In the meantime she had
sent abroad more than 100000 of her people
According to the census of 1860 there were
then living no less than 1854 natives of
Maine in other States and Territories of the
Union. About 1901 were residing in Mas
sachusetts, while only SO had found homes in
South Carolina.
During the time she had been member of
the Union, Maine had contributed her share
to the prosperity of the nation in statemen
she had given Sprague, Holmes, Fairfield.
Evans, Hamlin and the lamented Fessenden
in authors, Willis and Longfellow; IN arts,
such sculptors as Akers and Simmons She
also gave to Massachusetts her great war
Governor, the martyr Andrews and in giving
him repaid all she owed to the mother State.
The first blood shed in defence of the Union
nowed from the veins of Maine men and Low
ell men in the streets of Baltimore.
. he then spoke of the part Maine took in
me late war, and paid an eloquent tribute to
Governor Chamberlain. Commander Will
uSAuet3 WIZ, Wy a CoWdFuS Qe0Q
was drowned, but fell nobly at the post of
GUY, was Maine man. Engin Copp, of the
same Inflated vessel, was also the son of
Maine woman. 9"
The speaker then drew a glowing picture
OF the future of the State when. in fiftv years
time, its vast agricultural, manufacturing and
other resources should be more fully develop
ed. He especially alluded to its unrivalled
t Wa.er power, and to its commercial and mari
time possibilities.
ne exhorted all sons of Maine tn take a
r. tts da .ne state and do their utmost to aid
auant nressnt ment. He concluded by an elo-
Cations WbcS Of those feelings and asso
Maine to their native State. 'la all sons Oh
A poem written by Mrs. A. B. Gardner &c
Lowell was read in the course of the eua,s; oi
and addresses were expected from 4h reT hing
John a. Goodwin, DR.: d. Holt, c. II. La.
A supper provided by A. A. SawtelIe was
afterwards given.