The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-01-13

higher rates of interest. OF course the suggestion
of evils growing out of the latter proposal at once
arises. But it may be that the example OF the
General Government which compelled us to suS-
pend specie payments, may also compel us tor Il
time to recognize rate of interest corresponding
with this general practice and sanction
The Commissioners on the State Valuation VIII
submit the results of their labors for your action
which will require your careful scrutiny amt M
partial Judgment.
The Governor reviews the affairs of the Reform
School, the State Prison, and the Hospital for the
Insane,-al of which he finds i'll good condition.
| EDUCATIONAL
1t is no eXaggcration to say, that the present is
a new era in teaching. 1t is a little singular to
find novelty in an art so old But the spirit of our
institutions the demands OF the times have neces-
slated aims, objects, and methods which render ed
ucation altogether different business from what it
was generation ago, 1t no longer seeks to cram
| the mind with strange forms and aggregated facts
without harmony. relation life, or premanence; it
teaches the mind from the very start to observe,
compare, anayze, assimilate-to master and make
its own-n fact it is education-the training. I'M
! folding, leading and faShonin9 forth of the mind.
Teachers must now have something more than Il
good moral character-that and something besides
they must demonstrate that they have character
at all. They ntteach merely what have they Dor
| rowed over night; but only that which they have
wrought ont and made their own This tells on
the young mind gives it an edge and point, and in
many ways tends to fit all, both teacher and taught.
and eventfu times. l think the highest good is
flowing from our Normal schools, and Institutes
and County Superyisorships. They have caught
the right spirit and transtused it. They are the
means mainly by which the State is to be reached
i and brought within the better modes.
That the people are awake III this matter. it is
easy to see. They have raised over, $500 ,000 this
past year. by direct taxation and expended the to-
tai sum of S1100,000 for the support of schools.
1t remains for to take care, by all me in our
power, that such means are not wasted and such
intentions foled. We want, among other things
to that all have fair chance; that for instance
the cost and charges and variety of books do moi
put poor parents to distress to keep the means Of
education within their chil,lrens reach.
Under the law of last year, the Governor says
that military companies have been organized
in the State, and armed, ready for service i'll any
emergency that may arise,
A large lot of material accumulated in the Ar.
Senals, and practically worthless to the State. has
been very advantageously sold under the direction
of a committee of the Council and the proceeds
S2.564.G), paid into the Treasury.
| The state Pension Law has been administered
with much care. The whole number ofapplcations
for 1869 is 1112 Of these 635 have been allowed at
various rates. The whole amount expended to
date is S24,36
The Attorney General suggests important changes
in our laws Especially do concur in his recon-
inendaon that the act of 1869 relating to reviews
in capital eases, together with the related and con-
sequent sections Of other acts be repealed This
was one OF those acts hurried through near thn
close of the session without due consideration. Al
| though impressed with grave doubts as To its con
stitutlonaity and fitness to promote the ends of
justice, was i'll that brief time unable to prepare
and present such reasons Of public policy aS would
warrent me in opposing an act which had the
weighty sanction Of a majority Of the legislature
| believe the intent and working Of the law were
not at that time fluffy understood.
The Governor and Council were instructed at
the last session to provide for revision and CON
! >odation OF the Public Statutes by contract or
commission. After careful consideration it was
deemed advisable to appoint Commissioners for
that purpose. These gentlemen have been diligent-
iy employed upon their work, and their report will
! be laid before you at an early day. The matter of
changing the phrascology, be it never so slightly
OF existing laws in order to harmonizc and con
| solidate them, is so delicate task that YOU will
| pardon me if i remind you of the close scrutiny
with which such arevison must be examined be-
fore it is passed upon making no doubt at the same
time that work Of the board will be found in il
high degree accurate and iudcious.
The complaint is not unfrequently made that the
administration Of justice is neither 50 prompt nor
so impartial as it should be in this State If this
is the remedy Is beyond the reach of nv sgges-
tons. am of opinion, however. that an injustice
is done the court as well as the people by reason
of the fact that the Judges of the Supreme Court
are required to travel the length and breadth
Of this State without proper remuneration. / am
not aware that this is the with any other Off
Ger on public duty. 1t is well known the salaries
ing augh from that high reverence for the court
which is naturally entertained by us all. and so ns-
pecially commanded by the character of our pres
ent Bench, it is still by no means unnatural that a
Judge detained from home 1T heavy expense. every
day making deeper inroatS upon his Srantv means
Of support, might become impatient OF long terms,
and in his anxiety possibly slight somi duties
When it is the as now, that the more one does
the less pay he has se tendency and effect Of it is
not difficult to perceive. An unembarrassed in
dependent Judiciary is of incstmtblc value
expenses of the Justices of the Supreme Court lie
audited and paid by the State.
1t was made the duty of the Govern nor and Coun-
ell to count and report the vote on the proposed
amendment to the constitutions. authorizing tle
Legislature to divide towns into voting districts
The whole number of votes upon this amendment
was 51S6. Number voting ''les." 2s09: number
voting 'ENo,' 23,I. So the constitution j. amend
ed accordingly
THE LIQUOR LAW.
1t is proper that I should inform you that there
seems to be general falling Oft in respect for our
liquor laws The enforcement of these laws comes
in no manner within the power of the Executive
1t very properly deyolves upon municipal officers
and the degree Of their zeal and efficiency is meas
ured by the prevailing local sentiment. 1t is not
unreasonable theory that the State should secure
the even and impartial execution OF her laws
throughout her jurisdiction. So far all good citi-
zens would agree but the erection of certain
police for the purpose mainly OF enforcing the
| liquor law beyond, certainly, if not against the
wishes of the municipalities. has been urged bv
some as proper measure and proclaimed by few
! as test Of allegiance to the cause of Temperance
But in government like ours one of the most del
| icatc things Which Il State would be called upon
to do is to invade the ancient right and tgntes Of
| towns, which as the historian and statesman know
are at the foundation of our liberties. 1t is still
more difficult when the issue is upon Il contest ed
question Of social ethics. or public morals, on
which even good men might be divided and bad
men find pretcXt for giving the most dangerous
passion sway. The antagonism to excessive
measures is likely to react against virtue which
all good citizens hold high.
| Unfortunately we have made the experiment onr
own and the sauary lesson to be learned from it
may warrant me in taking public notice of it
| here.
A principle priced by all was arrogaed nv a
few, and made the placard if not the watchword Of
| Il political organization The result as might have
been expected was to give to worthy and sacred
cause the appearance of defeat. The cause has
suffered, but should not be held to blame Its very
virtue was its misfortune. The strong hold which
it had upon the hearts of the people the occu-
sion OF its being seized upon to sinister nten
| tons Various elements of disafecton availed
raised, and rallied in a strange companionship,
under a banner which had never been so entrusted
to them, and which lost its lonsecrnton by leil
| laying on of hands. The elements which conspired
| in this movement and the anmus which mpelled
it, appear to have been SO well understood by our
| people as to require no analysis by me. -Four
thousand seven hundred votes in total of 100, 900
after the unparalleled resorts Of that campaign
proved that whoever else voted that way, the Tenn
perance men of Maine did not. They muster a
nobler host. The people OF this State temper