Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-01-07
We cannot afford to ignore the conditions

! possibilities will not come unbdden. III we
would win the crown we must run the race.
The State that adopts stand-still policy IN
this day Of great enterprises, and rapid devel-
opment, will, as she deserves, be outstrip-
| ped by her more enterprising neighbors.
1t is reason for congratulaton. that these
advantages are beginning to be appreciated
| by business men and capitalists, and that, en-
couraged by the liberalty of our laws, large
amount of capital and labor has, within the
! last few years, been attracted TO US, which
has found profitable employment in variety
| Of manufacturing pursuits lie 1t ours, by
wise legislation and judicious use Of the adj
| vantages at hand, to foster and encourage TINS
important interest.
| 1t is believed that the law authorizing towns
| to exempt, for u limited number of years,
| manufacturing property from taxation, and
| the special acts authorizing them to aid such
| enterprises by gift of money or loan OF credit,
| have contributed to the benefit of the towns
| exercising such authority, and the State.
! suggest that it would be well to authorize
| towns | Y general law, to encourage the estab-
| lshment of manufactures by subscription or
| loan of credit. Under certain limitations, |
| see no rcasonwhy this authority may not safely
| be given. Any intelligent community may
| safely be trusted with what relates TO its own
| interests. Instances often occur in hich the
| aid of a few thousand dollars will secure the
| investment of capital and the establishment
| of business that would attract population and
| capital, and increase the taxable property OF
| the place so as to reimburse, in a few years,
many times over the amount originally given
Projection TO INDUSTRY.
In this connection deem it not inappropriate
to advert to the subject of protection to our
industrial pursuits. | do not advocate what
is termed high tariff. The present tariff
except as it has been recently modified, was
made to correspond with heavy internal taxa
ton. and should now as it undoubtedly will,
be materially reduced.
Revenue REFORM" in its practical sense,
cannot be too strongly urged upon those who
make and administer the laws. But the term.
when used to express the views of some of
its most demonstrative advocates, is somewhat
vague and indefinite. IL is made the watch
word of men who entertain all shades OF
opinions on revenue questions, and especially
ofthose who advocate absolute free trade. A
revenue reform securing the strictest economy
in all our expenditures and providing tor the re-
moval of National taxation from the necessa-
RIGS of life, and the productive industry OF
the country, the reduction or entire removal
of duties on such needful imported articles as
do not come into injurious competition with
our own productions, should receive our ear
nest support. 1t. is delusive to suppose
that the necessary expenses OF the Govern
ment and the interest on the public debt can
| be paid, and a moderate reduction Of the
| debt provided for without heavy taxation OF
some kind. policy that will bring the pro-
| duets of European labor that may be had tor
| fifteen to fifty cents per day into competi-
| ton in our markets on equal terms with our
| own labor. should and will be repudiated by
| the American people. What we need is a
"
| to our own laborers.
| The laboring men in this country occupy
| a position in society entirely different from
| the workingmen of Europe. They are the
| equals of their countrymen Who are engaged
| in other pursuits. We cannot afford to al
| low their degradation through the influence
| of half paid labor.
We now consume too much of the products
| of foreign labor and too little of our own. A
| nations wealth is in its laboring men and
| women, and labor enriches the nation and the
individual in proportion to its productive value.
| The country is the most prosperous tnan-
| cially that approXimates the nearest TO sup
| plying its demands for home consumption,
and exports the most of the products of its
| industries.
While, therefore. l would cooperate in
! every measure tending to reduce the expense
| of living and tighten the burdens of taxation,
l earnestly hope no policy will be adopted
| that will degrade American labor or lessen its
| rewards.
| RAILROADS.
| The enterprise manifested by our people in
| the construction of railroads evinces dispo-
siton to appropriate the advantages which
| nature has placed within our reach, and in
| spires lively hope for the future OF the State.
| From the Railroad Commissioners report
| it appears that 69i 81 miles of railroad are
now in operation in the State, of which rs
have been built the past year, and that there
| are l86 miles under construction. The
| Commissioners recommend more stringent
| enactments for the prevention of accidents.
| 1t is gratifying to learn from the report of the
| Commissioners that the Rrilroad companies
in the State are generally raising the charact-
| er of their respective roads to higher level OF
| durability and safety.
The claim of this State and Massachusetts
| against the general Government, which had
been assigned for the benefit of the European
and North American Railway, has been al
lowed, and secures the early completion OF
that road. This will open direct Railroad
communication with St. John, and by road
already built, with the Gulf of st. Lawrence,
and, at an early day, by line rapidly APP
| preaching completion, with Halifax. We
extending the whole length of the continent
and connecting the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans. The great thoroughfare between
Europe and the most of the American CONT
nent and the Pacific coast will then be
through this State.
While this work has been going on in the
East an enterprise which originated in Port
land has been rapidly pushing its way west
ward and will soon secure more direct com
munication between> that enterprising city
and the great grain growing States of the
West and at no distant day by the Northern
Pacific Railroad to the Pacific ocean on The
coast of Oregon. These grand enterprises
and several other roads of much local i'm
portance that are being built, with the projec
ton of others that are sure to be completed
at an early day, are the best evidences of ;
determination to make our railroad system
equal TO the demand of the growing interests
OF the State. Let this spirit be encouraged
and it will develope resources which woulC
otherwise remain useless. The unoccupieC
farming lands in Aroostook county, with
soil equal if not superior to that OF any othe
section of New England, are being settlet