Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-02-06
now TO BUILD UP A STATE.


oring to open the eyes of the people Of that
State to the need of doing something to i'm
prove their condition. Many of its remarks
are applicable to this State. 1t compares
New Hampshire with Massachusetts,, Connec-
ticut and Rhode Island, showing that the
former has refrigerated in population and
prosperity while the latter three States have
made large progress. The Statesman then
says:
What has caused this difference in these re-
suits of forty years progress of the New Eng
land States? Why does New Hamp-
shire now support population OF only
81, 063, while Massachusetts, has ], 449,o4Z'
Rhode Island 2l7, 1919, and Connecticut 1o1,..
$50? Why has our population diminished
nearly one to every square mile IN the past
ten years, while that of Rhode Island, during
the same period has increased more than 81,
that of Massachusetts, more than ", ana that
of Connecticut more that lG, for every SIX nun
dred and forty acres of their territory!
To one familiar with the course of legisla-
ton in New Hampshire during the period
under consideration, the answer to these In
ouiries is obvious. About forty years ago,
new impulse was given to every branch OF
New England enterprise by the introduction
and construction of railroads, and the conse
quent development of manufacturing and me-
chanical INDUSTRY Up to that time our citi-
zens were almost exclusively engaged in
agriculture and kindred pursuits. They were
distinguished for their answering attachment
to what they regarded as true democratic prin-
ciples. They were taught to believe that
capital especially associated capital, was
dangerous to liberty. They honestly thought
of raNr do nd tha orortiOD
and operation of manufacturing establish
ments, by corporations would demoralize the
people and destroy the prosperity of com
munity of farmers. Some Of them perhaps
toresaw that by cheapening transportation
between New England and the fertile prairies
of the West railroads would bring our agri-
culture into competition with new element
against which it could not successfully con-
tend in producing the great staples Of wheat
and corn.
Unfortunately, there was then at the head
of the democratic party in this State as its
leaders, set of men. more ambitious for
place and power than to promote the steady
growth and permanent prosperity of the Com
monw eath. They availed themselves of the
prejudices of the community, and procured
the adoption by the Legislature of series Of
enactments, whose direct tendency was to
borders for any purpose. They insisted, for
long series of years, that railroads were
only private affairs, and that the right Of way
for them could only be obtained by the volun-
tary assent of the land owners. For ten years
they effectually prevented the construction Of
any railroads in the State, except few for
which charters had been obtained at an earlier
date. At length, SO obvious was it that we
were being deprived of advantages to which
our position justly entities us, and so strong
had become the feeling against the policy
which had so long interposed successful bar
rier to the progress of improvement in New
Hampshire, the democratic leaders were COM
PEELED to devise, at the November session,
1874, a plan whereby railroads might be
deemed public, and their construction there
after made practicable. But the legislation
against corporations generally, designed to
keep "foreign capital" out of the State, was
continued until the temporary ascendency of
the Wing and Free Soil parties in 1916, when
the most obnoxious provisions were repealed
and never afterward re- enacted. Meanwhile
the money which built up Lawrence, and Saco,
and Biddeford, and many other places in
Massachusetts, and Maine, had been driven
forever from New Hampshire, and no consid
cradle improvement of our vast water-power
had been made, except under charters grant
ed before the ascendency. of what was termed
Radical Democracy. For fourteen Of the
forty years, therefore, radical legislation pre-
vented New Hampshire from engaging extern
sively in those branches of manufacturing and
mechanical industry, the growth of which has
peopled the vicinity of every waterfall in
Massachusetts,, Rhode Island, and Connect
cut with numerous, thrifty, intelligent, and
prosperous community. While radical dema-
pOpues here were denOupcinp canifal and
successfully laboring to prevent its invest
ment, the people of those States wisely en-
couraged the development of every form of
manufacturing and mechanical industry re-
curing the aid of capital, and the result is
shown in the startling and significant facts to
which we have alluded.
The Statesman then urges the encourage
ment of manufactures, and the building up of
the industries of the State by the aid of CAPT
tai. The experience of the State has been
like that of Maine, and relief is being sought
in the same direction we are taking.