The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-01-13
= NJ ~
Moral Eminence of Maine.


would say, sit was a providence" after ALL
that magnificent egotism of the men of 1920,
who gave the barely emancipated province f
Maine sDirigo" for motto. Maybe it was
prophecy and not the manifest destiny
can t. Of the time. The priggish motto has
undoubtedly been a great bore hitherto on
account of its dreadful aptitude for use in
school boy themes and in ''orations," gener-
ally under the name and style of Derrego CT
De Ego or Dereego. But time may justify ii !.
There are peculiar people," echoseu tribes,'
in all great natons-selected repositories #
the characteristic graces Of the people at
large. The religious impressbility of the
Hebrews was bestowed in triple measure on
the tribe OF Judah; Greek culture was large
ly concentrated at Athens; German valor
might now have been a4raditlon and nothing
more had not the Prussians cherished and
exalted it. May there not be in America,
TOO, some conservatory of the cardinal princ
pies OF the political and social life of the ma
ton? In most other countries there have
true destiny and purpose of the state were
more clearly seen and better appreciated thai.
elsewhere; where there was more faith in the
future, more inspiration and higher stand
ard Of morals. There have been communi-
ties that constituted perpetual check on the
retrogressive tendencies developed elsewhere
and perpetual stimulus to progress and to
efforts for more perfect realization of the
national idea. In the United States there
are some signs of arrested development.
There are those who think that we have not
only ceased to make advances in democratic
equality, economical and honest administra-
ton aud the other essentials of self govern
ment, but that we have already fallen away
from the highest point hitherto reached.
May there not be some shrine at whose pure,
unquenched flame the smodering fires OF
democratic liberty may be lighted anew?
That the perception of something distinct
i've, representative and typical in the people
OF Maine is not a mere fancy, moments re-
Election will show. A State. VIII. oh hardly
held its own in population between the eighth
census and the ninth. occupies anything but
representative position, of course, in respect
OF material prosperity and commercial prog.
ress. Its prominence is moral. We have
here probably the best preserved democracy
to be found in the country. The multitude
OF small landed proprietors, the comparative
ly even distribution of wealth and the prev
alence Of social equality are, we believe, more
noticeable here than in any other part of the
United States. Why! the ''hired man.
and SHRED girl,'' who sit at the employers
table and perhaps marry into the employers
family, have not yet given place to the ''ser-
vant' and the domestic in the country
districts! And this is as good a test as can
be applied. Another striking proof of the
peculiar fidelity Of Maine to the old tradi-
tions is the proverbial meagreness of the
salaries paid to its public officers. In many
other states it has become the fashion to de
cry small salaries and to argue away their
usefulness and necessity, but here we still
boast OF paying our officials of all grades
salaries so tri1ing, that there is with us no
pecuniary inducement to seek place; and it
is found that this Spartan dies makes them
all the more honest and able.
Those who take the gloomiest view of the
Republics future find the worst indication
in the corruption of public men; and Maine
is almost absolutely clear of that stain. In
the last Congress. there was hardly State
besides but had some of its Senators or Rep
resentatives badly involved in the Credit
Mober or back pay enormities. Is there
not something peculiar in the condition OF
the moral atmosphere here, where public
servants are held UP to the observance of
stricter code than their fellows?
They who mourn the degeneracy of the
Republic see marks of ruin in the lax ad-
ministration of justice and the easy compro-
mise with criminals. But in Maine our judicial
d officers have never been accused of negl-
gence or corruption and the bank robbers
who easily escape punishment elsewhere are
invariably caught sentenced and punished
when they operate in Maine At a time
when the journals TEEN with accounts of
embellishments and defalcations by persons
entrusted with public or private funds,
Maine has furnished bu. one such case OF
any magnitude for the last fifteen years.
Maine has had no corrupt legislative bodies
1t is the first state where the mere repressive
force of public opinion has DESTROYED the
lobby before it had fairly emerged from its
chrysas condition, for we believe thar the
Maine lobby, which has maintained fur
bulent and disreputable but always preca-
rious existence for the past two or three
years, is already trembling on the verge of
dissolution and will shortly fall dead under
the popular ban.
Maine has been first in many things. It
has taught the world how to struggle with in
temperance, and pilgrims come hither from
all quarters Of the earth to learn the theory
and practice of prohibition. 1t was among
the first to practically abolish capital punish
ment and TO give married women their rights
In respect to property. 1t is perhaps, nearer
giving them political rights, also, than any OF
Its sister commonwealth.
Yes, Maine does direct in MANY tb;ngs
Let it be true to itself, follow its own instincts
ana oeiieve in its own destiny, While not in
different to considerations affecting its materi-
al prosperity, let its rulers and legislators
recognize the fact that its special function is
moral one and that the most fruitful efforts
Tor Its prosperity are those directed to educa-
ton, to the diffusion of intelligence and o.
wealth and to the reforms. 1t ought not to
drift with the tide and become, like many
g. other States, an agency for the erection OF
monopolles, the accumulation of wealth in the
nands OF few, and the creation of class dis
tinctions. Its genius does not lead it in that
direction. Let it be, rather, the birth n.ce
OF reforms, the nursery of honest and hmm ono
ideas and thus the hope Of the nation and tho
world. 1t cannot become New York in ma
terial wealth and power, though it should in
fate Itself by artificial means to the bursting
point. But if it will educate its children and
follow,in all things, the path evidently marked
out for it by providence, it may have far
nobler destiny.
THE annual report of the Chief of the
Revenue Marine Bureau for the fiscal year
ending June Both, 1873 shows that the thirty.
two vessels employed in that department dun