Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-10-02
5lailn alcnnrbet NournaI
AUG u 4 ~
FRIDAY MORNING. Oct. q. 1874

There is considerable doubt about the
construction which the Standard puts up
on our paragraph in relation to buying
voters being evidence Of a good legal
mind in the person who so construes 1t.
SPEAEER ELAINE on MUNICIPAL
DEBT.
The address of Speaker Blaine delivered
Yesterday before the Northern Wisconsin
Agricultural Association, upon the subject
of Municipal Debt in the United States.
and published in our columns this morning,
will be read with interest by his numerous
| friends in Maine. 1t is new thing for
Mr.. Blaine to appear as speaker at an
agricultural association, and very sensi-
| Div he told the members of the assembly
which he addressed in his opening that he
| should not undertake to instruct them in the
ways Of farming, but would take subject
of interest to them as American citizens.
| This topic is as interesting to the farm
ers Of Maine as to those of Wisconsin, and
important to the members Of all occupa-
tons and professions.
1t will he found by those who carefully
read this address that it deals in master
| ly manner with the subject of municipal
debt. Commencing with the assertion
that public debt is not of ancient origin, it
proceeds to state that the first regularly
organized State debt was a product Of the
sixteenth century, and from this it goes on
to show how the custom of borrowing on
the credit of government grew among all
nations until it has increased to gigantic
proportions.
| But it is to the debt of our own country,
national. state, county and town, that
Speaker Blaine gives his special attention,
displaying close and accurate knowl-
edge and grasp of the subject such as
we have never before seen in any public
address. Speaker Blaine is perfectly at
home in figures, handling large sums with
the genius of a statesman and the ease
and precision of practised
iinancier. The mind that so skillfully
manages under parliamentary rules the
popular branch of Congress, can adapt it.
self with equal success to the mastery of
The largcs, ara nse>t complicated math-
rmatical problems that statesmen are
called to deal with. Itrequired a great deal
OF patient research to gather the facts pre-
scented in this address, and clear, dis
eliminating Judgment to handle them
without an error, and in such manner that
anybody can understand them.
The most valuable feature of the address
is the comments or suggestions which it
contains and the conclusions put forth
The evils of municipal debt are
clearly and frankly stated. There is
an expression of decided opposition
to the creation OF such debt except
under unavoidable necessity or the clear
est evidence of public advantage not to be
otherwise obtained. We are reminded
that our division and subdivision Of govern
ment, through national, state, county and
town organizations, each having the pow
er to incur debt, affords great facility for
the piling up of large aggregate public in
debtedness, the amount of which is con-
cealed by the manner in which it is diyid-
ed All these debts are borne by the pub
lie, and it only by their aggregation that
we know what our actual public indebted
ness is. We are pleased to see that Mr..
Blaine speaks boldly upon the evils which
are inevitable with such national debt as
we have.
Turning however 70 the brighter side of
| the picture, to the marvellous increase of
our wealth and population, far surprising
| the calculations of our most sanguine
statesmen, we find representation that
will make the heart of every American who
reads thrill with hope and pleasure.
| Though we are in debt, our ability to pay
what we owe has increased in far great
er ratio than our Indebtedness. Our cit
les have grown like works of magic. Our
iuuuStIleS TIVdl tHOoc Vi the oiuest natlODS.
Our production of mines, field and factory
are lavish. In railroads we surpass any
other part of the globe. While in 1890
the aggregate property of the nation al
lowed only one hundred and fifty dollars
to each individual. in 1870 this amount by
the census had increased to eight hundred
dollars per head. With such an exhibit
as this OF our resources and growth-which