Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-02-13
MistellameoMs.
Remarks of Mr.. SWascy Of Canton,

on bull an act to establish State Industrial
School for Girls.
Mr.. SwAsEY said:
Mr.. SPEAKER AND GENrLEMEN-T prop
osition comes to US at this time with a pretty
strong appeal. Parties have offered here to
the State conditioned that we should establish
an Industrial School for Girls, the sum of
$4,000. The proposition to establish this
school has additional force, for the reason
that they have tackled on to it a pecuniary in
terest in this sum of Sl2, 800 | feel that
those donors are entitled to our grateful con-
alteration; that we should speak well of
them, for what they have so generously pro-
posed, and l only regret, that if this measure
is OF that Importance which its friends would
have US understand, that there are not more
generous and wealthy patrons who would
make up the sum required. If the demands
OF this State are so great if this class of per-
sons, whom this institution is calculated to
benefit, is SO large, l am sorry that the gen.
erous hearted people of our State, who are
able, have so long overlooked this great
question, and have given their hundreds and
their thousands OF dollars for other purposes,
and have not seen fit to contribute to this.
did not propose to have anything to say
upon this subject. l thought that the sense
OF this House had been expressed, and am
the last man, who would stand here and by
to command attempt to throw one single OBJ
stacle in the way of the effort to bring back to
virtue a single soul that may have departed
from the path Of rectitude. 1t is fact, that
we are unable, by any system of weight, or
measure, to compare the worth of a soul with
any sum. While l would do everything with
in my power, by my act-by my influence,
and whatever pecuniary means might be ut
my hand, to throw around this unfortunate
class such safe guards-such protection as
will be effective in bringing them back, Civ
ing them the right training and carrying them
forward to true womanhood, l have serious
doubts that the proposition here made would
result in success. In the first place, we have
tried the experiment upon another class, that
of boys, and after an expenditure of some
S40O, 900, we are obliged, with a blush of
shame, to acknowledge, after twenty two years
experiment, that it has been failure that
instead Of raising the moral condition of the
inmates in that institution, it is an acknowl-
edged fact, that in great many respects,
they have become more depraved; that the
indiscriminate herding of all classes and
grades of criminals, has had an injurious et-
feet upon the inmates, and the purpose for
which it was instituted has been in a great
measure perverted Ii thought that the de-.
mands OF this State required the establish
poses, and that it could be carried on with
success in reclaiming those who are intended
to be benefited would held up my hand and
vote the last dollar, yea, | would mortgage
the State of Maine aud all its property, to
carry forward the work.
But what is our condition upon the de-
mandI In the first place, there is not the
least shadow of comparison between the State
of Maine and the State of Massachusetts, up
on this question. While the State of Massa-
chusetts has but one quarter of the area of
the State of Maine, ithas three times its pop
ulation. Their population is dense. These
evil influences that gentlemen have told us
of, are beiug exerted in these thickly settled
towns and cities all over the length and
breadth OF their State in the manufacturing
towns and villages. Another fact has come
out here in the able and eloquent remarks Of
my friend from Calais, (Corthell,) and that is
that those who ''fll the dens OF vice, and peo-
pie the hells of this earth, are not the va
grants OF cities, but they come from the coun-
try they who have come up to girlhood, per-
haps to womanhood, surrounded by all the
virtuous influences that cluster around rural
home. How then will the great majority of
the depraved women be benefited by this in
stitution, il correct early training results SO
disastrously But suppose that the demands
of the State are such; suppose that we could,
under more favorable condition of our f.
nances, carry this forward to success? What
have we to look back upon? To-day, in the
State of Maine, every State institution,
whether it be retormatory, or whatever its
purpose, is in languishing condition. There
is not an institution in this State, under State
patronage, that is now in fit condition TO
continue its work, unless we extend increased
help. While in carrying forward any great
question of reform, as establishing this school
Tor girls, we should be in condition, not to
vote our money penuriously, but we should
feel that we were in financial condition 10
comply with the wants of that institution.
We should then come up here with this sub
ject fixed in our minis, with our hearts in the
work, and vote our money without stint or
limit. il you vote money sparingy to carry
forward an institution OF this character, as
we have the Reform School, our success will
be nothing. 1t will be a disgrace to us, and
the number which will receive its benefits,
will be few. And it will linger in a sickly
condition until it fiickers and goes down like
the wick of a candle. Let us begin and cor
rect our legislation; then | am heart and
hand with you. Let us begin to throw the
burdens in this State where they belong. Let
us increase our revenue, not letting an hun
dred millions OF dollars worth OF property in
this State go untaNeu, ana our treasury ue-
pleted. Let us put the burdens upon the prop
srty tax your money; tax your railroads tax
everything, not throwing the great burden
ur on the agricultural districts. Then | am
with you in the establishment of any institu.
ton. Then, and until then only, can We
carry it forward with that success which it
really merits. When we have plenty of means
then we shall feel rich, and when We feel
rich, we shall feel generous, and when We
feel generous, we shall do those noble things
that become us as people, and Reflect cred
1t upon US as State
| wish TO be considerate in these matters.
do not wish to stand up here and undertake
to refute one single thing that the gentleman
from Calais (Mr. Corthell has sand, regard
ing the moral condition of that class of girls,
and the possibilities to which they may attain.
do not want to throw one single obstacle in
the way. But when | do anything, l want
TO do it in a manner that will ensure success.
When we establish an industrial school,
whether it be this year, or in the future,
hope we shall have an institution that we shall
be proud OF, instead of coming here and hear
ing that ''that institution is failure, and this
institution is fraud" / want 10 be fully
understood that would not refuse to hold up
| NV hand and vote Sl2 500 TO-DAY, because il