Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-12-24
SPEECH OF POSTM
GENERAL JEWELL,

Washington, December 49, The New England
society of this city celebrated Forefathers' day,
last night, by grand sociable at the Masonic
temple. Over 500 New Englanders were present,
including the Postmaster Gen., Senators and Rep
resentatives from that section, and heads of bu-
reaus.
An original poem was read by Rev. DR.. Fay
and speeches were made Nv Ben re.loy Poor.
Senator Morrill, of VT, the Postmaster Ten. an.
others.
The Star-Spangled Banner was then sung by
the entire audience. Dancing followed until
o'clock. Ex-Speaker Blaine was prevented by
illness from being present.
The following is the speech Of Postmaster Gen.
Jewell
Permit me 10 thank you, Mr.. Chairman, for the
warm words of welcome with which you have
been pleased to present me, and you fellow New
Englanders, for the cordially of this reception
1t is, in my opinion, misfortune not to have been
born in New England, and any man or woman
who is not thus circumstanced, commences life
under very depressing circumstances. Very
many, however, have overcome this misfortune,
as far as possible, BY marrying New Englanders,
which is the very best thing TO do when one has
not been born there.
Qualities inherited in New England, out-crop-
ping as they do after several generations, the
main spring to the advancement and career Of
many Of our best men. We have every reason to
believe that the ancestor Of our honored and
worthy Chief Magistrate, who emgrated from the
Mass. COLONY about the middle Of the 18th Gen.
fury to Windsor, Conn., where he held the office
of town clerk continuously for more than 80 wears,
is the cause Of his sterling virtues. The very
qualities Of loyalty integrity and virtue for which
Gen. Grant is now celebrated, have come down
to him through the generations from the pure N.
T.. stock.
What an influence New England by It's educa-
ton and habits has exerted upon the destinies of
this country. How many men have been sent out
from Bowdoin, Dartmouth Middlebury, Williams,
Amherst, Harvard, Yale and Brown to leaven the
lamp of this republic!
What an influence has been exerted BY the
thousands Of young men who have gone ont from
the ship-yards OF Maine to courageousy carry
American integrity and seamanship to the ports
Of every civilized nation
What an influence have the sturdy sons Of n.
H., who have left her rockbound hlsides to set
tie in other parts Of the country, exerted towards
creating the present American character Of thrift
and industry
How many men and women, after having
breathed the pure dir of the Green mountains,
where loyalty and independence appear to be as
permanent as substantial and as beautiful as their
native hills, have scattered their seeds of purity,
the harvest of which we are now reaping all over
our western prairies.
From the machine and shoe shops of Mass, a.
we'll as her commercial ports and her literary
centres, have been sent broadcast over the civil
lied world as good specimens as have ever been
found in any nation or time Of the best qualities
Of the human race.
hind in her example, as she is to-day a synonym
Of loyalty, industry and independence.
Connecticut what long and illustrious list OF
examples has she Lot given to this country OF
what free American born citizens should do and
be From the Trumbulls, Ellsworths, Wolcotts
and others have flowed such stream of inteli-
gence and pure mindedness as to have been felt
in every part Of our country. At one time almost
a majority Of the American Congress were either
natives OF that little State OF hai been educated
in it.
Ii being born in y. H., learning a trade in
Mass. and spending the days OF ones manhood in
Conn.,, does not enttle man to be set down as a
full. blooded Yankee, know of no life that can;
and proud am of the appelation. New England
is and has right to be proud of her sons and
daughters. They are scattered far and wide.
From the Penobscot to the Rio Grande, from Cape
Cod to the Golden State, they can be found with
all their singularities and angularities, and in
every community where there is work to be
done, money to be made, progress to be achieved,
YOU will find them foremost and their influence
is Away being felt for good.
In the conflicts of the future, between virtue
and vice, between intelligence and superstition,
freedom and slavery, we have a right to expect
that they will be fonEa, a in the past, fighting in
the front rank shoulder to shoulder for universal
liberty, education and obedience to law.