Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-07-17

Ezra Cornell, accepting the grant flor his
University and advancing the money for
the Agricultural Department, took the
scrip and trudged through Wisconsin on
foot, locating it on pine lands. which are
still held for the University and will make
in the end a valuable endowment. But
Mr.. Cornell did not escape SANDER, and
only last year the poor old man was in
vestigated into his grave by just such alb
surd lies as that with which DR.. Jordan
attempts to slur the names OF Gov. Cony
and Gen. Hersey.
The course pursued in New York was
earnestly and persistently urged on the
LEGISLATURE of Maine long before New
York thought of it. In January. 1868,
Mr.. Blaine and the late Professor Smythe.
of Bowdoin, addressed both branches OF
the Legislature assembled in the Repre-
sentative Hall on two consecutive even
ings-Mr. Blaine appearing for Water
vile College and Prof. Smythe for Bow
dom. Each argued at great length against
the policy of selling the scrip and es,ab-
fishing new and separate institution. and
each urged most earnestly that the scrip
be given outright to one OF the existing
colleges in Maine on condition that said
college should advance the money to es-
tablish and successfully maintain an Ag-
ricutural Department. Both Mr.. Blaine
and Mr.. Smythe warned the Legislature
that selling the scrip would never give
funds enough to establish a successful Ag-
ricultural College. And Mr.. Blaine, speak
ing for Waterville College, with President
Champin by his side, pledged that Col
lege. in case the grant should be assigned
to it, to follow the same line of policy at-
forwards adopted by Cornell. Indeed that
plan was first proposed by Mr.. Blaine.
Moreover it is to be remembered that both
Gov. Coburn and Gov. Cony cordially
agreed to this plan. In his address to the
Legislature Jan. 1868, GOV Coburn. who
knows as much about the valae ol lands
as any man in America. referring To the
grant, said;
"As none of the proceeds arising from sale of
these lands can be devoted to the erection of
buildings, it may be cxpcdeCt and indeed abso-
lutely necessary to allow some of our existing IN
situations to avail themselves Of the benefit OF the
grant provided satisfactory guar antees can be CIV
en- that its design will be faithfully carried out.
The amount to be realized in cash from the grant
will of course be very considerable, though from
various not necessary to enumerate, 1t will
be very far below the estimates which many have
been led to indulge"
The next year, 1864, Gov. Cony re-
peated the recommendation of Coy. Co.
burn. speaking thus in his address TO the
Legislature:
"Without the slightest preference on my own
part as to what institution shall be selected with
which to connect the Agricultural College, my
convictions are very decided that 1t is eNpedient
to adopt some one of them.
But the Legislature was determined to
have separate institution and the advice
of Gov. Coburn, of Gov. Cony, of Mr..
Blaine, and of Prof. Smy,he was rejected.
Certainly if the Agricultural College has
not fulfilled expectations its failure cannot
be laid at the door of any OF these gentle
men.
1t will not escape observation lis the fit
ting answer to the absurd SANDERS OF DR..
Jordan, that the only Maine men in any
way interested in the purchase OF this scrip
were two prominent democrats, Franklin
Smith, OF Waterville, and William H. Lam
cy of Pittsfield. Mr.. Smith j: a highly re-
spectacle man and was democratic candi-
date for Governor in 1869. Lancy is a
brawing. noisy partizan after the stripe
that is dear to the heart of DIR. Jordan. 1t
will be noted further that Smith and Lam
cy got between them $4,000 acres, about
one eighth of the whole grant. SO if there
was swindle. oftwelve hundred thousand
dollars, Smith and Lancy got one hun
dred and fifty thousand. We hope DR..
Jordan will insist on, these living demo-
Gratis giving that amount to the treasury
of the Agricultural College, for they. in
deed, We're the only troop of plumber
ers' in Maine who got their hands on this
famous scrip. Let him employ his vitu-
perative energies in denouncing Smith and
Lancy, the living offenders, and cease for
very shame Gf DR.. Jordan can be sup
posed ever to feel shame) from pouring
his filth on the graves of dead men whose
shoes he was never worthy to stoop down
and unlOOSe