Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-01-07
Governors Address.
Gentlems" Of tie Senate and House Of Represenio-
tires.

| Htes:
The year upon which we are entering is of the
deepest significance to every American. 1t marks
| the completion Of the first grand cycle OF the Re-
public. century has passed away and the Gov
ernment of the People stands free, great and
| benefcent, to vindicate the wisdom that called 1t
| into being, to answer the prayers and hopes that
attended its birth, and still to guard for US and for
the future the blessings it was formed to secure.
A hundred years ago it existed but in the solemn
declaration and the firm resolve OF the men who
fashioned it, as an instrument of justice. To-day
it lives in mature development, fresh in all the
aims and impulses with which it set out strong in
a self-confdence inspired by long years OF varied
trial and the successful wi,hstanding Of all forms
| Of assault.
| The far stretching retrospect excites emotions Of
pride and exultaton, and yields impressive lessons
for our guidance as people in the century at
| hand. We perceive by what devotion to principle
and by how great civic virtues the Fathers OF the
Republic were enabled to establish the sure foun-
dations of our country; by what steadtastness and
heroism its independence was accomplished; and
! by what majestic progress it grew to greatness
under the stimulus of freedom. Regarding the
years not yet far removed from us, the great
| struggle through which the crisis of the conntrys
| fate had happy issue, presents itself as stern
| school Of citizenship ministerng to the stability
and prosperity Of the new nation. 1t brings the
mutual dependence of government and people
home to every man with strength of conviction
| no reasoning could convey.
| The price paid for nationality when its value
was put to the test, measures our need Of it and
| every batile.torn flag and smokebegrimed mus
ket-relc or trophy Of the contest-evcry national
| note betokening the zeal and confidence of pa,ri
otism admonishes that the welfare of. their coun
| try is in the peoples own keeping.
| A little more than half century ago the people
of Maine, in ordainng the constitution upon which
! they founded the new State, acknowledged with
| grateful hearts the goodness Of the Sovereign
| Ruler OF the Universe in afording them an oppor-
vtnr-k knl
We, of this day, recalling anew the moulding
of our common country under the auspices Of the
new and grand belief in the high average Of human
worth the dedication Of it to that principle, and
| the subsequent prosperity and happiness which
equal rights, can but feel in our hearts to own
obligations for the favor acknowledged by the
fathers Of the State; and, with the peris Of the
recent past vividly before us, to remember with
renewed gratitude the Goodness iha: has been con-
slant 10 us.
Within short space OF time the State has
grown from infancy TO maturity, and has become
mother Of States.
While we deplore the plain fact tina. the increase
| Of our population suffered check prior to the
war, and failed altogether in the war decade, We
not prepared to admit any injurious infereIces
| from it, The causes Of the misfortune are we'll
understood and involve no discredit. The great
| farming region Of the West not only became our
| overpowering rival field OF immigration, but
also attracted our own people. The golden shore
| OF the Pacific lured from Us hosts OF young men
| whose accumulated earnings were the smallest
| part of the loss sustained BY their departure.
Every fresh land Of promise Of the many that fol-
| lowed in quick succession, was pioneered by the
| hardy and adventurous sons of Maine. II is gen.
orally conceded that they abandoned the substance
| for the shadow that if their energy, experience
| and capital had been employed at home and if
their example had fostered spirit OF tconteptment,
| they would a. whole, have enlarged their own
success in life, as well as advanced the importance
and prosperity OF their State.
| Maine had thus been sorely drained when the
war swept away many of her sons. and the intiu-
| ences consequent upon it induced restless i'm
pulse, driving many more to wander or seek
homes elsewhere. The comparatively isolated
position Of the State, and the non-eXistence of
large cities within its borders have stood in the
way CT the compensating influx it might otherwise
have received. Blu: though weakened in num-
bers, We are not dspirited. A hopeful conscious
ness prevails that the elements of great State
| here and will eventually combine to form one
commensurate in oil respects with the extent Of
| our territory.
| Our State is now involved in the depression Of
business, and cessation Of enterprise everywhere
prevalent. The shadow OF The war is still upon
US. Some Of It's incidents are yet remaining
Prominent among them is the continual employ
| ment of the substitute for sound money which is
imposed. While the states have returned to their
cldtme relations TO the country, and the army and
navy Of the Union have been re-established upon
peace loOtinP, currency Ol tne country coH-
| tinues to retain its character The people Of
the State are substantially OF one mind in demand
ng relief from the feklc medium Of exchange
which has been tolerated solely for the sake OF the
great good Il was created 10 subserye. and IN de-
| string the recall Of the bsnishcu currency, the
only one adapted to the uses of peace. They look
to the National Government TO effect this as speed
| y as is consistent with any sacrifice pot absolutely
unendurable. 1t would he far better to pay
directly in taxes the certain interest Of the bonded
] a. b.. rrlaT
ed, than to bear the uncertainties, and suffer from
| the discouragements to enterprise caused by the
fictitious importance they are now invested with.
| The year upon which we now look back has
been fairly prosperous one. At least, It has not
been one OF unusual hardship. That 1t has not
| been such is due TO the unfailing bounty OF our
! soil, and largely to the admirable spirit and pa
tience with which the adversties of this period Of
transition, as it s by common consent regarded
have been met. Manufacturing has been carried
on with but little prospect of remunerative returns
| in many cases, and thus willing hands have been
enabled to earn daily bread. general decrease
| of profits has not heen attended by general want
| and suffering.
| The affairs Of the state, with which you are i'm
mediately concerned, have been well conducted in
all departments, and all its institutions have faith
tul!y fulfilled their appropriate purposes
| The TREASURY.
| The ordinary routine o. the Treasury has been
| more difficult than usual, and special and impor-
| tant duties have devolved upon il. The cash on
hai Il at the close of 1874 was S322. 2.lS'.Sl. The
receipts during 1879 were 81 l,56o, l15.iS The
payments from the Treasury during the year were
Isl, ,5l3 S67 AZ, thus leaving balance OF cash on
hand Decemrcr 81, 1879, of S3l1 ,093Si.
The STATE DEBT.
The bor ded debt of the state the first of Jan
na,v 1873, was s. ,0SS, 400. 1t has been reduced
rl.- past year by the payment of matured bonds to
,he amount of $4,000, and by the cancellation OF
bonds in the abolished sinking fund.- and is now
| q nj Af matnrPH h0ndS