Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-09-04
NO. 2O9.

nesota formed part Of the magnificent and rsnidiv
growing territory OF Iowa, which 90 soon took en- the
stature OF full-grown, vigorous Commonwealth.
iowa and wisconsin having been admitted -
sates tner territorial remainders naturally formed
one government, and 80, in ls49 the terr;torv N
Minnesota was organized. And then. for m. A..
time since our government acquired Louisiana from
france, with the exception Of Q brief period under
the old territorial organization Of Michigan. and An
equally brief one under that Of Wisconsin. Min.
nesota on both sides Of the Mississippi, was organ
lied under the same government. And that ssem.
but yesterday; yet the sowing of the next crou vI
mark full rounded thirty years since the oreano Act
was passed by Congress, and President Zachary Tsv
or appointed Alexander Ramsey first governor Of ths
new territory And His Excellency is among ,ou
to-day after enjoying the highest onors of your tar
itory and your state, looking as fresh and a. vc,
Gus Us when In the of John Tver md
James H. Polk, he represented a Penusylyanis d;s.
tict in the Congress of the United States He mi-ht
pass still as young man ii his luminous reco,d
made in two states and in both branches Of Con.
sress' ala not enable US to measure the ripe three
score years that crown his honored head
To trace the history and development Of Minns.
sofa from its organization in ls4s would far tran.
scend the propfieties or even the possibiities of
this OCCASION But whoever will enter into the ds
tails Of the progress here made will nnd one Of the
most remarkable advances Of civilization ever
realized, and in period 80 brief that n does No.
comprehend the lite of one generation. In ,sls
your territory contained but iorty six hundred in
haoitants; to-day your state has seven hundred
thousand; in lo49 you raised fourteen hundred
ousheis OF wheat last year you raised thirty-thros
million bushels; and these figures, striking. even
startling as they are, form but an index so vorr
marvellous progress in all forms of material wealth.
The pages OF your census tables seem like 4 ro-
nance; the statistics Of your progress dazzle the
reader with their proportions, aad almost CHALLENGE
his credulity at every column he perusss. 80
1 am addressing an agricultural communitv
During all the depression Of trade and commerce
and manufactures prevailing for these past i've
years, you have steadily progrS ssed In comfo,t In.
dependence and wealth. While Thousands slsevhers
nave lacked employment, and many fear have
lacked bread, no able-bodied man In Mipnesota
Las been without remunerative labor. and no one
has gone to bed hungry. Your pursuits and their
results form the basis of the ideal rspu blchsppiIv
indeed realized within your own borders. Ths -.
dency OF all your industry is toward the sccumula.
ton of independent competency, and does not favor
the upbulding Of colossal fortunes. You are deal
ing daily with the essential things Of life and Are
not warped In your judgment detected from
your course by speculative and illusory schemes of
Advancement and gain. You are land ovner. r.
holders, proud title that comes to US with Ger.
turtles OF civilization and strength title that
every man In this country should make IL his
object to acquire and to honor. Self-eoverpmeot
among the owners Of the soil in America 10 an Ia.
| !
uted, good government is the rule. Whatever dis
turoances therefore may thrs. ten tho pesee and
order OF society, whatever wild theories trans-
planted from other cIimes, may seek foot-hod hare
the Republic of the United st ties rests secureIv on
that basis Of agriculture where the farmers of the
revolution and the trainers Of the Consti tutios
placed II. lhe man who possesses broad acres
which he has earned by the sweat Of his own brow.
is not apt to fall in with the doctrine of the co-
munist, that no one has right to ownership in ths
SOIL the man who has the product Of his labor in
wheat and In corn, in pork and in beef in hides
and In nwool-eommanding gold anu silver a. they
always have and always will in the marksts of the
worlds not to be led sstray with theories of 6st
paper and absolute money, but instinctivsly con-
Signs such Wild vagaries 10 the appropriate domain
of hat folly and absolute nonsense.
The Farmers of the Republic will control il
destiny. Agriculture, sommerce and msnufAc-
tures are the three pursuits that enri n nation
but the greatest Of these is agriculture; for With
out Its products the spindle cannot turn and the
snip Will not sail. Agriculture furnishes the con-
'efvatise element in society, and 10 the snd 10 the
guiding, restraining, controlling force in govern
hent. Against storms of popular fury; against
trenzied tnadness that seeks collision wish e.sai,-
lshed order; against theories OF nstrstou that
uave drencned other lands In blood; against he
spirit of anarchy that would sweep away the land
marks and safeguards Of Christian seciety and
aepuolican government, the farmers Of the Uni: d
9Ales Will stanu as the shield aud the bulWark--
themselves the willing subjects of Law, aud there.
tore Its safest ana strongest administrators.
GRADUALLY the Government of the Republic n
passing under the control Of the Farmers of the
mississippi valley Indeed 1t Is practically here
to-day. The swelling and on-rushing tide Of popu-
latlon Is towards the broad plains and the rich
acres that lie between the two mountain ranges Of
the continent. The soil is fertile, the land %
inviting, the area is so broad, that no man may
afe calculate the possibilities OF this great region
'ither ~ respects production or population. Your
own state, peopled no more denseiy than New York,
would have population of nine millions; peopled
~ densely as Massach Usetts, you would have Q
population OF sixteen millions. With the transfer
Vi political control from tie old States To the new
there Is also tranfsrred vast weight of RESPONSE
oiIity. Ii is yours to-day; it will be yours still
more Tomorrow. Take it; use il wisely and we'll
TO- the advancement. of the whole--for the honor
oi ALL The patriotic traditions Of the " old
thirteen that fought the battles Of tho Revolution.
formed the Union of the States, and planted
Liberty In the organic Law, will be your safest
suide-yoar highest inspiration. Many of you
To-day mIngle with your love for Minnesota, your
earlier affection for the old home and the old q
lar TO the East. where honorei ancestry lie
oufied, and where the tenderest memories cluster
around tle familiar scenes Of days long past. It
TINS kinship OF blood, these ties Of relationship
| 'hat make US indeed one peopls-uniting the kAss
1d the West, the North and the south, 10 the
| iissotuble bonds OF q common, and trust always
| beneicent Government.