Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-02-11
MAINE LEGISL4TURE.
SENATE.

Senate, that in the absence of the Speaker.
Mr.. Dickey of Fort Kent, had been chosen
Speaker pro TEN.
Mr.. PATTEN of Penobscot moved that the
vote be reconsidcred whereby the Senate
passed to be cngrossed the resolve in favor of
the Maine State Agricultural College.
Thereupon Mr.. ATwELL of Penobscot, adj
dressed the Senate as follows;
Ii again becomes my privilege to make a
few remarks with regard to the College of
Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts. its
present status, its merit an educational
institution as regards the physical and mental
developments, its future with regard to the
rising generation of this State as also its
needs; and the reason convincing at least to
us why assistance should be granted at this
time. We all admit, presume, the one fact.
that the education of our children is the great
est wealth that il is possible for us to bestow
on them in comparison towhich gold is dross.
Now then comes the question, how does this
institution compare with others of an educa-
tional character in accomplishing this result?
In the years that have elapsed since | spoke
last of the college and its concomitants be-
fore the legislature, have become more and
more convinced in my own mind of its intrin-
sic value in all things pertaining to the train
ing for practical business life, of the youth
of Maine. Living under its shadow. il has
been in my province from year to year. to see
more of its workings in that direction than
perhaps any other member of this legislature: :
and am pleased to say, that so far as my
knowledge has extended its increase in use
fulness has been in direct ratio with the years
that have rolled by since its inauguration
The after life of many of its graduates has
been under my own observation. and have
to say, believe graduates of this college in
business life will compare favoraby with
those of any college in the State. That Il
larger proportion of them do not become far
mers can be no objection in my opinion to the
college. Those of us who have had families
that have come to years of manhood. know
full well the fact, that our bows do not all in
cline in any given direction. The one may
desire to follow the plough, another a trade
still another profession, and on through
all the numerous business interests of our
country. Do we, though we may be farmers
wish our sons to follow in our footsteps. if
their taste, inclination or capacity point in
another; Most certainly not. Why then his
seeming antipathy against the college bccause
il graduates less farmers?
The design of the institution as set forth is
''to give the young men of the State who
may desire it, at moderate cost, the adj
vantages of a thorough, liberal and practical
education" Now comes the question. Does
the college accomplish the design of its
founder. | assume to say there is no person
who would be allowed as judge in this mat
ter, after attending the graduating exercises
from year to year, but would acknowledge
that the young men, and women too, for that
matter exhibit the result of thorough and
indefatigable labor and training on the part
of the faculty. thus fitting them better than
any other institution in the State for the
varied walks of life. 1t is well known fact
a. e H..
unfit the graduate for accepting any position
that means labor, other than brain. 1t is also
fact that the country is ovcrrun with that
class. Men highly educated but totally unfit
to obtain a livelihood by the means God in
tended should; that is to say, their hands
rather than their brains. Now we assume
that the graduate of the College of Agricul-
ture and Mechanic Arts. when he passes the
examination required for him to graduate is
prepared as the old maxim is to ''take the
bull by the horns" If he prefers the pro-
fesson of Law or Medicine he is as thorough
ly and well prepared to study for either prac-
ticaly as the graduate of any other College.
If to the contrary he Is inclined to the farm
or the workshop, he is eminently fitted for
those by the physical training he receives at
the College of Agriculture.
His thorough education is far from being
lost if he takes to mechanics or the farm, for
as has been well said, 'the better educated
the worker in any department of life, the bet
ter the work" Skilled labor is desirable
whenever it can be obtained. And we as
sumo there is no educational institution in
this country that better prepares its graduates
to do the battle of life, be the sky clear or
clouded, than this--being assured of the fact
that he has that within him which must sooner
or later place him in the front rank of his
fellow citizens. For who among us take pre-
cedence of the educated mechanic or farmer?
Another point which | wish to tonch is the
facility with which the poor man can educate
his children at this college. 1t is fact well
known, that it goes into the thousands of dol
lars to secure a liberal education at any other
college in the State. Can any person in com
mon life, especially in these depressed times,
though he may wish it never so much, obtain
the means whereby he can give his son col
legiate education? Assuredly no. But thank
God the day has come, when your son or mine.
be we rich or poor, can get as good practical
education as can be obtained at any institu-
ton of learning in the land; not only intel
lectual but moral and physical.
We have now arrived at point where we
claim the college as an industrial institution
to be a success and an honor to the State-its
legitimate father-that fact l presume none
will deny, or why did the State assume its
fraternity at the start! Was it when hard
time has come il is to be east off as a cum
berer of the ground? Most certainly not.
1t may say, perhaps properly, the flush times
are over; now you must do like the rest of
my children, curtail your expenses as far as
may be in all directions. But as you cannot
do all at once, | will help you little this year,
trusting in the future you may be more nearly
self-supporting.
Now, then, in the order of retrenchment we
come before you. Senators, asking the com
paratively small sum of twenty-five hundred
dollars. That amount is assumed by the
committee, which is a very conservative ono,
to be the least possible sum that the college can
get along with the ensuing year and not be Sc
riously crippled in usefulness, or be Obliged
to incur debt Another year we trust with
changes that may be brought about, we shall
not be Obliged to call on the State at all. But
this year, for the honor of the State and the
college we have no other course to persue.
We claim it duty the State-and you honor
able Senators to-day represent the State-to
not throw off the college in this its hour of
need. And we honestly believe there is no
Senator here who may vote for this appropri-
stin lint, hos uetit a., l.or