Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-01-09
Governor Garcelon's Address,

The Address of Governor Garcelon,
found in our columns. shows somewhat
hasty preparation, and reads very much like
an old-fashioned democratic, campaign
speech The Governor begins with pic
ture of the hard times, then passes to
State expenditures, concerning which he
makes the statement that exclusive Of
any payments on account of our public
debt. interest on the same, and of bounties
to soldiers or their families they ''have
nearly quadrupled during the last twenty
years Undoubtedly the Governor has
been led astray in this matter by reckless
democratic papers.
By reference to reports of the State
Treasurer it will be found that the expen-
ditures for the year 1857 were S456, 70l go.
The ordinary expenditures for the year
1878 were 1927, 1925. Thus in twenty
one years the expenditures had nearly
doubled-not quadralpled as the Governor
says-and the cause of this Increase is
found, not in extravaganza and waste, but
chiefly in the increase of money raised by
the State for the support of the public
schools. In 1857 the State paid only the
sum of s7s, 46l so for the support of the
public schools in 1873 it raised 1927 $685.
sc for the same purpose; an amount larg-
err by $349, 437 .3S than the sum raised
twenty years ago for schools. Stated briefly
the facts are as follows;
Expenditures for 1873, $s27 ,i62 %
Expenditures for le57, $i56,70i.G0
Paid for support of schools,
in is7s, more than in 1857, 3ie,iT.3s so6,ls9s
Inference. s2l,323 81
Thus the increase of expenditures for or
binary State purposes during the last twenty
wears falls far below Governor Garcelon's
statement. and the larger part of the in
crease is caused by increased expenditures
for the public schools.
Now that we have come to specie pay
ments, when greenbacks are as good as
gold and prices are generally as low as be-
fore the war, there is undoubtedly an OPP.
portunity to curtail State expenses in some
directions, and to that extent we mosl
heartily endorse retrenchment; also to the
abolition Of any useless offices which may
be found to exist. and of any unnecessary
expenditures whatever The times de
mand the strictest economy, and in judi
cious saving we hope the Governor viii
have the support of the legislature.
The Governor favors biennial sessions o
the Legislature, subject passed upon by l
former Legislature, against the project
His remarks in relation to taxation deserve
attention. In the matter of disturbing tn
law relating to the rate of interest Their
will be serious opposition. The subjec
has been thoroughly discussed, and tn
present law seems to be rooted in the firr
convictions of majority of the people
The suggestion in relation to the Judiciar
is Sphinx-like. More light is wanted upo
that matter to make it Ineligible.
The Governor employs no such hairs
language in relation to the subject of edu
cation as we have been accustomed to Sc
in the acknowledgements organs, bu
directs the most of his fault-finding toward
the free high schools. We hope the legis
lature will make inquiries into the merit
of these schools, and if there is good rea
son for fault-fnding with them, correct tn
wrong. When, however, the Governo
insinuates, as he does, that high school
are established for the wealtbier people i
communities, he falls into great error
Rich men can educate their children a
academies and colleges, but the childre
of the poor depend for education upon tn
public schools.
In regard to maintaining the electiv
franchise free and untrammeled by bribery
intimidation, or any other means to impai
the fullest and freest exercise of the right
the Governor comes into furious confic
with his Southern brethren. They don
believe coiored people have any bushes
''feeling with politics." but Governo
Gareelonis not of thatopinion we are gladt'
see.S We think, however, that the Gov
ernor should have added to his recon
mendation concerning bribery, another
Recommending the Acknowledgement 0
those who steal mems votes by film.
voters with Intoxicating liquors. OF tn
two evils the latter is the worse.
The most important part of the Addres
Is that touching the national finances. /
alnost justifies the remark make by SOM
of Governor Garcelon's friends, that ''h
is.the hardest kind of hard money man.
He says presumption has become AN &c
comp'ished fact" Then, as if he were de
termhed 10 squelch fiat money forever, h
expresses a hope that there may be N,
necessity Of retreating from $50 plain
duty as return to specie payments, an,
declares that "'sodtfng bit GOLD and Sill
YER can lawfully be made LEGAL
TENDER for debt" In this statement h
gives the greenback doctrine fatal stab
The vital principle of greenbackism i
pierced entirely through. without mercy. j,