Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-03-18
TWO spIendid speeches.

Two Splendid Speeches.
We publish to-day upon the ontside Of
the Journal two splendid speeches made
in reply to the calumnious utterances OF
Governor Plaissed against the State OF
which he is the Chief Executive. 1t was
thought by the minority of the Committee
on the Condition OF the Commonwealth,
to be smart trick upon their part to
adopt and present to the legis-
lature, as minority report, the message
OF Governor Plai.ted delivered at his
Inauguration: but since it has served
TO draw out the just and admirable criti-
cisms Of the gentlemen whose speeches
we present to our readers to-day, and to
rescue our noble State from the base and
humiliating attitude in which it was
represented by the Governor, the laugh
appears to be entirely with the majority.
These speeches are able. temperate.
candid, truthful. and the matter and style
are such as to make them pleasing and
interesting reading. And we hope they
will have wide circulation and be read
at every fireside in our State. also by peo-
pie in other States where the misrepresen-
tations Of the condition of the people OF
Maine and her institutions by Governor
Plaisted have been noticed in the news
papers. 1t Is singular that the people
Of Maine should he obliged to defend
her good name against the aspersions Of a
man elected by the people 10 the Chief
Magistracy Of the State, but it is never
theless fact, singular and strange as it
NAV be. If men believed the address OF
Governor Plaisted to be true they would
certainly leave the State ~ soon as they
could. But his statements are not true. They
are made for political effect They are put
forth to help the party, of which he is the
leader, that thrivcs on ignorance and the
misfortunes of the country.
1t is well that this chapter of calumny
has been answered. The gentlemen who
have done it, and done it so well, are
entitled TO the thanks oil every good
citizen who feels any pride oil
interest in the State in which he resides.
Mr.. Strout. of Portland. who made the
leading speech. is Il man who has made
his way in the world and achieved reputa
ton and fortune solely by the work Of his
own hands and brains. Born and reared
upon the soil of our State, and himself AZ
example of what industry and capability
can accomplish under our institutions
giving him fortune and prominent profes
sional. social and political positions. he i:
we'll qualified to speak for and defend the
State. BY the side OF his manly effort the
address of the Governor appears mean and
contemplate.
Mr.. Bradstreet is also another example
Of man who is rising to competency ant
position by his own exertions. Educated
by his own labors, being both civil en-
gineer and lawyer. his personal his
tory tells what men can do in Maine. He
honestly denounces and exposes the dema
gogism of the Governor who can see nc
good in the State which made a great mis-
take when il elected him to the high
position which he occupies.
We are glad that the Governor has beer
fittingly answered. His friends did better
than they knew when they again brought
his address into notice. We hope they
have profited by the speeches in reply. anC
that their constituents will haye the salts
faction of reading the Just rebuke which
has been administered to the first and last
greenback Governor.