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

M red acres, but in tracts sometimes stIesc"
NO across the continent. How magnincent
"a. he Grant to SIR Ferdinando Georges, to
tho COMPANY of Massachusetts, Bay. to the
London company, to Mason and other early
proprietors Of the New World. let history
tell. II certainly was not parceiled out III
one hundred acre lots in the hrst instance
but these great land grants fell to pieces oy
the natural force of events, the same as I'D
this country all landed estates must DO.
Why. sir, the land in different counties In
this State. in the very county Of kennebec,
where we stand, was owned BY proprietaries
under broad grants, and extensive patents,
but now they are divided into small farms
And this tendency to divide is so great, that
in this country where the government mas
proyided lands for settlers. with unparaIleleu
bounty the average size OF farms iii 1901,
was one hundret. and ninety-nine acres, and
in 1870. il was only one hundred and fifty
three acres. Washington, beside his magni-
fcent estate on the Potomac, acquired land
ed estate of between forty and fifty thousand
acres. He disposed by will. of property
which he valued at FIVE hundred and thirty
thousand dollars. Surely. no one will say
that his example is pernicious, or that ne
was -'gided pauper.'
The colossal fortunes which have been ac-
N
were ACQUIRED by raen who began as poor
bows. Aston was trader in small peltries.
Vanderbilt began by doing the most mental
service. What great fortune in this country
has been held together for over four genera
tion.: Scattered among children and grand
children. under the memorable laws Of change,
the largest wealth soon dwindies, and the
descendants Of rich men are Obliged to climb
again the ladder of personal fortune.
But suppose YOU could limit the right to
acquire wealth. and bind business in chains.
what then: Nay. suppose one class OF the
community had the power to say that when
a certain amount Of wealth should be ac-
auired by any person, the surplus should be
divided, who would fix the limit, and what
would he the result? DO yon believe that
any fortune would ever exceed the boundary
fixed TO- such forced division: Would
you not take away all stimulus
to honorable exertion. To-day every young
man--every farmers bOv-enters upon the
battle OF life with clear field and asking no
fayors. He knows that by energy. integrity
and attention to business, there is in this
country no position of trust he may not fill,
10 fixed limit to his honorable ambition, in
the achievement of fortune. But were it
otherwise, were he liampered and circum-
scrhed Obliged to see his hard earnings
divided BY the idle OF the dissolute, then
would the noble courage which spurs him to
exertion give place to Indifference and de-
spair, and the prosperity and glory Of the
nation yield to adversely, defeat and shame.
1t should not be accounted crime to any
man that he is successful. And if by frugal
ity and industry. by the projection of vast
enterprises and the conception of mighty
plans, which almost change the face of the
] and, hon.. rs nc
fellow men. he builds up a great fortune to
be scattered by those who come after him, it
should not be charged upon him as a dis
grace. The examples we place before our
| children are such rs stimulate them to high
and honorable endcavOr, and not to Incidence
and careessness. Let the road Ia competi
ton be always open, and let it be understood
that honest success is an honor and not a
shame. There should he no jealousies be-
| tween labor and capital. The actors in the
drama of this lite are constantly
changing and the poor man Of to-day is the
capitalist Of tomorrow. All resources of
the country, and all trades and occupations
growing out of their rise and development,
are in large sense mutually dependent on
each other. and the prosperity of one cannot
he without its effect upon tie others. Let us
| then unite in advancing the success of all,
and we can best do this by promoting the
harmony Of every social and industrial inter-
est in the country.
Our pilgrim fathers in their stern zeal and
fervent purpose, found little use for the arts
of the politician. 1t is true that amongst
their number were no mllionaires, but in their
pure and simple democracy the place of the
demagogue was left vacant.
With sublime faith and united will they
sought but one end--the establishment of
home in the wilderness. where they would
have the right to worship God without fear
and without hindrance. But they took good
care that the foundations of the republic
they were planting, should not be endangered
BY any party which should seek to advance
its own interests by appeals to the passions
and preiudices of the people
They discouraged popular discussions and
partizan zeal, and firmly implanted in the
hearts OF the people those virtues by which
this country has been enabled to survive
many pcrils and to exhibit To the world the
spectacle of a people, self governed
knowing no master but themselves. We
have entered upon new era of prosperity,
and taking no backward step let us move on
with steadfast courage to new achievements
and to greater victories.
Remarks or Mr.. Bradstreet or BridgtOn.
In House Of Representatives March II the question
Of substituting the minority for the majority report
Of the Committee on the Condition Of the Com.
mohwealth.
W. Speoker:-I have read with much
pleasure the able report of the majority Of the
Committee on the State of the Commonwe nth,
and have lis.ened with equal pleasure to the
able, candid and exhaustive argument in sup
port of it from the gentleman from Portland,
Mr.. Stroutl, and also to the eloquent and
very unique argument of my very good friend
from Van Buren, Mr.. keeganl. And while
the gentleman from Van Buren, was talking
was just on the point of calling him to order
and reminding him that he was talking on
the wrong question; for made up my mind
that he thought the question Of the division of
Rockland was before the House. And knew
the gentleman from Rockland Mr.. Hall was
not aware, when he made his speech some
weeks ago. that he was favoring this minori-
ty report.
Now,I do not desire at this stage of the dis
cussion to trespass upon the time of the gen.
tlemen of this House very long. But do
desire to supplement a few thoughts to what
has already been said This report comes be-
fore us, or rather this message of our COVER
nor comes before us in the form of the mi
nority report of a committee. 1t was thrust
upon US in this peculiar manner on motion.
as understand, Of a democratic Senator from
Peuobscot. Therefore l understand now
that IT is free subject for discussion, and
that il not only invites. but under the pres-