The Republican journal., 1881-03-17
A Legislative Committee On Governor
Plalsted's Inaugural.

the Joint Special Committee on the State
of the Commonwealth on the Governors
message contain the bane and the anti
dote. The gentlemen who sign the min
GRITTY report were only equal to a brief
paragraph, introducing the message it.
self as worthy of the appreciation and
support of the plain people Of the State,
and which has thus been reprinted at
the public expense. This is not states
| manshlp, but sharp practice. However,
no one need complain if the majority re-
port is laid before all who may see the
only gubernatorial address of which the
people of Maine have good cause to feel
ashamed. But while it is humiliating to
| know that a man capable Of uttering such
| demagogical sentiments occupies the Gov
ernors chair, it is some consolation to
find that we have in the Legislature such
men as those whose patriotism and states
manship are Illustrated in the majority
report.
This report takes issue squarely with
enors inaugural. 1t repudiates alike
the representations that any considerable
portion of the people of this State are
wanting in substantial prosperity. and
the suggestions of future disasters arising
from causes which do not exist save in
the imagination of the Governor and
| which are not likely to exist 1t eX-
presses the "tear that the tendency of
that part of the message which discusses
the subject Of taxation, both state and
national, the militia, imprisonment for
debt, government bonds, corporate power,
freehold, and the comparisons and con-
illusions connected Herewith, Is to create
discontent at home, and to lead tile peo-
pie 10 enormously believe that they are
living under unjust laws which bear I'M
equally upon different classes And per-
nicous as must be the effect Of such
teaching at home. it is shown that they
must do the State greater injury abroad
That the people Of Maine are not suffer
ing under the weight of unequal burdens
or under the operation of unequal laws is
clearly demonstrated. With regard to
the laws authorizing imprisonment for
debt it is shown that thirty-0ne out of
forty seven States and Territories have
laws providing for arrest for debt in some
form. in some few the causes Of action
upon which the arrest is made are more
restricted than in Maine, but in a MAORI
ty the facility for disclosure in this State
is much in favor of the debtor" 1t is
therefore declared that the assertions
found in the message that thousands of
our citizens have left our State during
the decade to escape these burdens of
debt and taxation, hoping to better their
chances in new country" and that zone
of the most efficient causes tending to
drive citizens from the State is the law
OF imprisonment for debt" are not well
founded. "They seem rather" says the
report, ''to be a reflection upon those who
have gone to new States, allured by the
cheapness and fertility Of their lands or
by their mineral wealth, and who we're
amongst our most enterprising citizens"
The work Of the Valuation Commission
is pointed to as showing that the State
has awaited itself of all the means prOvid-
ed by law to prevent unequal taxation;
while with regard to property and per
sons exempt from taxation it is stated
that ''such exemption extends only to
property which from its character or the
purposes to which it is put, all will agree
should be exempt, or to persons who.
from intirmity or poverty, are unable to
contribute to the public burdens. OF this
description are churches, charitable in
situations, public buildings, household
furniture, young stock, hay, grain and
vegetables, the tools of the mechanic and
like property" SO far as the State debt
is concerned it is well said that: "Other
States are in debt, and considering our
resources and situation it will not be de-
MED that we are both willing and able to
pay what we owe. The credit Of the
State Of Maine stands equal to that of
any State in the Union"
The bugbear conjured up by Gov
Plaisted OF a few people monopolizing
the land of this great country is shown to
be utterly absurd and preposterous and
a vigorous protest is entered against the
impression conveyed by the message that
the people Of the State are not in pros
porous condition. OF the expressions
found in the message which tend to Gre
ate class prejudice it is said that "such
expressions from the Executive do not
tend to advance the honor and dignity of
our beloved State in the estimation of our
own citizens, nor to eXalt it among it's
sister States, but rather to excite discon-
tent with our institutions and DESTROY
the support of free government" The
report concludes with these true and elo-
quent words
The permanence of representative government
depends in great measure upon the intelligence
and harmony of the people. in whom all power re-
sides. Public tranquility is necessary to public
prosperity. Whatever tends to arouse dstrust and
prejudice in the minds of the people weakens the
ties which bind society together, and thereby en-
dangers the Commonwealth. If by such appeals
party success is promoted for the hour it is at the
expense of sound and healthy public sentiment,
which is necessary to the harmony and progress
Of the State The road to fortune and honorable
preferment should be open to every citizen, and
success should not be counted disgrace to any
man And your Committee cannot believe that
the people of this State jealous of any man
who by industry, enterprise and courage achieves
even large fortune This country invites all men
to enter the field of honorable competition and
off. vla 10,