Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-05-16

bone, therefore the republican party must
have What there il. and that needs strength
enipg considerably. Whenever the republic
can party has boldly announced policy
which it knew was right (snd that policy has
always been opposed by the democrats be-
cause it Vas right and has consistently
maintained that policy. it has always
triumphed, and always will
Let our leaders remember that. And let
them remember that the people are now near
ly, if not quite, as intelligent and outspoken
as they are, and can understand motives and
judge and act on them according to their mer-
its and application. "A word to the wise is
sufficient"
We are to have new Executive Depart
ment, representing the agricultural interests
of the country. Probably before many
weeks we will have Secretary Of Agricul-
ture added to the members of the Cabinet
The idea has been more or less opposed for
many years, but the desire for more decided
measures relative to our Wonderfully growing
agricultural interest has increased from year
to year to that extent. that it now becomes
potent demand. Should the proposition be
contaminated, have no doubtthat more CEN
tralized and effective system will be established
whereby something more will be accomplished
for the farmers than the distribution of seeds
and agricultural reports-good enough as far
as the things themselves are concerned, per-
haps; but these were not, and should not be-
the ultimate aim and object of an agricultural
department. In this connection il may be
opportune to say, that reports coming in from
the various agricultural sections of our coun-
try speak very encouragingly of crop pros
poets. The cereals of California and nearly
all of the great Northwest are promising an
abundant crop; and as there is a much larger
area sown, the hope of cheaper food grows
more promising. 1t is too early to make cal
culations as to vine or root crops.
Fruit has been considerably injured BY the
late frosts and cold weather, but not nearly so
badly as was at first anticipated. The i'm
mense tide of immigration sweeping into
Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, Minnesota and
Dakota. and even into Manitoba in the Brit
ish dominions, will, in great measure, be
Immediately utilized in various agricultural
ways and thus help materially to produce
abundant harvests. 1t is almost beyond con-
ception, the growth and prosperity of those far
of sections of our Union. Visitors from there
speak in glowing terms of the prospects.
There is no doubt of these facts and that PEG
pie are doing well and will continue to pros
per there. Still, prosperity is not confined
particularly to any locality, and I have no
doubt that with proper energy and tact dis
played by the good old State of Maine, and a
concerted development of her resources there
would be correspondingly good results in her
own borders. Especially should she develop
her splendid water power. She should be a
rival of, if not superior to Massachusetts,
as confidently predict she will be in future
which | hope is not far off.
Our weather here is contemplate, and if
I had the managing of the weather bureau,
l would resign if I couldn't produce better
1t has been raining almost continually for a
fortnight, with a cold raw accompaniment,
with now and then few hot hours thrown in
by way Of aggravation, ora gale for change.
The song "When the roses bloom again in
the springtime of the year, is out of style and
the sentiment disbeieved. We don't expect
any roses here until June. Strawberries
look their wretchedest, the boarding house
keeper is at her wits end for something new,
and snatches at a fresh vegetable as if it were
a precious thing. The butcher and the
truckster are happy, however, and so is the
produce speculator. 1t is a wonder that the
democrats don't lay The blame of this state OF
things on the republican party, for it has the
administration, Congress and the weather
bureau.
Senator Frye is in excellent health, and
together with his excellent lady, is taking
the world as easy as public man is
able to do. E.J.B.