The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-07-20

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macy, which consists largely in the use of Ian
guage to conceal IDEAS In this busy age this
age of inveation, this age of machines, this age
of commerce, believe that diplomat does best
VINO is most successful in binding together in
bonds of sympathy, in bondSof interest, in bonds
of commerce, in bonds of business the land he
represents with the land to which he is accred-
tied. believe that minister does best who
tries first of all to be Of use to his own land. and
second to be OF use TO the land TO which he is
sent. To these ends, my friends, / pledge you
my besc efforts.
And now once more thank you, my towns
meD,--from my heart / thank you for this
honorable testimonial, for your kindly greeting
! and farewell.
Con. Mattocks then said that in order not to
take up time with formal toasts he would call
upon the gentlemen who we're to respond TO
the set toasts, He would therefore request
Hon. Fred N. Dow to reply to the toast, s'The
! President"
MR., Dow's LETTER.
Hon. e. N, Dow was unavoidably prevented
from being present, but sent the following let
ter to the Committee, which was read by Mr.
Hale OF the Committee
FRyDURG. July 10, 1883
Messrs. William Senter, Clarence Hale, John
A. Emery, Committee.
GENrLEMEN-I regret that an engagement
long since made, involving the convenience
and interests of others renders 1t impossible
for me to testify, by my presence at the dinner
Thursday evening, 10 my appreciation OF the
character aud ability of your distinguished
| guest; or to respond, as requested, to the toast
! 10 the President.
need not assure you that 1 rejoice at the
good fortune which has fallen to the lot OF our
i fellow citizen, the Minister to Sweden; OF that
should esteem it an honor to respond to the
| toast to the President OF the United States,
| which will be so naturally suggested on that
| occasion.
am sure we all feel that snch a toast is not
| merely formal matter; and that II is prompt
ed, not more by the honor which Is due TO the
| office OF President, than by the respect which
he who occupies IL has so justly won from every
| thoughtful and consderate citizen.
| 1t is surely matter for universal congratu-
lation; and the best assurance Of the safety of
| our institutions that, however high the excite
mont of party strife, all our people bow cheer
| fully to the popular will, and accord due re-
| speet to any man who has acceded to the pres,
/ deney in accordance with Constitutional
forms And it is not less an evidence of the
soundness of that political axiom which, in
/ government by the people, is fundamental,
! that sthe majority cannot err" that with rare
| exceptions, those who have attained to the
Presidency have justified the popular faith in
] their ability and disposition to sink the part-
san in devotion to the general veal.
But recalling as we can the long line of dis
! tinguishpd citizens who have held that high
| position, l believe that it rs the Judgment OF
| the masses of the American people that Chester
| A. Arthur has been exceled by none in a thor
ough knowledge of men and affairs; in broad
! views and enlightened Statesman anship; and,
what is better than all, in earnest aud patriotic
| subordineton of all personal and partisan
/ ends to the general good. Called to his high
/ position from that school of practical politics
which is the bette noir of the professional politi-
| cal reformer; and the synonym OF political dl-
| letantism for all that is corrupt and uutrust-
| worthy, he has given the country an admins
tration unriyalled In our history for its prompt
and honest Interpretation of the popular will;
| aud has rescued, amid the acclamations of the
| people, the most popular Reform of the day
from tue well nigh suicidal blunder of its cho-
/ sen apostles!
/ His success has been such, that whatever the
| generous confidence of the people may have in
| store for him, in the immediate futare, his
| place in history is secure among the ablest and
/ purest OF our Presidents.
Other men have been called to the RESPONSE
blities of that position in moments of great ma
/ tional peril; but no man has assumed the du-
/ ties of that office under circumstances more
| trying to himself. No President has been
watched so closely for errors of head or of heart
in the discharge of such great responsibilities.
How has he discharged those duties?
To say that ha has made no mistake is to say
that his wisdom is initiate; to claim that he
| has erred in nothing is to maintain that he is
| nos human. But to-day the glare of the sharp
| est scrutiny discloses TO his bitterest opponent
no act which is dishonorable to the man or dis
1 creditabe to the high Office which he so wor-
thily fills.
l regret, therefore, exceedingly that can
not be with you to respond to that toast; and to
| join you ia wishing a prosperous voyage,
| pleasant and honorable service aud, in due
| time, safe return TO your guest of the even
| ing Very truly yours,
FRED. N. Dow.
In response to the toast of "The State Of
Maine" Gov. Robbie responded as follows:
GOV. ROBES sHEEcH.
Nr. President; thank you for your intro
ductioE, and my friends for their generous re-
sponse. am happy to be present on this in
teresting occasion, and TO have the honor to
| represent the State of Maine; and in consider
alton OF the sentiment which you have offered
| to speak few words for its citizens.
The State of Maine is an important State.
1t has not at pr sent large and increasing
| population but in all its material resources t
| has no superior. II has an extended and mag
| nifcent sea coast, with capacious harbors and
| beautiful islands. Three-ffths of the wooden
ships of the country are built, commanded
| and largely owned by the citizens of Maine, and
they carry large proportion of the exported
| productions OF this country to other portions of
| the Globe. Statistics show that we COM
mercial State OF the first standing Our rivers
| flow onward to the sea from never failing res
ervoirs, and in their downward course create
waterfalls OF great power and number. 1t is
already the fifteenth State in the Union in
manufacturing, and when this power is utilized
| it will lead the other States.
| In agriculture we are fast gaining in produc-
tions and influence. Our educational system
is in the advance, and we have as much gener-
al intelligence, and as little illiteracy as any
| State in the Union. Our public and State in
stitutions model institutions
| We are proud of our railroad system. There
are no physical obstacles which can stand be-
fore the push and energy of our business men.
The iron horse creeps up the highest noun
tains in New England, enlarging the business
relations of the city and State, under the direc-
tion and charge OF one of Portland's distin-
guished sons. Another railroad of great pre-
| teEtion and value spans the State, sending Its
| arms to the remotest settlements. and passing
into foreign territory. unies the various inter-
ests of different people in harmony, under the
leadership and energy OF another of the dis
| tinguished sons of Portland
Our people have always been loyal to liberty
and free government. Every third of
our population was in the army of the Revolu-
ton, and our own boys filled the Union army
to its full requirements. We can, therefore,
but admire our State flag with the old pine
| tree in the centre, on one side of which are the
| emblems OF Agriculture, on the other the EN-
bieIns of Commerce, representing the vocatons
| and ambition of our fathers. The relationship
which the towns, particularly ia the western
| section of the State, have always held to Port
| land, has been very intimate and pleasant.
| My own native town has always enjoyed close
| and social relations with Portland. 1t was
just one hundred years after the first SO tile
nent Of Port and that the first immigrant arriv-
| ed from Cape Cod, left Portland and padded
his bateau up the river tPresumpscot and
one Of its tributaries, landed In the
wilderness and built log cabin on one
of the elevated spots In Gorhsm town.
From that day Portland has been our market,
and its citizens frieHds L notice in the di-
| ary kept by Rev. Thomas Smith an interesting
incident. Six years after onr town was set
tied he made the following note, May 81, 1742:
II rode to Gorham town and preached and had
| great assistance" This may be construed as
complimentary to our early settlers, or the as
sistance ard inspiration may have come from
the Source OF All Power.
The good pastor Smith rode out to Gorham
town over a circuitous bride path which was
| then the only way between Portland and the
frontier settlement. What changes have taken
place since those days, we have only to con-
slider, and then we wonder l desire to en-
phasize the fact that in all the affairs and
| events OF life, from the earliest colonial times,
there has been reciprocal interest and an in
| innate relationship between the country towns
and Portland, which this little incident IL
lustrates Portland was from the start the
centre of business, the place to run to for all
kinds Of assistance. The circle has been great
ly enlarged and extended, but 1t is still the
hub, where all interests meet and where great
undertakings are prosecuted to successful ends.
Portland has given to the State eminent di-