Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-01-05
Governors Address.

| resenfdtires:
We have assembled under the sanction OF
! constitutional authority for the purpose OF
consulting together on the promotion of the
highest and best interests of the State OF
| Maine. As fit representatives of an in
telligent constituency, have the honor to
welcome you to the Capitol of the State, and
congratulate you that you hold position
which has heretofore been occupied bv
worthy and distinguished legislators.
1t is with feelings of personal pride that
| acknowledge the high honor which has been
conferred upon me by the independent
suffrage of a majority of the people of this
State. l have accepted the position of Chief
Executive, and taken the oaths of Office with
profound sense of its responsibility and of
my incapacity to meet fully the expectations
of the people, but this feeling is supplement-
ed by desire and determination ito act well
my part, to the best of my ability. l.
therefore, respectfully claim the Indulgence
of all.
The real object of government has been
clearly defined in the preamble of our
National and State constitutions; let our
acts be in accordance with the wise teachings
and principles therein expressed; and from
the purposes indicated, let there be no
departure.
Before entering upon our Legislative
duties. it becomes US to follow venerated
customs, and acknowledge with grateful
hearts eur obligations to the Supreme Ruler
of the Universe; to thank Him devoutly for
the manifold blessings bestowed upon
our State in the past, and
to humbly implore Divine aid
and guidance for the future. The obligations
and Oaths which We have taken under the
constitution, should render our respons.bilitie.
a matter of constant solicitude, that there
should be an exact and just observance of all
those principles of economy and demands of
justice which constitute and measure wise
legislation. One of the early Governors of
the district of Maine," mentioned 'piety,
justice, moderation, temperance, industry
and frugality as the essentials of good gov
ernment." Let us not fail to heed and follow
the wise teachings of our fathers, "for they
left deep footprints wherever they trod.'
Since the adjournment of the last Legisla-
ture, the American people have passed
through the trying experiences of Divine
dispensation which has before visited this
nation. The wisdom of such repeated infiic-
tions battles mans comprehension; but we
calmly submit. since the responsibility rests
with Supreme Power, whose acts are far
beyond human understanding. President
Garfield was representative American ;
commencing at the lowest round of the lad
der, he reached the highest summit of earthly
honor. On his funeral day, the people of
Maine stood thoSRktfully beneath the shadow
of a national bereayeS ~ and rendered their
tribute of sincerest sorrow for the loss of
their beloyO President. Then, as when
Washington. ~ and Lincoln died, par
tisan feeling wi jsgotten in universal grief
1t is one of tf/out-growths of civilization
and education, the leaven which preserves
our nation. not to measure personal charac-
ter by thastandard of partizanship, but justly
to award all truly great men the need
which belongs to conscientious acts of patriot
ism and lofty states manship. 1t is the calm
and reflective judgment which is rendered,
after passion, selfshness and partisan criti-
cism have lost their influence, that makes up
just and reliable history of events and writes
the true biography of great men. Let us be
ever ready to perpetuate the memory of our
great leaders by suitable and enduring me-
MORALS and monuments.
THE GROWTH AND RESOURCES OF THE STATE.
In order to fully appreciate the obligation
we owe to the public. it becomes paramount
duty that we should understand the capacity
and resources of our State, since its laws and
general welfare are to be the subject of spec
ial study. We have recently entered upon a
new decade, and the work incident to making
new census has been completed. A vast
amount of important statistical facts relating
to the material interests of the country and
State has been brought to light since the last
session of the Legislature. We draw from
the information thus gathered, interesting and
important conclusions; and by comparison
of our substantial interests in the present and
past, we have sufficient reason to rejoice in
our general increase in population, advance
ment in wealth, education, morals, and all
those elements of material power which make
a State strong and its people prosperous and
happy.
The changes that have taken place in this
country within the period of less than three
centuries are, indeed, marvellous. In 1907,
civilization first dawned on the shores of
New England and made Pemaquid famous in
historic lore. In December, 1920, our Pill
grim Fathers immortalized Plymouth Rock
OH the shore of the ocean. Brave men. res
olute women with self-reliant children, stood
together upon lonely shore and gazed upon
gloomy and unbroken wilderness They
landed on and occupied country where
everything was prehistoric. Nothing of i'm
portance existed of traditional character,
and the simple bow and arrow furnished the
only evidence of a capacity for future enlight-
euHlent 10 use lnelT own language 'IDey
left their own beautiful homes to plant poor
cabins in the wilderness They desired to
found a free agricultural State, where Chris
tianity would naturally find its greatest secur-
ity and perform its greatest work. Daniel
Webster has truly said: ''Our forefathers
sought our shores under no high wrought
spirit of commercial adventure, no love of
gold, no mixture of purpose, warlike or hos
tile.to any human being accustomed, in their
own land, to no more than plain country life
and the innocent trade of husbandry, they
set the example of colonizing New England
and formed the mould of the civil and reli-
Rious character of its inhabitants" For this
they first planted the church, and by its side
Immediately reared the school-house; and in
these two institutions all our greatness had
its origin. Under an equal yoke. they were
the advance propelling power, which has
opened America to civilization and freedom.
Now, fortunately for US, with population of
over fifty millions, and rapidly increasing, on
the corner of the cross-road leading to the
village centre, may be seen the same New
England school-house, and nesting in the
| valley, the modest church with its spire point
| ing to the azure sky, where the religion and
morals, of our fathers are taught. Wherever
these sentinels have appeared as the advance
guard Of progress, good government, art and
science have moved forward and asserted
control Let these conspicuoua elem ants n