Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-10-13
miscellaneous.
Governor Robes Address
BEFoRE THE KExNEBEc AGRICULTURAL So
GETTY.

l htBlNCfCa OH tHC last hdr VI tAiN
Fair, Oct. 4tb, BY His Excellency, Gov.
Robe. The attendance was very large,
nearly two thousand people being upon
the ground. Hon. f. 0. Bean, President
of the Society, presided. Prayer was
offered by Rev. Costello Weston, and
music was furnished by the Readfield
Brass Band. Judge Bean introduced
| the Governor as follows:
Ladies' and Gentlemen We are
| favored to-day with the presence of one
WHO is the official head of the principal
agricultural organization of the State.
| He il also at the head of our State
government. Happily agriculture and
office have joined hands, and you as farm
ers, representing the principal industry
of the State, will be benefited, | trust,
by advantages in the future, brought
about by liberal policy of the govern
ment. / have great pleasure in intro
ducing to you the Hon. Frederick Robe,
Governor of the State of Maine. and
Master of the State Grange. (Applause)
Governor ROBBIE then came forward
and speaking without notes said:
Eeii0U Citizens and Farmers of Hen
neJec Coaaty:-I am happy TO be here
to-day, but | must confess at the start
that | regret exceedingly that | am
obliged to speak under the circumstances
that surround me. The cold wind is not
very inspiring, and must be tedious for
this assembly. | am unaccustOmed to
speaking in the open air, and | hardly
know whether shall be able to succeed
now and be heard, but | rejoice to be
here to-day, and | thank You cordially,
Mr.. President, for your hearty greeting
and warm concentrations. | am aware
that this demonstration is not altogether
personal in its character, but is largely
due to the position which occupy before
the state.
recognize the fact that agricultural
fairs, i'm a measure, represent the prog
ress and the prosperity of the State. |
am happy to say that was present at the
State Fair at Lewiston, and it was a
grand success. Ii was one of the largest
fairs that was ever held in the State of
Maine. On one occasion 10000 citizens
of Maine were present. and it is the men
and women of Maine that are its best
productions, measure its advantages and
accomplish great results. am also happy
to say that the receipts on that occasion
represent more than S23,000. This of
itself indicates financial success, and at
the same time it indicates ability on the
part of the citizens of Maine to sustain
its great agricultural interest. There
was large display not only of native,
but of imported stock. There was IA
large display of all the improvements in
farm utensils and machinery. There
was a bountiful collection of choice pro-
auctions from the field, garden and
orchard-never anything like it. And
this but partially measures the great
prosperity of the State of Maine. Twas
also present at the Agricultural Fair in
Eastern Maine, and although that was
but the commencement, it showed that
i'm the East there is also a great interest
in agricultural matters. And when this
society shall have had the experience of
time and thorough organization, think
it will be a formidable but friendly rival
of the great parent society of the State.
There is plenty of room in the great State
of Maine for such society. am happy
also to be here in the county of Kennebec
and to recognize here, also, great dis
play of the productions of the farms of
this locality. congratulate the farmers
of kennebec county for the successful
result of the present fair. Your society
is one of the oldest in the State. Agri-
culture has made great progress by
science and experiments since its first
organization, and its members have con-
tributed largely towards such a result.
The high character of the farmers of this
county needs no encOmiums. They have
always eXcelled in stock raising, in the
fruit of the orchard and farm crops. A
deep interest in education, morality,
loyalty, temperance and wise admins
tration of government by this people have
secured reputation for this county
which is known of all men. Your beau
tiful river Kennebec on its way to the
sea flows through your fertile lands, and
it is undoubtedly this fact which led the
early immigrant TO settle here to cult
vate the soil amidst these beautiful sur
roundings of lakes, hills and dales. 1t
was only one hundred and fifty years ago
that our first immigrant forefather found
his way here. Two long natural connect
ed lives would measure the time which
bears us back to that period when this
county was "howling Wilderness "
Our forefathers are gone, but they have
left behind them monuments which can
never die. They have handed down to
us these beautiful houses, these cleared
fields, these orchards, with good roads
and fences, and school houses on the
corners of the roads leading to the village
church. Our children sport beneath the
shade of the trees which they planted
Our hearts would be cold and the music
of our nature would be uninspired if we
did not look proudly upon this as our
native land.
The seasons of the year float along
with exact certainty, one of the most
beautiful of which is the Autumnal.
They were made for wise and beneficent
purpose, and they have existed since the
commencement of time. They are in the
interest of the husbandman, aud secure
to him advantages and results guaranteed
to no other pursuit. No other vocation
or pursuit has its exact seed time and
harvest, its summer and winter. We
recognize the fact that the first families
that ever existed were farmers. They
spent life under the shade of the orchard
tree, cultivated the soil, and fed and
looked after then flocks upon the noun
tains. When we recognize this fact we
feel that there is an antiquity as well as
dignity in agriculture. And when we
read the NEUROLOGICAL history of pagan