Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-07-10
AN OLD STORY.

SnOulu COHstou'if W SoNNN y
speakers and the public press, till the
tide of emigration from Maine is arrest
ed-this grand and charming story OF
the abundant resources, delightful eli
mate, fertile soil, beautiful scenery and
intelligent, thriving, moral citizenship OF
the dear old State of Maine.
Larger than all the other New England
States combined, Maine has agricultural
resources and capabilities that should
place it in the front rank Of States. AS
horse breeding state it is second only to
Kentucky; as a sheep raising state Sec
ond only to Vermont or Ohio; as fruit
producing state, second only to Michigan;
for its splendid herd of Jerseys, HerefOrds
and Shorthorns it hardly takes second
standing to any state in the Union. Its
water power takes the first rank OF any
American state. Ii is state rich In
undeveloped mines and quarries of gran
lite, iron, slate, mica and plumbago. For
delightful scenery, and healthful, Wig
orous climate, free from malaria or con.
tapious diseases that scourge other Sec
tons of our fair country. Maine is des-
tined 10 be the great sanitarium Of the
! large cities of Boston, New York, PhIla-
delphia and Washington--while its eli
mate and physical advantages are just as
healthful and precious to our own resi-
dents as TO summer visitors, who come
| here to seek health and vigor at our lakes,
mountains and forest streams. Legit-
mate farming is as remunerative in Maine
as in any New England, Northan or
Middle State; while opportunities for
business are open or can be made, and
energy, economy and prudence are as sure
TO win success here, as in some far Oft
State, yet despite ali these advantages,
scores and hundreds Of young and middle
age men are rushing from Maine as
though il were doomed, as though mala-
ria lurked in every hillside spring, as
though it were not fit place tor human
beings to live in. And what entices them:
The flaming. often fraudulent statements
of railroad companies and western land
Spectators, circulated broadcast over our
State-for the very purpose Of enticing
our young men to abandon their bright
native hills. Do all succeed who go
West; No DO not hundreds fail, or
live in poverty, destitute of the comforts
of farm home in Maine, Of whom we
never hear, but through private letters
sent east asking for help: Yes If a
man succeeds at the west in making ten
or twenty thousand dollars at some spec
ulation, is it not heralded, and is he not
thought marvel /; yet how many do that
in Maine at dozen different kinds OF
business, and nothing is said about it
Are there not many of those who 60 west
who return sick and sorry, OF whom no
mention is ever made, az warning to
those who are here in good business to
remain. The papers of our State who
should use every effort to present our
own advantages to our young men, do an
incalculable amount of injury when they
herald the departure Of young men from
their midst, thus aiding the western fe-
yer and advertising those who go there
when they should studiously avoid the
appearance even Of line in their journals
which will aid the exodus of our young
men from among us.
This we are aware is an old sermon,
one we have preached over and over
again, but it is true as the gospel, and
one which needs to be preached by every
paper, BY every public speaker, and by
every true lover of our State, until this
terrible drain from it of our best men is
diverted, and their energies spent in de-
veloping our own grand resources and
building homes in this best of all the
American States.-Home Farm