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


do not desire tha he should be shipmaster,
the second officer OF privateer, Judge or
even a member Of Congress; bat only that,
like the man whose name ne pears, ne VIII pe
ready IN every position, 10 sacrlnce private
gain to public duty.
To the toast, Commerce" Hon. Chas. Nc
Laughlin replied in the following words
MIR. McLAuaHLiN's SPEECH.
M. President
T waa much pleased when learned OF the
movement TO tender to our honored and re-
spected fellow citizen complimentary dinner
upop the occasion OF his departure TO foreign
land to represent the United States as Minister
resident al Norway and Sweden. 1t was fit
ting that the business man OF our city should
ioin In thus showing their respect.
But few business men are gifted in max
ing pos-prandial speeches, and as do not as
piro to achieve successes beyond the average of
INV calling, will conine myself strictly to
few remarks upon the subject OF commerce,
which | am, by the inexorable decree OF COM
mittee, commanded TO make upon this occasion.
II would be idle for me to attempt TO add
anything to what has already been said by those
who have already spoken for our Country, our
State, our City and the Bar, of which associa-
tion our guest is an honored member.
Educated TO the law, Mr. Thomas is not
stranger to commerce, or to the growth OF our
beautiful city, his childhood home.
Although young man he can remember
when there was no Commercial street in Port
land, and when the heavy goods business was
transacted in few small stores on Fore street
and in Market Square; when, where the
Grand Trunk depot now stands, with acres OIL
substantial wharves and bonded warehouses,
and the Portland Company's extensive works,
was nothing but barren fats; when the land
now occupied by many Of our most costly resi-
denees was an undrained swarmp; when
another section Of oar city was play ground,
and Munjoy, nov beautiful with its hundreds
OF substantial and tasteful residences, reloiced
In the inelegantly expressive name OF "Nigger
HILL"
might consume the five minutes allotted to
me in merely enumerating the improvements
and growth OF our city since the boyhood Oh
our guest, but pass.
What has brought about this great changer
Principally commerce, aided by the wealth OF
our citizens, prominent and foremost OF whom
is the honored father Of our guest and to whom
much OF this prosperity is due. growth ike
this would not be surprising in the newly-set-
tied sections Of our western country. a greater
increase in population has undoubtedly been
made in certain manufacturing cities where
thousands are qnartered as temporary residents
in tenement and boarding houses, but the COM
mereal growth Of Portland since our guest hrst
became acquainted with the greenhide of the
school master (for he was educated under that
regime) is truly wonderful.
The selection of one of our citizens to repre-
sent our nation in that country which is SO
closely alll60 TO US Dy Uubiu6S5 EoiAtiOuos rs
Considering the great interest our guest has
taken in Swedish immigration fitting OF it
self, and gratifying TO all who have the true in
terests of our country at heart.
II is natural that the business men of Port
land should feel Just pride in the selection of
one Of their number to fill such an honorable
nostion, and one which our guest is "by com
mon CUasent" SO eminently qualified to fill,
but some of us, II nol all have read what was
once said to very good man, One thing t2nu
sc Inn
A hepmeet TO grace his foreign home: one e
receive and entertain his numerous guests, IL
[ am told that Stockholm is famous for recep-
tions aHd parties among the nobility. there
fore gave our friend some good advice on this
subject when he first received his appoint
msnt, but like all men, he received it but did
not heed it. asked him recently how he was
getting along, and he said, II haven't had
time"
Well, we will forgive him his shortcomings
in this direction, aud wish him all the joys
land they are few enough) of bachelorhood. And
we can assure him that when he returns to his
native land no class will welcome him more
cordially than the business men Of his birth
place.
Col. John NJ. Adams. of the Argus, respond
ed for THE Press" as follows:
COL, ADAMS SPEECH.
Mr.. President and Gsntlemen,-It is not my
habit to make after dinner speeches. 1T is out
OF my line. usually decline ali invitations
of the kind Had been consulted / should
have declined for this occasion. But when
my formal invitation reached me at late
hour it told me that "the entire programme
has been filled, and as it is too late TO make
arrangements for any one to take your place in
case you should fail you will see the absolute
necessity for you to accept this invitation, if
we expect TO make success OF this affair"
could not of course, under these circumstan-
ces allow this sponta aueouS, hearty testimony
ffr .fst nd rud rH IN an a.
low citizen and personal friend "fail of sue
cess" from lack of any effort en- my part That
would be a responsibility could not permit,
and 80 I am here to try to fulfill the part as
signed me and make response, as journalist,
to the toast iast read And what shall | say!
The relation of the public press to official
life, on which the honored guest ut this occa-
sion is about 70 snter, would seem to be o tit-
ting topic though just now suggesting many
things, oSnuE savory odor and not cTeditable
in official conduct, for criticism and comment.
Nevertheless, the function of critic and cen
sor exercised by the public press in this coun-
try is as important as it is necessary IL could
not safely be dispensed with. But for the CAL
cium light which it turns upon the conduct Of
public fuBctionaries, there would be much
more for Censur9 than now exists; and could 1t
be impressed upon those holding trust that any
form OF crookedness, be it never so secretly
aud canningly planned and executed, would
be found out and published to the world, there
would be much less than we now have TO con-
denim and lament Those not restrained by
moral considerations dread the power of the
press and shrink from doing that which will
not bear the light. 1t is in this domain that
this rapidly developing agency and growing
power in our land performs one of its most inn
portant and benefcent offices, promoting pnri
ty and efficiency i'll the public service and
guarding the interests of the people; and its
influence for good in this behalf will always be
in proportion 10 the honesty, tho intelligence,
the regard for right and justice which shall
characterize its CRITICISMS and its commenda-
tions Only evil doers need to fear 1t, even in
the reckless aud unjust phases, which, in indi-
vidual cases, it sometimes assumes; while the
honest, the com tent the faithful public ser
want, is only the more widely known and high
ly honored for the publicity which it gives to
his faithful aud valuable service. As the hon
orable gentleman 10 whom this occasion is
a merited compliment, has already placed him.
self IN the latter category, he has thus given
assurance that in the mission on which he goes
TO distant countries he will bear himself like
true American, and will htly represent the
great nations whose interests he is expected to
promote.
The elevation and advancement of man is
the great mission of journalism. 1t seeks, and
should sees, to develop the higher attributes OF
humanity, the noble ties of human brother
hood to do away with wars which destroy
and oppress, and substitute for the savage arbl-
tTament If the sword, in settling in
ternational disputes, che rational, humane
method OF peacelul Adjustment Dy arDltratlon.
And here, in this domain OF effort, the new
United States Minister to Sweden and Norway
may become an efficient co-worker with the
public press in aid of the ultimate consumma-
tion of this result, SO devoutly to be desired
He can show that the scepter of our govern
ment is the will of the sovereign people; that
its object ia the welfare of the people, that its
policy and its interests are wholly for peace
and friendship with all the world The for
egn field for the dissemination of these views,
| il is true, Is not altogether favorable one.
The inalienabe rights of the people do not har-
monize readily with "the divine right of
| kings; and 1t does not require any great sa-
| gacity IN the crowned head to perceive that
| every step in the progress of popular liberty is
| also step toward the final extinction of mon-
| archical domination. The onward march of
| Democracy, however, is inevitable and ire
sistible; aud the wise sovereign will see that
| concession to the popular will is the only al
tentative to violent revolution, sooner or later,
| aud will therefore accept the situation grace
fully as possible, and seek to cultivate the good
| will aud friendship OF the people who have in
sttuted aud developed the freest and grandest
republic of the world.
II cannot but be gratifying to all OF US that
our distinguished friend goes forth under aus
pices so propitious and gratifying. May he
honor his position aud thus confer honor upon
his country and his native city, and when his
term OF service shall expire may he be well
coined home as heartily as we now bid him
Godspeed ON the Journey to his distant post of