The Portland daily press., 1883-01-05
CORPORATE WEALTH.

all classes and all vecetions ms should be
encouraged oy every good citizen. The evils
of monopoly and the power exerted by con-
solidated wealth, injuriously felt in some COM
munities, are not likely to gain any dangerous
foothold among an intelligent people, and
where the ownership of land is so largely and
well distributed as it is in Maine. The gen.
eral intelligence and virtue of the people will
stand as barrier against any unjust oppres-
sion arising from any source; and it will pro-
teet the ownership of property, and the rights
of every individual, with the single purpose of
doing justice to the citizen, whether rich or
poor. Let every concession be made and all
laws be passed, which will elevate those in
dustrial classes and interests which add so
much to the dignity, importance and material
advancement of our State.
In the routine of business life there cannot
be absolute security from wrong practices,
neither can justice be meted out equally to all
classes and vocations. There should, how
ever, be an intelligent watchfulness on the
part of the less favored communities and their
representatives who, by the nature of their vo-
cations and the laws which regulate business,
can never accumulate large fortunes, SO that
justice, as far as possible by law, may be Sc
cured; the real object of popular government
being to secure to all the greatest good and the
widest field for effort. Popular opinion should
not only be enlightened, but the public con-
science should be kept alive by high standards
of excellence. A popular judgment based
upon such high ideals will purify and elevate
politics, will demand true reforms, National
and State economy in expenditures. the aboli-
ton of unnecessary offices, and will demand
only such taxation as is essential to the public
welfare. Such an intelligent and conscien-
tious public sentiment will demand that every
possible safeguard be placed about
the ballot box; will demand an untrammelled
ballot and will hold the faith of the State
sacred. Such public sentiment will maintain
that sound and exalted morality, that observ-
ance of the sanctity of the Sabbath and re-
ligious institutions which characterized our
forefathers. 1t will eradicate demagogism and
will entrust the public affairs to these men
who, by devotion to the common interests,
have shown themselves worthy of confidence.
Such public sentiment, such exalted patriot
ism and such devotion to the well being of all
classes, will make US living illustration of the
| great truth, righteousness exalteth nation
THE SAFEGUARD OF POPULAR GOVERNMENT.
During the past few years, issues have
arisen and controversies have taken place in
the State government, which have not only
been discreditable to the State, but are calcu-
lated to bring official authority and law into
contempt. 1t is idle now to enumerate these
dissensions or their causes. 1t is better
to point out remedies. Popular government
| will maintain the respect and regard of the
people so long elections are fairly conducted,
| votes are honestly counted, and the different
| departments of the government exercise their
| constitutional functions without trenching
| upon the others. The Executive shall ia Ike
care that the laws are faithfully enforced, but
no. ..laA 49, - =
that the Governor must not ignore the Execu-
tive Council, by removing officers without that
advice and consent which is necessary TO
create them. Moreover, the people by de-
cided majority have declared that the Execu-
tive branch of the government is as much
bound to conform its action to the opinion of
the Supreme Court, when promulgated in
| obedience to the constitution, as private citi-
zens are to obey its mandate. This decree of
| the people is in harmony with the letter and
| spirit of the constitution and the presidents
| since the foundation of the State. Such
| Supreme Court as Maine has
| had from the beginning, men of
integrity and purity of character, and
| learned in the law, is not a tribunal which
| will transcend its constitutional limits. The
late election in which differences of opinion
| upon this question were prominent issues,
ton of the State is elevated and universal
society protected, when the decisions of up
| right and conscientious judges are acknow-
lodged by honorable treatment when intended
to give constitutional justice to State and
constitutional expression to the will of the
sovereign people. The repeated lesson of
history should not be disregarded. The times
| are perilous and fraught with mischief when
| the public mind becomes influenced and de-
bauched by purely personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT,
| by the appeals of the selfish however eloquent
| and talented.
To be in fact, as in name, a government of
| the people, elections should not only be free
| and fair, but the votes should be honestly
counted. All strained interpretations of law,
all legal hair splitting by which different re-
| suit may be secured than that which the bal
lots cast and counted show, or appear to have
been intended to show, by those who depos-
| tied them. are crimes against popular govern
ment of the magnitude of treason, for such
that offence must be held, by which the will
| of the majority is set aside and that of the
minority substituted. The people of State
and nation will cordially acquiesce in the re-
| suit of free election, and an honest count
| On the other hand any restraint upon the
| freedom of the citizen to vote as he chooses,
| the tampering with ballot boxes, fraudulent
1 SOuutS IGLuIuS, anu tTlCky tdOuldLlODS
suppressing or changing results in elections,
will be followed by further abuses and if long
continued will end in anarchy.
CONCLUSION.
Fellow citizens of the Legislature: Upon
| us has been conferred the highest honor, and
| to us have been confded the most sacred
trusts. To us has been con6ded the care of a
State that has made an illustrious record.
We are proud to be her sons; we cherish her
history; we glory in her institutions and
| achievements; we have the fullest faith in her
| future. In every other part of the country
| her sons rise up to call her blessed. Two
score of shot-torn battle flags in the hall be-
| low tell us of the heroism and devotion of her
sons. She has never been without true
| patriots and wise statesmen to serve her.
Her escutcheon comes to us without a stain.
| This goodly heritage We owe to the fathers
who founded our free schools and our civil
and religious institutions by patriotic effort
! and sacrifice. 1t is not only high privilege
but sacred duty to serve such State. For
| getting that VIC are partisans, or that we rep
| resent this or that section, let us show our
| selves worthy of our ancestors, and mindful
| of the glorions past of the Dirigo State, by
| devoting ourselves with singleness of purpose
| 70 promoting the welfare of the whole State
and all her people. In such an exalted en-
deavor pledge you my hearty cooperation.
| We meet at time when the departure of the
old and the beginning of the new year warns
us of the flight of time and the decreasing
| opportunities for public and private useful
ness; let us, then, make use of present oppor-
tunities and meet present responsibilities.
For the truer life draws higher
Every year;
And its morning star climbs higher
Every year;
Earth's hold on us grows slighter,
And The heavy burden lighter,
And the dawn immortal brighter
Every year.
May the blessing of God attend the Legisla-