Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-09-20

Following is Mr. Blaines speech at the
annual fair of the Worcester (Mass.) Agri
cultural Society, Thursday
Ladies and GentLemen-I am sure that
under this rich autumn sun and in this rich
and prosperous State you will expect nothing
! from me but words OF cOngratulatiOn and II
there be any one spot within the limits of the
| United States which may challenge all Others
in prosperity, contentment and general nap
piness it must be the county of Worcester IN
| the State Of Massachusetts,. (Applau.e. }
We are in the habit in our minds. without
| looking closely at the figures, to think OF
some rich sections of Europe as more pros
| porous than any sections We have IN this
! country. but in the great United Kingdom OF
| Great Britain and Ireland there is not as
dense population as inhabit Massachusetts,
! from this point to the sea. There is not In
! the crowded kingdom of Belgium nor in that
hive Of industry. Holland, so dense popula-
ton as you on this ground represent to day,
and when you come to compare the comfort,
the thrift. the general prosperity of the entire
people, there is not perhaps on this circling
| globe a community that can stand the com
psrison (Applause.)
Out West, in those rich lands that 'laugh
q crop when tickled with hoe" IN that
..boundless contiguity of space" in which
the agricultural district stretches from the
crest of the Alleghanies to the great plains.
it will, know, be a surprise to them, II 1t 10
not to YOU, that this county OF Worcester,
out of the 100 and odd counties that make
up all the States. that this county of Wor-
cester, is the fifteenth in the whole United
States in the value of its agricultural pro-
ducts. And what is still more surprising, Is
that standing in this high rank in agricultur
al industry and agricultural product, 1t
stands still higher in mechanical industry
and the product of manufactures, for in that
great list it stands the tenth in the United
States-(applause) $50 that when you come
to estimate five thousand and five hundred
millions as the product of manufactures in
a single year, and three thousand five hun
dred millions as the product of agriculture
in single year in these United States, you
can see what must be the magnificent pros
perity of this country, that it should stand
the fifteenth in the one list and the tenth in
the other.
Gentlemen, this county has been long
noted, has been long known, it is the county
best known in the State widely known
throughout the Union, and if it were to be
presented, or if any county in this country
were to be presented, as the one exemplar.
the one illustration of what free industry and
free schools and free education could do,
there would be one voice in favor Of present
ing the county of Worcester as that exemplar.
(Applause) We are sometimes little
Jealous of you in Massachusetts,, but perhaps
it is only for your superior prosperity Qaugh-
teri, but outside and beyond that jealousy |
am here to say on behalf of the State which
was part Of the old Commonwealth, that
for the county of Worcester and for the State
of Massachusetts no other feeling is enter
tanned than of profound respect, admiration
and honor. Enthusiastic applause.)
Thanking you, gentlemen, for the very
cordial and hospitabe reception which has
been made so agreeable to-day, and wishing
You abundant increase of the great prosperity
which surrounds you. bid you cordial
farewell. (Applause.)