Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1884-09-25

| from me to-day nothing but words of con-
graduation, and if there be any one spot
within the limits of the United States
which may challenge all others in pros
perity, contentment and general happiness,
it must be Worcester, in the State of Massa-
chusettS. We are in the habit, In our
mind, without looking closely at figures,
to think some rich sections of Europe are
far more prosperous than any sections we
have in this country, but in the great
united kingdom of Great Britain and Ire
land there is not so dense a population as
inhabit Massachusetts from this point to
the sea. There is not in the crowded king
dom of Belgium, not in that hive of indus
try, Holland, so dense population as you
on this ground represent to-day, and when
you come to compare comfort thrift and
general prosperity Of the entire people
there is not, perhaps, on this rolling globe
a community that can stand comparison.
Out West, in those rich lands that laugh
a crop when tickled with a hoe," in that
"boundless contiguity" of space in which
the agricultural district stretches from the
crest of the Alleghenies to the great plains,
it will be surprise to them, if it is not to
you, to know that this county of Worcester,
OUT VI ,IUO duu Ouu COuulltS tudl udhC up
all of the States, that this county of WOr-
cester is the fifteenth in the whole United
States in value of its agricultural products,
and, what is more surprising, that, standing
in this high rank in agricultural industry
and agricultural products, it stands still
higher in mechanical industry and the pro-
duct of manufactures, for in that great list
it stands tenth in the United States. So
that when you come to estimate tive
thousand five hundred millions, the pro-
duct of manufacture In single year In
these United States you can see what must
be the magnificent prosperity of this
county that it should stand fifteenth in
one list and tenth in the other. Gentle
men, this county has been long noted and
long known. 1t is the county best known
in the State and widely known throughout
the nation, and if it were to be presented,
or if any county in this country were to
be presented as an exemplar, an illustra-
tion of what free industry, and free schools,
and free education could do there would
be one voice in favor of presenting the
county of Worcester az that example.
We are sometimes little jealous Of you
in Massachusetts, but perhaps it is only
for your prosperity. But outside and be-
yOnd that jealousy / am here to say on be-
half of the State which was part of the
old commonwealth, that for the county of
Worcester and for the State of MaSsachu-
setts no other feeling is entertained than
that of profound respect, admiration and
honor Thanking you, gentlemen, for the
very cordial and hOspitable reception
which has been made so agreeable to-day,
and wishing you abundant increase of
great prosperity which surrounds you,
I bid you a cordial farefaIl'
After speaking at the fair, Blaine and
Senator Hale dined with Congressman w.
W. Rice. After dinner Blaine was quietly
taken to the depot, where great crowd
had assembled, and he was given three
cheers as he boarded the 5:37 train for
New York