Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-11-13
BY HON. FRED'K ROBIE.

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BY HON. FRED'K Robe.
The present occasion is one of great in
terest and pleasure to the people OF New
England, for it is the first time that the
National Organization Of Patrons of Hus-
bandry has gathered on its coil. We
have already been introduced and warm
" greeted as among the representative
men and women from the farms of this
Nation, and am sure that we shall re-
ceive worthy recognition from the peo-
pie of the great and progressive Com
monwealth Of Massachusetts, during our
stay in this historic and hospitable City
of Boston. II now becomes my pleasant
duty, by request of the Committee of
Arrangements, to speak in behalf of New
England, to extend the congratulations
Of its citizens to our worthy and distin.
guished Patrons of Husbandry, who have
come among US from neighbOring and
distant States, and to cordially welcome
all members of that Order, and the many
strangers in our midst, to the land of our
Puritan Fathers. Here it was that an
hOnored ancestry first put forth dec
illustrated the principles of democr attic
self-government, and upon which was
founded the American Republic, recog-
nizing the sovereignty, freedom, indie
dendence of its inhabitants, and the pro-
prietCrship Of the occupants on the lands
of its vast public domain. feel that the
hospitable people of New England ex-
tend hearty welcome to you all. Mass
achusetts has already eloquently spoken
for herself. Through the whispering
pines of my own State Of Maine, comes a
voice of congratulations, not only flom
the thousands of Patrons of Husbandry.
but also from every hearthstone of our
numerous agricultural homes scattered
through its wide territory New Hamp-
shire, Vermont, Connecticut, and Rhode
Island, are numerously and ably repre-
sented here, and our brothers and sisters
from these States whether absent or
present, also swell the voice of welcome.
We extend The right hand of fellowship
to the worthy delegates of thirty States,
representing constituency of twenty
thousand Subordinate Oranges, and ag-
gregating nearly one million active and
initiated members of great farmers Or
ganization. There are peculiar national
characteristics which find their origin in
American manners and education, and
which are the same in every section of
the country. We are known in distant
aud foreign lands as a united people hav-
ing one common origin and one destiny.
American ideas, a united nation and a
progressive civilization measure our pow
err at home and abroad; while at home
we have friendly divisions which estab-
lish the boundaries of national neighbour
hoods, for the convenience of reference
and the better classification of geographic
cal, historical, and political statistics.
There should be no other significance to
these methods and grouping of States in
to Northern, Middle, Western and
Southern divisions. In the north
eastern section of this Nation,
is division widely known as
New England. We claim no superiority
in those elements of national character,
which make this Union of States grea.
and powerful. We do, however, insist
upon a friendly relationship with every
section of our land and we welcome an Or
ganizatiOn that recognizes that we are a
country, one and inseparable. with no in
terest but what is common TO the whole
Nation. We point with pride to the Off
cial declaration of purposes of the Pa
irons of IIusbandry, which declares that
"we cherish the belief that sectionalism
is, and of light should be, de d and
buried with the past" "Our work is for
the present and the future" We fur
Their assert, sin our agricultural brother
hood, and its purposes, we shall recog-
nize no North, no South, no East, no
West" There is much in New England
character that has created national res
pect and admiration. The bleak, cold
winds of northern latitude, the sterile
granite mountains of New England, have
developed hardy race of men, whose
success in life has been the result of
hard and constant labor, economy, fru-
gality, and the elements of manly char
acter, supplemented by moral and inteli.
gent discipline. New England has been
the nursery of enterprising men and wo.
men, sending its inhabitants into every
section of the land. For manv years il
was the most popnlous part of the Unit
ed States.
One hundred years ago, more than one
quarter of the population of this country
lived in New England, but recently west.
ward the star of empire has taken its
flight, leaving New England far behind.
There were in 1880, outside of New Eng
land 5S7 900 living residents of Other
States, who claim New England nativity
| Every State or large city or town has
New England representatives. Thus the
blood of our people has mingled with
that of the people of other sections OF
our land. and our characteristics are
known of all men. Wherever a New
England emigrant has planted his stand.
ard of home, there has been found the
broad hearty recognition of merit of q
generous people, who regard the superior
claims of national over sectional birth
The great West is largely represented By
Professional men, Statesmen, Orators
Farmers, and Mechanics, from New Eng
land. The late Sargent 5. Prentiss OF
national reputation was one of the
greatest Orators and Statesmen that thi,
country ever produced: he was from
New England, but almost idolized by
his adopted State of Mississippi and tn,
great Southwest. He always held New
England character and institutions. deal
to his heart, and on the 22d of December
1915, the anniversary of the landing o.
the Pilgrims, he delivered in the City OF
New Orleans, the following eloquen
words: "There are some who find
r L E.l.