The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-01-08
MOCK SESSION.
Closing Day of the Legislative
Reunion.
The Capitois Resounds With the
Shouts of ex-Law Makers.
The Full Text of Gov. ~ WILSON'S
Message.
a Grand Ball FittingIy closes the
Reunion.
Especial to the Press.]

hSAthObs
Especial to the Press.]
AUGUSTA, Jan. 1.-THE mock session this
morning was distinguished success as
burlesque on legislative assemblies. The
programme was of course arranged before
hand as to the election of Governor, presi-
dent of the Senate and speaker of the House,
and other officers, but many of the features,
and the wittiest at that, were impromptu.
The whole affair was well carried out and
the funny parts admirably performed. Rep
resentatives' Hall, in which there was not
even standing room as early as 10 O'Clock,
rang time after time with the hearty laugh
ter of the old lawmakers and other citizens
Of the State. Hon. j. w. Porter OF Burllng-
ton and Charles A. Spofford OF Deer Isle
were elected president of the Senate and
speaker Of the House respectively, in much
quicker time than it takes to write it. There
were many candidates for the position of
pages of the Senate and House, and the con-
test was decidedly close. Major Dickey of
Fort Kent and A. G. Lebroke of FoXcroft
were the successful candidates. After
question of eligibility had been humorously
decided, Harrison Hume of Boston was
elected Secretary Of State. Then came the
event of the session-the election of George
A. Wilson of Paris TO the office of Governor
for the day and for fun. 1t was the quickest
election on record. The Member from
Thomaston' had his Council all chosen for
him, and thus the most arduous duty of the
Governor was performed for him. The
Council consisted of the following
gentlemen, well known throughout
the State for their sagacity: John L.
Cutler of Bangor; Joseph Farwell, "etc.,
etc." Thorndike; DR.. E. A. Thompson,
Dover; Thomas Southland, Hiram Ruggles
and William Cross. A committee Of five was
appointed by the chair to announce to the
Governor that he had been elected and that
his presence, and that of the Council also,
was requested. At exactly 11.30 o'clock in
marched the distinguished gentlemen with
the firm step of statesmen accustomed to
such dignifed occasions. The members in
Joint assembly showed their respect by ris-
ing and sober eountenances. Governor Will
son, in taking the oath of office, was COM
PEELED to promise to on all occasions support
the constitution of the State. Besides this
He WAS lIldu6 W Oildt NOulNt III AAO
way use his Influence to have the court
house and county jail moved from Paris Hill
to South Paris in any other way than by the
main road. He was also called upon 10
promise to appoint ten special constables for
Bath, provided any two citizens of the city
could agree upon the men. The solemnity
of the occasion was not its most remarkable
feature. Following this came GOV. Wilson's
message:
Gentlemen Of the Senate and House Of Rep
resentdtiUes:
1t is an old but truthful statement that
''History repeats itself" Many brave and
ardent explorer Of what seemed to him the
untrodden sands of primeval truth.has. been
more startled than Crusoe of old, as in the
midst of his researches he come suddenly
upon the imprinted outline of a human foot
showing that some one had penetrated there
before him. So obvious has this become
that we are fain to cry out with the man OF
old There is nothing new under the SUM-
Realizing this fully, it seems wiser to ac-
knowledge our obligations and admit that we
are following precedents, instead OF trying
to originate and formulate new thoughts and
ideas.
Accordingly allow me to follow in the foot
steps of an honored predecessor IN this high
and illustrious Office and congratulate you on
Cne cnOICe YOU nave UldlO lOI 0UfOinul VI
this great State. BY this one act you have
embalmed your names in the memory OF
grateful people, and your ehlldrenSS children
will recall with pride the fact that you were
members of that famous Legislature Whlcn
honored itself in the choice of Names great
est Governor My selection sheds reflected
lustre upon the ancient municipality OF
Paris. By it, her famous quartette OF Gov
ernors is increased to qulntette, ana 'tne
young Oxford Bear will hereafter repeat IN
of md ad fIOn the llluSfrlODS
names of Governors Paris, Lincoln, Hamlln,
Perham and Wilson.
This action on your part is highly COM
mendable, and the more so, perhaps, be-
cause so little was expected OF you. pre-
sumo the real fact is, that like the dominant
party in American politics today, you have
builded better than you knew nope, now
ever, that as we proceed to engage IN tne
arduouS la5ors for which we have been Sc
ected YOU will not allow any of the feelings
Of aInazement and indignation, which you
may feel, at the idea of my considering
pledges made to secure votes binding after
election, to find expression in words OF acts.
Such thoughts are best kept to yourselves.
People are not all like the old Dutchman,
and you will rarely be punished for think
ing damn" when you do not say damn
| wish at this time to say few words OF
commendation of my immediate predecessor,
They can be said truthfully, but it is not
strictly on that ground | place them, but
rather to establish precedent which my inn
mediate successor may be bound to follow
s'Tis an old maxim in the schools
That hattery's the food of fools
Yet now and then your men of wit
Will condescend to take bit"
Emphatically ruler, from the people, for
the people and of the people he lays down
the purple as unspotted as when he donned
it. 1t is not strange then that he holds his
expectant ear ready to catch the voice of the
people saying, "Thou has been faithful over
a few things we will make thee ruler over
many things
| commend to your earnest care and con-
sideration the vast banking interests oil tne
State. This great aggregation OF capital can
only be preserved in all its integrity by wise
laws and strict adherence to them. You Will
gather from the able and faithful report OF
the Hon Bank Examiner all the facts neces-
Sary to a full and complete understanding
and fully concur in his recommendations.
fail however to find in his report any notice
Of the new bank lately reported to nave been
organized on Smutty Nose or Appledore Is
land. The amount of deposits in this bank
has already reached the vast sum OF. 80
important an addition to our banks should
not be overlooked and [ recommend some ac
tion to be taken with reference thereto. Ii
deemed advisable, in company, with my
Council / will make a tour of investigation
there during the hot months next summer.
The question Of capital punishment is one
which in past years has given rise to much
discussion and considerable feeling. Many
milk and water advocates of humanity have
had the effrontery to argue that undert the dis.
pensation of Christ, the old Mosaic law OF
ian eye for an eye and a tooth for tooth,
was no longer an authority binding on u.s.
Fortunately, however, such pernicious doc
| trineS have been overruled by our scrlptural-
| ly-minded legislators, and capital punish
ment is now the law of the land. The rapid
| decrease of murders within the past three
| years, and the present comparative freedom
| Of the State from crimes of such horrid
| nature, for we rarely read an account of one
| oftener than once month, impel me to con-
| graduate you on the great success of the law
| We are taught not to hide our light under a
| bushel, and all the interests of justice and
| humanity demand that we should let our
| great success be known to our neighboring
| States that they may go and do likewise l
| would recommend therefore the selection of
| the Hon, Charles W. Goddard of the city Of
| Portland as commissioner to the several
States Of the Union to convey to, them the
| glad tidings that we have succeeded during
| the past 20 years in hanging one negro, one