The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-08-23

There has been much said by certain CLASS
of political writers and speakers about leaving
New England out in the cold. 10 DO TINS,
however, would require the exclusion not
simply of the territory known as New England,
but also of the vast host Of New England men
and women who have gone from our midst ana
become the leaders in business in professions
in industrial pursuits, and in politics in SO
large proportion of the States and Terrific
rites of the Union. The New England still
with us is a mighty force for good; but the
New England which has left us to build up
other commonwealths and communities is
mightier power. Bradford, Miles Standish,
Brewster, Winslow and other Pilgrim fathers
are gone but their spirits are still with us
stalking from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from
the Lakes TO the Gulf, molding our institutions,
and stamping their impress on our laws and
our customs
It is peculiarly the lot of rural New England
towns, especially those like Durham which
have been turned aside from the routes of travel
by railroads, to constantly contribute some Of
their best sons and daughters without return,
to build up the industrial and commercial CEN
tres of our own and other States. Thus it has
come to pass that the sons and daughters Of
Durham who abroad sing praises to the old
town ,outnumber those who sing its praises
The West and the industrial and commercial
centres of Maine and the other States of the
East owe much to rural towns like Durham
which have given them so many noble men and
women, whose characters were nodded amid
country scenes and life-on the farm and in
the workshop,-where sturdy character is al
ways formed; for it has been well said that
Virtue loves to linger near the foot of the
mountains and the sources of the streams"
AkuN. - lszk& H. SkuN.
and nation are under special obligations to
New England rural towns like Durham, aside
from their contributions of men and women to
lay the foundations of new communities, it
would be the steadfastness with which these
towns stand for law and order, liberty regulat-
ed by law, obedience to the will Of the msjori-
ty, and universal education. The rural towns
must ever be the balance wheel in our system
OF popular government; the regulator that can
be depended upon when ignorant and danger
GUS elements in the crowded cities become
threatening.
The early records show that among the first
money raised by taxation for public purposes
in Durham, was considerable sum for the
support of public schools. The schoolmaster
was abroad here, as well as in all other New
England towns, as soon as organized society
existed. He was not only abroad but recog-
early records of Durham show that Martin
Roak-the first schoolmaster, whose descend
ants are among your most respected citizens
was annually elected town clerk for sixteen
years, from 1871 to 1907. During the years
in which Napoleon was rising from obscurity
to throne, and winning victories which as
founded the world; when Washington and
Adams and Jefferson were guiding the desti-
nies of the nation, Martin Roak and the fathers
of Durham were doing their work in their
sphere with equal success. There are heroes
in every little New England town whose f.
deity will receive greater approval from the
Great Judge than the achievements Of the
Napoleons.
One Of the most impressive monuments of
Europe, is the Lion of Lucerne-the gigantic
figure of dying lion, transfxed by spear,
with his paw protecting the Bourbon lily, cut
in the face of lofty cliff, and designed to COM
memorate the fidelity of the Swiss guards, who
died in defence Of the French Louis in the
Palace of the Tuileries. Such fidelity does not
equal the faithful devotion of the wife of Sam
uel Gerrish, who for months In her solitary
cabin in this town, watched over her children
in the absence of her husband in the Continen-
tai army; nor the faithful devotion of many
mothers of Durham since. There is pleasant
farm house near the beautiful Androscoggin in
the northern part of the town, where my own
mother ,ne Tss eofrd 81 rdsy love to look Pon
and WINCH 70 me recalls virtue and graces, such
as none of the great monuments of the world
commemorate.
1t has always been the peculiar and grand
characteristic of the true New Highlander that
he has regarded spiritual instruction essential
TO the well-being of community. In this re-
spect the early settlers of Durham inherited
the Pilgrim idea. In those days the minis
ter was leader in the community, and occu
pied position which made him not only the
spiritual counselor, but also the temporal guide
of the people. For 40 years-as long as
Moses led the people of Israel--Rev. Jacob
Herrick, the first minister was the spirit
ual leader of one branch of this people, while
the excellent religious society known as Friends
faithfully ministered to another branch. How
much the State and nation owe to the faithful
preachers of Gods word can never be exag-
gerated.
1t speaks volumes for the New England
spirit that with all its emphasis of local self
government, with all its jealousy of the rights
of the town, it was always at the front in its
devotion to the whole country and the Union.
1t always spelled Nation with a big N.
Patriotism was one of the lessons instilled into
the minds and hearts of the youth of Durham,
as we'll as of other New England towns. The
first settlers of Durham and six of his sturdy
associates left their cabins in the wilderness to
fight for Independents. have often heard my
grandfather tell of the alacrity with which he
and many others of the early settlers respond
ed to the call on them to defend the coasts OF
Maine when British armament appeared of
our shores in the war of 1872. And in the
late war for the preservation of the Union, l6l
loyal sons of Durham enlisted in the Union
army.
Standing on this familiar spot, commemorat-
ing the hundredth anniversary as town OF
our birthplace let US pledge our love anew to
the land which we are proud to call our coun-
try, and the town which is so dear because it
was our birthplace and early home.
Mr.. Harmon's Address.