Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-01-21

Of the cerfsi ion ~ See - ssss I'D has
been mest fsv,r.hls f~c.iset by ,hs pres
a,d pa. pc # sur SAT-. he Adsrsss r<nss
among ,t~ b.. sver dsiise~3 Nv i Cow
error % Nal e. ard 10 worthy Of tse hou-I
ored sen ut Srocstook who zoo occupies
tie highest fiise ~ the STAG.
Ewatervilse Srrti' Ell
Rarely have tie fosi,i'nl newspspsrs Of
the Sfsss. Of both rart,es, ven such be sfty
eommendstioa TO Safe paper as they have
sccortsd to ste message o. Governor Bur-
leigh, delivered last Thursday. Il iss docu-
msns brfm full Ct matter Of unu,aai inter-
es: 10 ali ,ha psopis % The State, dealing
as il dess i,h si,.i eiestious Of the hour
which are dems-drg acton If The present
Legislature. II tie 6.ss pace. BY q .insu-
,srly Gear s,a,eme"s Of Ihe State finances,
the Governor sho~s how The State debt,
interest ard taxation have been growing
less until he State tax is The least of 81 the
oafdees OF the ci.izSn Tie Goyeraer also
makes apparent wnat is so oflea forgotten
10 the discussion of the tax question, the
face that tax rates eftea depend very much
upon ths amount OF extraordinary csrress
expenses In which towns aad cities see fit
10 indnige The Governor urges the sdop-
tAoH VI taE hHsbt Aihh oatAS- I'm oA~
snsiains the spscial tsr com mission ia
recommending \ State board OF assessors
The document il rot a mere psriulet0ry
ines sage, bu. al Intelligent and jadcious
handling of the live subjects requiring leg
itlasiye treatment. Governor Bsrieigh
shove thorough ace asiDtaace with all the
afsi-s If State sld the carrent discussions
touching economic questions, and The benz
a.
the people IN paper which in poinr Of per-
-piaeous sttiemens and rsadaoleness need
not fear eompsri.on with any message ever
presented to Maine Legislature. and which
cannot fail to have much Influence in shap-
ing the action of the session.
[Somerfes Reporter.
Governor Barieighis second inaugural
address is remarkably comprehensive and
strong State paper. Ii is practical and
bu,inssslikA in every part, showing unmts
tsxsbly familiarity with The muitlsarious
affairs Of the State government, its ms ita-
TORS spd Interests that can only be ac-
quIred by vide experience. Hi, Excel
iency spaiks in no uncertain language up
on thA imp1rtsats matters to come before
the Sky nth Legislature. We can do no
grea;er service to our realers than TO pub
fish the address in foil as every sentence
of it is worthy Of careful reading.
pittsfield Advertiser.
We regret tina; We have not the space
this weex 70 pint Gov 8urleiah's excellent
i1sugural address in full. 1t is compact
documeut, conveying the ideas of man
thoroughly conversaot with the affairs OF
tie State ard the needs Of her citizens, and
is com nended upon all sides anh by men of
al parties for the souadness CT its recon-
mendations. A few papers take issue with
ihe Governor on The edvisabiity OF adopting
the Australian ballot s. stem, hut We believe
that 8 maj lrity of cur people agree with
him that the time has now arrived 10 have
a secret ballot.
Dexte. Gazette.
The friends of ballot reform in Maine
will all be pleased to note that Gov. Bur-
leigh is not behind the great host of Repub-
ican leaders in this couatry who favor the
Australian ballot system. he announces
his position boldly and in way that cannot
be- misunders cod or miscousluad.
Aroostook Pioneer
The demand for a secret ballot lie met
and endorsed By the Governor in unequivo-
cal terms. and when the BILL which is car
tain TO be passed by the Legislature. reaches
the executive it will speedily become Law.
Ballot Reform .-
Camden Herald
We are glad 10 learn that there is a good
prospect Of securing the Australian ballot
law at the presen. session of the Legis!s-
;ure. We have been in favor of it from
the fret agitation OF the subject two years
AGO. Maine whose motto is II lead" must
NOT be the la9aard in,his important measure
TO secure free, secret and un,rammeled
ballot. Gov. Burleigh in his message to
the Legislature has raised the opinion of
the great mass of the Republican voters of
Maine. The Republicans CT Knox county
at their county convention last year very
clearly and strongly spoke in favor of the
Australian ballot. With our Governor
attorney general a1d chairman Of Repub-
lican State committee fsvoring the measure
it ought easily to be passed.
Ellsworth American
The movement for the secret ballot
known as the Australian syste m, which
WAS iBsugurated at the last session of the
Legislature, will derive greatly scceler sted
impetus from the hearty recommendation
gwen it by Governor Burleigh in his ad-
dress. Stree the session of 1889, much
has trsDspired to give added weight to the
arguments made at that lime. In several
other states the reform has been p.acti
cally tried and not found wanting. Maine
can nov prof. by the experience of
other states asd govern itseif accordingly.
This is by no means party measure. and
if i: were, the Republican party is not the
party to suffer by a free, uniramneled
vote. and square, honest dealings. The
1hole ground should be looked carefully
over and the best and strongest system
which can be made up from the experience
Of other sts'es, adopted, if it shall be found
that the tine has come for radical change
in the laws governing our elections.
South Berwick Life.
Gov. Busieigh'a message is creditable
STATE psper that deals with the different
deyartms nts of Maine aft airs with business
Ike correctness and good sense. Much of
this msgistsri2l review of the various
-epsrimen ts of our State government and
institutions is necessarily of a routine
nature. allowing small opportunity for
originality of statement or breadth of view.
Bot uh,t the Governor hes to say and
recommend on i}ese POINTS ia, on the
whole, 'opni and vel advised. The
Governor m-kes ere strong point in his
message that ia worth ali The rest put
t)sether, for it is y step in advance and
p ints the way TO a grea. reform His
endoTse ment Of the Australian osllo. is gen.
timely thorough and emphatic. and cam o.
tail to have marked irfll in bringing
sbalt its sdopiion. II Am firmly convince.
thai the tine has come for Malice to adopt
the Austtal!eu system Of voting" says the
Cow rnor. Il 'bts declaration GOV. Bur
leish ACCURATELY reflects the ssn:im Mt cf
the crest ne rity of the people OF Maine,
regardless Of parry. ard he deserves or. iii
for the bold aud uneqnivocal terms il which
thst declaration i, made.