Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-01-05
GOVERNOR GsEExHaLGs
Assumes Ms Euiies as chitf masi,!rate Of
Commonwealth Of Massachusetts.

trEOr W littain H. husSeil put all G.. W
| his name and goes back to his law briefs.
This interesting ceremony took place at
noon at the state house, amid all the
pomp. tinsel and gold lace characteristic
| Of such an occasion.
The legislature met at II o'clock. and
the committee TO canvass the vote fo-
| governor and state officers made its report.
| Then committee was appointed by the
senate to inform the house thas it wac
ready to qualify the governor. The house
sent similar committee to the senate.
There being no difference of opinion on
this point, the senate and house agreed TO
met in Joint convention, and the senate
| solemnly marched into the representative
| hail. the president taking the chair. 4
| committee of the convention was next
sent to the governor to inform him of the
| situation, and that his pleasure was
awaited.
| AT this point the justices of the ST.
| preme court and the other judges were
announced, and were marsialled III by
| the sheriff of Suffolk county, who wore a
| blue swallow-tailed coat, II cockade on
| his hat and sword which is about 100
| years old Then came other dignitaries
| and invited guests, who crowded every
vacant place.
All being seated, the governor, escorted
| by his staff in full uniform, entered. He
assembled to the speakers desk, took the
| oath, which was administered by the
| president of the senate, and read his adj
| dress.
Governor Greenh5lge said:
Senators and Representatives: You
meet ct time when the people of the COM
monwralth are still suffering from the seri-
| GUS effects of the financial and industrial
reverses which the country has recently
sustained Confidence once lost is not cas-
| lily or quickly regsined, especially If the
dstur bling causes which produced the Sc re-
verses cannot at once be removed. or at
least be brought under control. Under
such circumstances, the return of conf
dence will be greatly retarded, if not rem
dered uncertain or impossible. If, how
ever, the voice of the country. just uttered
emphasized as now by existing conditions,
is Needed as it should be by intelligent ard
pstr Ctic legislators, it should not be long
before we shall see restoration of conf
ience and security. 1t is to b, earnestly
hoped, therefore, that wisdom will sit ia the
high places of the nation, and that just and
moderate counsels, based upon the lessons
of experience and sincere regard for the
welfare of the people, may speedily lead
the country back to comfort and prosper
I-ity."
Passing to a consideration of state af-
fairs, lie Discusses ably the questions of
taxation, education, labor and other mat
rers of pressing interest, offering many ex-
cellent gestions. In discussing the tenn
ba bn
Sact that, under the present local option
~ stem, during the year 1898, ~ cities and
2G2 towns voted mo license" "In view
OF these results" he add sit would seem
IS if The friends of temperance might, with
strong hopes and encouraging prospects OF
success, direct their labors to the several
communities of the state so as to develop
md strengthen public Option in the de-
sired direction.
'.Puhlc opinion is naturally opposed to
the glaring moral evils which arise from
The self h and indiscriminate sale of liquor;
and political purity will be impossible so
long as the influence of the sale and use of
liquor pla, 5 so large part in the discul-
sioa and solution Of political questions"
The value of improved roads was ear
nestly urged:
"Our public highways" he said, ''are
main ,horoughfares used not only locally,
but to u large extent for through travel, and
const queutIy the maintenance of them
becomes question of general interest.
Such be ing the case, believe the aim of
commonw ealth should be to contribute as
literally as possible to the construction and
md care of highways. Furthermore it is
important that we should constantly make
progress in the method of building roads,
aot only for the sake of better highways,
out also for the purpose of giving advice
and Instruction to county and municipal
Dad surveyors
He urged the importance of enacting
law to fix proper test as to the reading
and writing qualifications required of the
voter. The constitution simply demands
that voter, before being entitled to vote
should be able to read the constitution of
Massachusetts, in the English language and
70 write his name. This provi.ion might be
used to apply test witch woul make tie
iequi lion of the suffrage something of ex
IRENE difficulty, or il might be SO inter-
preted as to be in Irtclice dead letter,
shi, h it is to be fear. is now generally the
case.
therefore suggest that the Legislature
Ak by law simp test to be applied by all
registering officers to all persons seeking
registration, aud which shall determine
legally whether voter is qualified by
ability to read and write, as required by the
constitution.
In considering Fast day Gov. Greenhslge
says:
II heartily concur in the recommends
ten made by my immediate predecessor for
the abolition of Fast day, and as substi-
tute therefor the observance by solemn and
patriotic ceremonies of the 10Th of April.
1t is vain to attt mpt to maintain custom
which is more honored in the breach thaa
in the observance
'If the public opinion which has hitherto
sustained it has ceased to exist, the outward
observance of such a day becomes mere
ceremony, which does not stimulate the rev.
erence or devotion of the people"
In discussing the industrial situation the
following language was used:
| Industries which involve the nj 10Y
ment of such vast capital and of such a
vast number of persons cannot justly be
regarded as in any way selfish or pscial in
terests, bearing severely upon the general
public, and extorting an undue and exorti.
tant remuneration either for capital or for
labor.