Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-04-12

remarks introduced Judge A. G. Andrews
as POSTMASTER of the occasion. GAP
plause.)
Judge Andrews said:
Col Bangs has told why he is here why
you are here; but the question is: why
am l here?' He told me when he asked me
to act as POSTMASTER, that l shouldn I
have anything to do. But suppose this
duty that devolves upon me is really an
old custom, descending from the time
when they employed Jester or fool at
court. l suppose 1 am to act in that
capacity, but it must be borne in mind
that the Old time fool was privileged to
tell the truth.
l wish to say that Augusta is very dear
to me. l don't believe there's better
place in the world. 1 have travelled q
good deal over New England and have
never seen in city of this size bust
ness street that equals Water street.
Applause
Many of the business men, the large
majority of those doing business in the
city now, were not here when l first
come to Augusta. The same was true of
the professional men. Only Il of the al
business and professional men and firms
now doing business on our street were
doing business here Is years ago. OF the
IL lawyers now in practice here only four
were in practice at that time. These new
men have come into this city during these
Is years and while many would have said
it was already crowded, they have pushed
themselves to the front by their energy
and integrity. They have succeeded and
retired. There is plenty of room here still
for just such young men as they We're
Applause.
Again in the matter of improvements.
There have been many Yet most
of them have been secured in spite
of the opposition of those who
we would suppose would have been the
very men who should have been most in
terested in these improvements But as
men accumulate wealth and years they
grow conservative. For improvements
we must look to the young and energetic
men, whom some of US might almost call
rash. We need the conservative element
to balance this rashness We need both !;
the pushing element to originate the i'm
provements, and the conservative to con-
troll and direct them right. Hannibal
Hamlin was always well informed as to
the wishes of the people, and he said that
he kept well informed by keeping in with
the boys.
But we must look to it that we have a
definite purpose and aim. No association
can live for any great length of time IN
less it have a purpose. The people who
have given us our improvements did not
look solely to themselves but to the peo-
pie who should come after them.
The judge had no patience with those
who find fault with the city that has af-
forded them goodlliving instead of seeing
and commencing the many good features
which should ever be kept in mind He
illustrated his points by several witty
stories that elected peals of laughter and
applause. Judge Andrews then intro
duced Mr.. c. S. Hichborn.
The following address by C. s. HIGH
born, Esq, was that delivered by him al
the last annual meeting of the State board
of trade in Portland, and at the request
of parties desiring to read this excellent
address, the Journal prints it entire
Mr.. President and Gentlemen:
If l were thought able to settle the
questions which are pressing themselves
upon the attention of financers, to the
satisf action of all concerned, probably
should not be here today; an anxious
people, long before this, would have
called me to higher duties. But, because
the great American people do not recog
nize me as the financial Moses called to
lead his foil lowers to the land of promise
because they seem inclined to believe there
are others possessing wisdom superior to
mine, l am left in this comparative
obscurity, forced "to blush unseen and
waste" my sweetness on the desert air :"
/ am comforted, however, because
misery loves company by the belief that
not all those who have essayed to be
leaders have, in the day of trial, proved
themselves worthy of such recognition.
- Napolcons Of finance" have sped their
meteoric flight from Corsica to st.
Helena: Arabian Nights visions and will
o the wisp theories have enlisted in their
advocacy the sympathies and energies of
mental gymnasts; organized
seIfisbness has assailed the laws of ma
buIt VI ehi oHiii uhC uuot
and blood of the arena" the contestants
themselves stand bewildered and amazed
the pathway to prosperity up some other
than the true and trusty way of national,
as of individual, honor, as been made al
Turing by the flaming torches of phos-
phorescent theories, until the deceived and
people may well call halt and
demand or their leaders return to the
teachings and the practices found true and
robbed of dross in the cruciblc Of ex-
perience
1t is within the scope of neither my
purpose nor the time at my command, to
give a careful analysis of all the various
movements inaugurated, and laws en-
acted, in regard to our financial system
| will not attempt it. Neither shall !
undertake to demonstrate how you can
accumulate SO long as your expenditures
exceed your income have discovered
no royal road to wealth. l can recommend
no way by which you can get dollar
except you earn it. propose to call your
attention to some of the evils Of both exist
ing and proposed legislation, with the
hope that this board may, if occasion
hereafter arises, be ready to place itself
squarely on record, against some of the
vagaries of the times, an in favor Of the
maintenance OF the integrity of the finan-