The Portland daily press., 1895-06-26

OOuAUlyy QO uOU ullc LtIttSIIl DS
and toll of the people who come here as
strangers although they may come from
an intelligent and educated people
OF the % men who came over with Mr.
Thomas there are today but five living,
who now sit here on this platform, and it
gives me great pleasure to show you those
who have borne the heat and burden of
the day. A few have left the town and
the rest of that little band of pioneers
have left for their eternal home beyond
the river
New Sweden is known not only to the
citizens of Maine but to the whole Union
For that we are indebted to Mr.. w. w.
Thomas who has always spoken of his
children in the woods, " and good
reason he has had, not only because of
their good behavior but especially for the
great results of their labor.
Gentlemen and fellow citizens of Maine,
do not need to boast of the citizens of
this town. Take a careful view of the
colony and you will find beautiful farms,
we'll cultivated; big barns and store
houses, for the produce of the farms; nice
residences; good business transactions
large and commodious school houses for
the education of our children; beauti-
full churches, and law abiding people
who fear God and do what is right tc
everybody When we then consider that
we have had only 25 years to accomplish
this we can with safety say to the breth-
rem, "Well done, good and faithful SER
wants. -
You, Mr. Thomas, in founding New
Sweden, have erected a living monument
and in your obituary will be written,
unselfshness, great foresight and the
wish to do good to your fellow men," You
were the author and the executor You
not only conceived the idea but stood ut
the helm and carried it out, and it has
proved a success if we may judge by look
ing at the results. Twenty-Five years ago
these early pioneers followed you over
the ocean They followed you because
they had faith in you and without that
faith in you none of these people would
have made what is now New Sweden.
You are not only the founder of the col
ony but you have always cared for it as a
father and your children in the woods
have always looked up to you as such,
and they will remember you as Father
Thomas as long as tradition lasts and
history lives For this and many other
things which you have accomplished you
are and will be honored. May. your life
be long and happy and may you see be
fore you leave this earth, New Sweden
pass the point of your highest anticipa
tions. And when your work is finished
here below, If it was possible we would
put on your head a crown of everlasting
SlttTS. MY 1IlcIltlS lcU blllS Dc ib leSSOl u
us all. Let us remember that he who
makes two blades of grass grow where
only one grew before is greater than the
general of q victorious and conquerine
army whose forward march means more
or less destruction to life and property
Let us strive to be wise and so act thai
when we lay down our implements OF
earth our record of good deeds to human
ity will be evidence that we have existed
\ fopo I of
we are law makers or farmers, if we are
on the pinnacle of national fame or the
modest occupants of a pioneer cabin that
history will invariably dig to the bottom
of facts and find the motives of our acts
be they greedy or unselfish, be they found
ed upon philanthropy or cold cruelty tc
our fellow beings.
i When looking around US we see the wild
land in all directions and when we COM
pare it with the few towns which exist
among this vast wilderness, it seems as il
all laws of economy and progress arc
directly violated. a.
There are today thousands upon thous
ands of strong arms and willing minds
leady to take life long part in bringing
this land from it's wild state into pro
ductive and civilized community and
make it profitable to themselves, the STATE
and the nation-only give them, permis
sion to do So But selfshness and greco
on one side assisted by laws made to or
der in the past leave 1t a rendezvous fol
wolves and bears
History will in course of time dig al
the bones of those who are now so shor
sighted or careless i'll offices of trust as tt
permit the public lands of Maine to fal
into the hands of those who do not use
them for the purpose of advancing civil
ization, enlightenment and progress
For the assistance the. State of Maine
rendered this colony in its infancy W,
all very thankful and will leave it to you
gentlemen, to decide if it was profitabl,
Investment. If you think it has so been
select another spot and nurse it with thu
milk of Paternity and Patriotism.
TO the representatives of the press will
say this Perhaps you expected more
Well 25 years is very short time lookins
backward Twenty five years ago thi
town was all covered with virgin forest
This had to be cut down, burned, cleared
the stumps broken up, the land levelled
and during that time bread and butte
had to be earned at something else, sucl
as making shingles, cutting lumber, etc
So, my friends, l am proud OF what w
have done and for which l beg your in
diligence.
At least, wish to say that it fills m,
| heart with joy and gladness when tbinl
| that am speaking not to Scandinavian