The Portland daily press., 1896-02-28
ONE HUNDRED YEARS.



shall be continued in faith and good fell
lowship.
When in crmmnad Of ship nearly 40
years ago, ] had the honor OF personal
acquaintance with some of the members
who Joined this Society between 1920 and
1910, and among them were several who
had commanded ships when only 10 stars
composed the union of our flag. while
today those of you in active service float
your flag of 40 bright stars-every one
of them representing a sovereign State
For this magnificent result the country
is in my Judgment indebted more to its
merchants and merchant marine than to
any other source. Indeed it needs no ar
gument to show that its wealth, educa-
ton and general development have to
large degree resulted from it's commerce
and it's carrying trade.
To what shall we look in the future?
Our foreign carrying trade is little more
than tradition. Our commercial prestige
is a. thing of the past. The Stars and
Stripes are no Toner seen floating on mer-
chant ships in foreign ports claiming
and receiving their share of the carrying
trade of the world. And rarely does the
traveller witness on the free ocean that
most beautiful of sights-an American
clipper ship gliding along covered with
canvas from deck to truck proclaiming
her nationality long before the eye dis
covers the starry flag flying in beauty
and in glory from the mizzen gaff
Yes gentlemen the poetry of the seas
has gone forever. Hulls of iron and
steel propelled by steam have taken the
place of the fine old merchant ships. But
over them the flag of our country does
rot float.
have my own views in regard to what
should be done to remedy in part this
lamentable stats of affairs. But this is
not the place to express them. 1t should
be evident to all that some measures
must be taken to encourage our mer-
chant marine; for without Americans
that love the flag where in time of war
is our navy to obtain men who can be re-
lied upon to see that the flag is not dis
graced? Who are to command and navi-
gate the commerce destroyers we must
send forth in case of war?
Gentlemen theSs are not idle fancies.
They are serious questions that confront
every officer of our navy and of our mer-
chant marine. At the present time our
merchants are powerless and our states
men do not seem to comprehend the i'm
portanoe OF the question. Therefore 1t
becomes each and everyone of us to do
all in his power to awaken an interest in
this subject and by community of action
be of direct service to our brothers of the
merchant marine and indirectly source
of aid and encouragement to our navy.
The State of Maine-One of the
proudest distinctions of any Citizen Is to
be- able to say with truth, 81 have done
the State some service. Il"
Response by Gov. h. B. Cleaves.
GOVERNOR CLEAVES'S REMARKS.
Mr. President and Gentlemen:
On this, the centennial day of your
organization, I need not come to bestow
meriteo praise upon your Society, for its
q a
years. is fun of progressive and patriotic
and charitable work.
Incorporated under the laws of Massa-
chusetts while the Province of Maine
was all important part of that State, and
having for its purpose the promotion of
seananship, and the relief of the unfor-
innate and their dependents, it has sue
cessfully met the highest hopes and ex-
peota tionS of its originators. Its founders
were men who were interested in navi-
gatloD, in shipbuilding and commerce
under the principles of this organization
CHARITY was com bined with business; and
on these bensfoent lines it has been con-
Quoted and maintained for a century,
and is in full yigor and full life tonight,
and still living and pRospering under its
original charter, approved by Samuel
Adams, February 9th. 1896. IL is still
serving it's original purpose; it is still
commerce to which cur State is intl-
mately connected; it is still lending q
helping hand to the suffering and the
Unfortunate; and you may appropriately
apply to CHS organization the sentiment
of your toast, for it can truthtully be
said that the Portland Marine Society
has rendered tbs State much service.
Your present Members are among the
prominent business men of our city and
State, engaged in varied branches of in
dustry, but all united in one common
purpose. the building up here on this At
lantie coast, of one Of the most prosper
Gus and progressive and favored common
weaiths in the whole American Union.
/ am aware that it is occasionally said
that in some respects we labor under
slight disadvantages in our onward
march of development, yet if any such
exist, they are more than overcome and
compensated by the superior advantages
we possess in Other directions, and by the
determined and progressive spirit of a
people who are every day in the year 10y
al to Maine and her great business inter-
esus.
have had occasion to witness during
the past few years unanimity of senti-
ment and feeling among our people, re-
specting the great advantages of our
State, that augurs we'll for her future
growth. 1t means progress in the future
it means growth and wealth to the
State; and The people of Maine are DEM
onstrating that here st home, within the
protection of our wise and baneicent
laws, as good returns may be found for
labor and capital as in any other section
of the Union.
But the citizens of Portland. the people
of Maine, require no inspiring words
from me. They find courage and inspira-
tion in their own energy and ability, and
in the magnificent progress and develop
ment that has been made within our Dor
ders in the past. They behold the mighty
strides that are being made in industrial
progress. The State is showing an inter-
est and pride in herself She is demon
strating her enterprise and the public
spirit of her people. She is making her
adyan ages known to the world. She is
attracting the tide of capital and travel
and business to her borders. Her grand
system of railroads and steamship lines
managed and conducted in harmony with
th9 best interests of the State, ore aiding
IN her growth, and are opening up
now lines of traffic and trade, penetrat.
lug sections uf our State that are rich in
natural resources.
An enterprising people have found the
keys that unlock her great storehouses of
industrial wealth and riches, and her