Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-06-10

ought now. as III Inc Oiueu TIME, 10 gall
admittance to Fort Western.
We listened this afternoon with deligh
to the eloquent Grafton that portrayed II
vivid outlines the Augusta OF the past. 9
past of which we may all be proud. ant
none the less so because traced by hei
most distinguished son. and by the same
hand that pens the edicts of the highest
tribunal in all the land. We have lis.
tened, too. to the sweet story or ancient
Cushnoc as told by tfat daughter OF the
mother town, whose song Is always
pleasing because its note IL always true
And all this presided over by that grand
old gentleman whose own life spans al
most century, to whom the earlier
years brought honors in abundance. but
whom the later have simply caressed as
they passed him by.
Tonight we meet informally neighbor
with neighbor. friend with friend. to take
a glance at the Augusta of today. and
thus by combining the past with the
present be the more ready for the duties
of the second century that stands wait
ing just outside the threshold. My task
is simple. request that | myself re-
frain from making a speech could not
have been more delicately conveyed than
by asking me to preside at this meeting
and present IL gentlemen who will. To
prove that the request has been effec-
tually made, / cheerfully and at once
enter upon the duty assigned me.
AAN " 90 "" 1Pl'iAaotu. llC thNh
introduced our respected Governor.
giving him, for Augustus part, the
highest tribute. With the subject:
The State of Maine Mr.. Cornish in
troduceu the sentiment:
She has no more devoted daughter
than the one with whom she makes her
home.
Governor Powers was received with
long continued applause and his al
dress was warmly received. He said:
am more than esfd to be present on
this joyful centennial occasion, to have
an opportunity to listen TO the able and
eloquent address by the first jurist of our
land. a native and former resident of
your city. and 10 meet and greet so many
of the people of Augusta here assembled.
And / know that ! voice the sentiment
and feelings of all the citizens of Maine
in heartily congratulating our Capital
city in their behalf on its splendid
achievements. enterprise and progress
during it's first century and also in ex-
pressing the hope and belief that in the
next, far greater triumphs and deserved
success await IL. Whatever great names
or events immortalize the city of Au-
gusta add so much TO the fame and
glory OF our STATE anu are the tplllHpii
inheritance of us all.
Your committee of arrangements have
designated me to speak for the State of
Maine. | fully appreciate that II Is an
honor to do this and that to perform 1t
appropriately and wisely would be a pub
lie service. But / am also convinced
that no effort of mine, especially when
confined to five or ten minutes can be
adequate to the occasion or do justice to
the subject.
haf Wa n a
right 10 point with just pride and gratlfi-
cation to our native State. TO its past
record and history, to its present pros
perity and enviable position In the front
rank among the A. states of our free and
united Constitutional Republic. to its
bright hopes and encouraging prospects
in the future.
True we cannot boast so much of
wealth and populatio as some of our
sister states. Yet we have a reasona BILE
amount per capita very generally dis
tributed among all our people. and we are
all substantially on the same plane in
life. Let us be thankful that We are not
cursed with extremes of wealth and
poverty with their dangerous and de-
moraliZing tendency to create classes and
masses with almost impossible barriers
between them. Wealth and population
are of secondary Importance in re-
virtuous. brave and patriotic is the CON
summation devoutly to be wished"
1t is my deliberate judgment that in all
the qualities and attributes which con-
stitute true greatness and worth. in the
intelligence, enterprise and enlightened
patriotism of her citizens. Maine occu-
pies a position second to none.
/ am confident that no state is
the standard of excellence. education and
good citizenship higher or the percentage
of illiteracy less.
We have general diffusion of educa
ton and knowledge free TO all. The
right of every man to have and enjoy the
fruits of his labors and the accumula-
tions of his industry and enterprise is
sacred and protected. We are slow to
subscribe TO any utopian theories that in
their consequences and results would
compel the Industrious and saving to
divide with the idle. the spendthrift and
the gambler. All our people enjoy in
superlative degree the inestimable bless
ings of individual security. personal and
political liberty under equal, just and
wise laws.
We are justly proud of the eminent and
distinguished statesmen. brave and pa
triotic soldiers, that. in times past have
she'd luster and honor upon our State and
have so ably and fearlessly represented
US in the councils of the nation. and on
many a hard fought field. We are also
proud of our scholars. our poets. our
jurists. our divines. our sweet singers.
and a vast host more,--promiuent in
every useful vocation and calling.
We are especially proud of the men OF
today who. born. raised and mostly edu-
Gated here. so conspicuously represent
our own and other states in high places
of honor and confidence, trust and re-
sponsibility. Their names are written
high upon our nations roll of fame. No
state can boast an ADLER or brighter col
lection in our countrys history.
During the Il years that have passed
since the District of Maine was admitted
to the galaxy of states, its people have
never faltered in their patriotic devotion
and answering loyalty to the best in
terests of our common country. And
they never will
1t has contributed largely 10 make this
government and country of ours a splen-
did monument of liberty. justice and
equality. commanding the admiration and
wonder of the civilized world.
The history of Maine does not COM
mence with its admission to the Federal
Union i'm 1920. Its records are replete
with valuable memories and important
historic events. some of which are claimed
to be nearly or quite contemporaneous
with the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers
on Plymouth Rock. Embracing periods
and times in the early settlement ana
colonization of North America. when
England and France. the then two most
powerful and highly civilized nations of
the globe. contended along our shores and
on our soil for supremacy on this con-
tinent playing for stakes, the magnitude
of which they did not and could not then
comprehend
For no one at that time. in fancys
widest dreams. could or did conceive or