Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-12-21
NAMES MARCH.
BY Hon. w. w. Stetson.

Maine had history before NJ ssachu-
sets had an existence. Instead of our
being the daughter OIL New England J
most assertive commonwealth. she is our
foster-child, for had II not been for the
corn which our settlers sent to feed these
colonists and the boards which we fur
uished TO shelter them from the winter :
storm they would have either starved or
frozen, or have been comoelled II return
to England.
We can claim that the first city organ
lied within the limits of New England
was founded within our borders: the first
fort built to protect us from foes without
ana SaNageS within was erected upon our
coast; the first vessel that ever cut these
western waters was built of timber that
grew IN our forests, her keel was laid on
our shores, and she was launched upon
one OF our rivers. and went forth to do
her work and carry the flag of England
to- conquest and glory; the first Protese
tant sermon preached on this wilderness
continent was delivered within the pres
ent limits OF the State of Maine. and the
flrst tine the British flag came down to
Tie colonlsts Upon the sea was in obedi-
ence to the demands of the brave and en-
terprlslng citizens of Mdchias.
We have a record of which we may well
be proud, history which will repay
study, and past which gave ample
promise OF what the present has given to
the world. Our ancestors We're adven-
turous sturdy. brave: lovers of home and
Kindred; believers in the church, the
school and the town meeting. and had
tnat peculiar quality which enabled each
and do his own thinking. They were de-
voted to the task which they had set
themselves. the building of a common
wealth theyswere loyal to their ideas of
right and liberty: resolute in their deter
mination to protect themselves from op-
preston from without and tyranny with
IN. In a word they were the wnnowed
product of hundreds of years of Teutonic
breeding, training, growing.
Unfortunately we had but few repre-
sentatives of the literary class, and hence
our story has not been so frequently or
SO attractively told as has been that Of
MASSACHUSETTS Our legends. traditions,
struggles, defeats. conquests triumphs
nave been handed down from father to
son orally. but in only a few instances
have they been embodied in that imper-
ishable form which makes them the de-
light of children. simple minded folk, and
of Nation but the nourishing soil of
Its growth, the common people. Hence
our early history is but little known. and
we have lost the State pride, the person
al interest in our early settlements that
have formed so large a part of the story
of other colonies.
We not only gave the colonists of Massa-
beer been giving her during the last
20 years something of immensely
greater Value-a great multitude of
me : ne. noblest men and truest women
mat six thousand years of living have
pred. We gave her one of her early ex-
ecutives in the person of Gov. Phipps.
ana we supplemented this gift with many
others. the most distinguished of whom
was the famous war governor, John A.
andrew we also gave her poet laureate.
anu secretary of the navy. We have
given her prophets for her pulpits, jur-
ISIS for her courts. business men for her
onlces, in number so large that If they
should all come home from their silent
or busy abodes. the exodus would be so
great, that what is now a 1popnlous state
would somewhat resemble deserted
Maine farm We have given her OF our
brains, our scholarship. spur capacity for
work, our ability to CONQUER, our ambi-
ton 70 make the world better and ciean-
err. We have given her of our Wealth
and not satisfied with all this giving we
have sent forth men and women to every
state IN the Union. the islands Of the
sea, and the ends of the earth, who have
sfiiied, the large places in every walk and
station; While it is true that Massachu-
eetyeq the lions share, and while 1t is al
50 1rqe that we have given without stint