Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-17
OF HISTORIC VALUE.
State Librarian Carver Speaks
Of Names EARLY Days.
Nearly l2o Years Since Separation
Was First Agitated.
Moses Greenleaf's Book Should Be Pre-
served in Libraries.

HISTORICAL matters and especially Sucn
as relate to the early history of Maine,
both before and since the separation
from the commonwealth of Massachu-
sets. There are few authorities
whom MIR. Carver does not know and
there are few facts Of import concern
ing our colonial history with which he
is not thoroughly familiar Mr.. Carver
has just prepared a very compre-
hensve sketch of Moses Greenleaf,
who had much to do in bringing about
the separation from the mother state.
incidental to this tribute to a worthy
citizen of Maine, long since gone to his
reward. Mr.. Carver pays particular at
tention to the necessity of preserving
copies of Mr.. Greenleaf's book, writ
ten in 1916, which are now scattered
in out CT the way places throughout
the State. and which ought to be de-
posted in the free libraries of the
State.
Nearly one hundred and twenty
years ago" says Librarian Ca, "er,
the inhabitants of the District c.
Maine commenced to agitate the ques-
| ton of separation from Massachu-
sets. While this district had been
under the dominion of Massachusetts
for more than a century prior to the
Revolution, it's territory had never
been regarded as an integral part of
that puritan colony. 1t had been used
by the traders of that colony as an out
post against the French and Indians,
| to be deserted and abandoned to the
! torch and tomahawk in times of f1erc-
est conflict and to be again occupied
and claimed in times of peace. Even
after Massachusetts became a state,
this half alien land continued to be
known and designated as the District
OF Maine. It's pc-Dle had never taken
kindly to Puritan rule. They regarded
with Impotence and contempt the
straight laced manners and rigid laws
and customs imposed upon them by
with their own life of poverty, toll,
hardship and danger. They remem-
bered with bitterness that the Puritans
had often abandoned them and their
settlements to a cruel and bloody fate
when savage war in all it's horrors
burst upon them.
THE fact that Massachusetts had
purchased for the sum of twelve hum
dred and fifty pounds the exclusive
title and possession of the land, and
the exclusive right, to rule it's inhabi
tants by laws made at Boston and eX-
ecuted by officers sent from that town,
did not commend that commonwealth
to the affections of the people of
Maine 1t is true that ties of blood
and kindred existed between them, but
even in these cases the Maine families
were looked upon as poor relations.
The Puritans regarded the great mass
of the people of Maine as a lawless and
ignorant band of squatters, tenants at
sufferance upon the vast land grants of
Massachusetts landlords. Hundreds
of these men. who had beaten back
their savage foes, and out of the
wilderness had wrought comfortable
homes and fertile fields, were dis
possessed of the work of life time
and driven from their houses under
writs of ejectment as trespassers
upon the land. Hence the efforts for
separation, commencing Immediately
after the close Of the Revolutionary
war, continued increasingly for nearly
forty years, before they were crowned
with success. The final separation took
place March 15 1920 when Maine was
admitted to the Union as a sovereign
and independent State.
No adequate and complete history
of this movement, or of the prominent
actors in this struggle for statehood
has ever been written. The most con-
spicuous figure and unique PERSONAL
| ity in this contest was William King,
| who afterwards became the first gov
ernor of the new State. The honorable
part he took in this great struggle has
| immortaliZed his name in our history,
and a grateful State has sought to per-
petuate his fame in. classic outlines Of
marble now resting in the Capitol at
Washington. But it often happens
when there is any great contest in
which principle is involved, the boldest
and loudest advocate for the success
full party received much of the credit
that rightfully belongs to some modest
\ man of brains who is content to see
the realization of his thoughts and
ideals consummated. The power be-
hind the throne exists in every great
industrial, political, or moral move
ment. 1t was so in this struggle for
statehood The man who did the most
/ effective work in this cause Of the
people: the man who struck the final
blow for self government; the man
who furnished unanswerable argu-
ments in favor of separation, is not
known or mentioned in the complete
history of that movement. He was a
man eminently fitted by nature and
education and by his location and sur
roundings to give to the world true
conception of the vast natural re-
sources of Maine and of the enterprise.
thrift and intelligence of her people.
This man was Moses Greenleaf. who
lived at williamsburg, a township To-
Gated near the geographical centre of
the State. He spent many years of his
life in exploring the interior of the
district. discovering many of the most