Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-01-10

GON EhNOR COBB.
The Constitution of Maine. in pre-
scribing the powers and duties OF the
Governor, declares that "he shall from
time to time give the Legislature IN
formation of the condition OF the
State, and recommend to their consid
GRAFTON such measures as he may
Judge expedient." Having received
this office from the people, profoundly
grateful for their confidence, and
wishing to conform to the custom OBJ
served by my predecessors. 1t becomes
nv duty at this time and place to com
ply with this Constitutional require
ment.
While the trainers of the COnstitu'
ton dug deep for the future and laid
foundations strong enough and broad
enough to support with entire safety
the fabric of self-government as we
see and enjoy 1t today. yet 1t was not
possible for them to provide for or
foresee the numerous and complex al
fairs that In time should become 10
be the States duties and the peop!es
privileges. Nor does this detract from
the magnitude and power OF their
achievement. 1t is all the more tGio
ute to their wisdom, for their worl;
begun and finished among conditions
of life and material development com
paratively simple. was done with such
thoroughness and along such compre
hensive lines that later generations
have neither desired nor attempted
fundamental changes. but have fol
lowed the spirit If not always the let
ter of their plans. -,
A few years more and Maire viii
have been a State century. AT the
States birth, and for many years
thereafter. it was no difficult task for
Governor. upon assuming office. to
have full and personal knowledge
of every department of the State's gov
ernment and affairs. The conditions
of that day made such knowledge pos
sible. The population was small. busi'
ness limited and wealth infrequent
The State was rich only in the char
acter and vigor of her citizens and in
her natural but undeveloped resources
Public revenue was scanty and public
exnenditures consequently restricted
Public institutions were few in mum
Der and narrow In scope. and the
State could render but slight aid In
forwarding the great work OF philan
thropy and education. Capital and en-
ergy had been applied only in small
degree to the development OF trans
portation facilities and to the eXten
sion of commerce, and the State had
not vet been called upon to eXeIcise
its right of control in these great
fields of business and Industrial ac
tiyity. While the State never needed
nor ever possessed men of more rug
ped honesty, keener vision or more
commanding ability than those In
whom the executive power was vested
during those years of beginnings. II
must be considered that the machinery
of State was simple, capable OF being
easily understood and readily ex
planned.
But we face an entirely different
situation today. During the last forty
years the whole country has made
marvellous advance in material pros
perity and in the elevation of human
ity. and in this march of progress
Maine has been no laggard. Ran
roads have reached her fertile valleys
her forests and waterways. have stim
uated and encouraged both agrlcul
ture and manufactures, and have
brought their products to ready ant
profitable market. Electric railroads
have brought suburban and even rura
| communities into closer touch with hel
cities and larger towns, and have con
| tributed to increased property value:
and more comfortable means OF travel
| Her magnificent water powers nj
longer flow embarrassed, but science
and skill have so controlled and man
aged them that commercial center:
grow today where but few year:
ago was wilderness and solitude. The
scenic beauty of her shores, lakes ant
| mountains, together with an invigorat
ing climate. have attracted steadil!
increasing number Of health and pleas
ure seekers to her territory. and have
been no inconsiderable factors In pro
noting and enlarging business actlv
ity. Her farms have increased In val
ue, and almost all of her industries art
aour.shing snd prosperous. Commerce
has expanded. the currents OF trade
have quickened and grown stronger
banks and other financial institutions
have multiplied with profit and with
safety, capital and labor have thrived
together, and the wage.earner has not
lacked opportunity to work or incen
tive to save.
The people Of Maine have been al
ways humane. public-spirited and gen
erous. They early looked with pity
0g eye Upon the helpless and unfor
tunate, and as early inaugurated meth
DDS for their support and relief. They
law that education was the founda
tion.stone of all progress and civillza
ton, and began the upbuilding OF
common school system whose natura
sequence was the Normal School, the
Library and the University. They
knew that society required protection
against the depredations Of the Grim
inal and evil.minded, and they bull
prisons and jails. But these were no
torture chambers, and better still, th'
wayward youth of both sexes wer'
placed under a observation-disclosures
and implying no disgrace-that shoul'
incline their lives toward industry am
sohriety. They realized that al II
for,ad Dublic oDinicn misht at som,