Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-04-01
Monday, April I, 1907.
Holding Out the Olive Branch.

nal commenting upon certain remarks
made at the recent meeting Of the
Board of Trade in this city in which the
proper spirit OF sisterly love was not
displayed toward the capital of Maine.
We deprecate any such expression as
that TO which the Journal refers, and
We are sure that any sentiment Of uyI
kindlincss which has been shown in
this city toward our good friends Of the
Eennebec will upon reflection be- re
GREETED by our citizenship. ana will be
atOned for. so far as is possible, by Il
proper recognition of the people there
as our continued good friends and fell
low citizens. And we ask for a re
ciprocal feeling on the part Of the PEG
pie Of AueustaIortland Express
We hail with pleasure the sight oi
the olive branch of peace held aloft by
one Of our esteemed Portland cpntcin-
porIes-tstecnIed now as always i'll
spite of the cruel warfare in which
fate drcrrcd that it should fight upon
one side and wc upon tie other. The
tuniult ana the shouting dies. tile cap
tains aud the kings have departed;
the smoke of battle is lifting from the
field; the surgeons are busy il tie hos
pitfalls. the flag is sin there the coln
try is safe. BY all means let t'.
sword be returned to its sheath. or
better still, let il be sent 10 tho factory
10 he beaten into a ploushshare.
Undoubtedly the Express speaks for
IL u
GREETING The insults TO Augusta which
were freely offered by certain speakers
at the Board of Trade meeting referred
10. Such Incorporate utterances coulI
not have expressed the sentiment Of the
best people of Portland. Recognizing
this, the Journal appreciates the atti-
tude of the Express, accepts its words
in the spirit in which they were written,
and joins il in the sincere hope that
Portland and Augusta may be friends
in the future, living together in peace
ana harmony such as is fitting for sis
ter cities in the great state which We
all love.
IT is hardly necessary for he Journal
10 point out that this winters warfare
has not been Of Augustus seeking. 1t
has been on the defensive. fighting for
its honor and almost for life itself. /:
is a small city. poor in resources a1
compared with powerful Portland. ana
IL recognizes with proper humility thar
its victory WAS not due 10 any efforts
il was able to pu; forth. but rather u
the justice Of its cause ANA the earnest
support uf the masses Of the people 81
Maine II the battle was Il bitter on.
it was no. due 10 any desire on An
gusta's part to make il 50, nor was this
city the first to strike blows ana infirt
wounds.
As one Of our exchanges points our,
the capital removal movement MAS The
attempt of Il great and rich city Il"
cruelty Il small and poor one. such be
ing the ease. il Is naturally i litth,
more lit,rult for the victim of the at
tempted crucitixinn to get into ii for
giving mood than it is for the spirit Of
forgiveness to enter the soul Of thos"
who attempted to do the CrucltNIng
And yet Augusta harb"rs II" resent
ment. II is willing tn live and let live
IL Is unwilling - build itself M ~
tearing any sister city down. ana il
trusts that the same $piri; viii prevail
in The fut are in Portland.
II is in the memory Of many people
in Augusta when our Market square
was piled high with barrels and bal@2
and boxes containing the freely given
cont rihutiuns Of our citizens for the re-
lief Of the stricken people nf Portland.
That was after the great fire in lSCG,
only few months after the business
the same devourine element. Yet when
the word came that Portland had been
swept by fire, leaving thousands home
less and destitute. the people of Au-
gusta filled car upon ear with food sup
plies. clothing and everything that
could be of use in supporting and
sheltering the people Of Portland in
their time OF need. There had been no
relief from Portland when Augusta mad
suffered Il year earlier. but the relief
sent by Augusta was none the less
prompt and abundant on this account.
1t is needless To say that Augusta
would do the same today should any
such which God Forbid
befall the beautiful city of Portland.
And so here's TO the olive branch and
long may it wave, May Augusta and
Portland and all cities of Maine for
ever illustrate the beauty and blessed
ness of living together in unity. Au-
gusta is glad to forgive whatever needs
forgiveness and forget whatever needs
forgetting. But since our people are
human we cannot reasonably be ex-
pected to expose our powder to the rain
or fail to keep an eye on Portland lest