The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1907-11-21
PRAISES OF THE PINE TREE STATE
At the Meeting of the Maine Society of
New York.
Especial to the Portland Press.)

Especial to the Portland Press.)
New York, Nov. IA. The fifth an
nual dinner of the Maine Society of
New York. which took place at the Ho-
tel Aston this evening, brought to-
gether a distinguished gathering of the
sons and daughters of the Fine Tree
State. In point of members the at
tendance was the largest in the history
of the society. There was not man or
woman present who did not go home
after the speaking had ended at mid
night feeling a greater pride in the
commonwealth that gave them birth.
President James McKeen, who acted
as POSTMASTER, was in his best vein.
His descriptions of some of the many
beauty spots of Maine were wildly elo-
quent and were warmly applauded.
The first speaker introduced was Col
John F. Lynch of Machias, who in a
thoughtful and eloquent address called
attention to the fact that it was at
Machias that the first naval battle of
the Revolution was fought and won.
1t was soon after the news of the bat
tie of Lexington had reached the town
he said, that the villagers erected a
liberty pole and solemnly pledged their
lives to the preservation of the princi-
pies it represented.
One day a British man-of-war ap-
peared in the bay and her commander
ordered the removal of the liberty pole.
The inhabitants refused to carry out
his orders, even when he threatened to
fire broadsides at the town. With
courage born of earnest conviction the
men armed themselves with guns, axes
and scytheS and boarding two vessels
that happened to be in the harbor pro-
ceeded to the spot where the Margha-
rita, the British ship, lay at anchor and
attacked her. The battle resulted in
the first naval victory for the colonists.
| Colonel Lynch declared that the sons
| of these animated early settlers are
to be found among the men of the Pine
Tree State.
DR.. Charles White, president of
Colby University, who was the next
speaker, told his hearers that although
+. they were far from their native land
they could not forget its love and care
| The sons of Maine, he declared, are the
| seeds of the nation. Continuing, DR.
| White said that he desired to speak OF
| the pulse of the State-the fnancia
pulse. During all the financial turmoil
OF the past three weeks the banks OF
| the State had met every obligation
Only one bank had failed and that a
small one.
There was more politics in Maine to
the square mile than in any State in
the Union. Parties are divided upon
every conceivable question and it didn't
look as though they would ever be able
to agree upon anything. But should a
great crisis arise party differences
would be forgotten and all would unite
to serve the State.
DR.. White spoke upon the work of
the colleges and of the churches, saying
that never had there been greater and
more intelligent activity. III closing he
urged the New Workers to send their
sons and daughters to the institutions
of Maine to be educated. Ex-MayoI
Body of Brooklyn also delivered a
brief address.
Among those present at the dinner
were Gen. Thomas H. Hubbard, DR..
J. G. Wight, Capt George A, Carver,
J. Arthur Green, John Childs, DR.. F.
H. Dillingham;, Major Bracket, DIR.
Cyrus Hamlin, George F. Hartman,
William E. Pulsifer, K. G. Atwood,
Arthur S. Campbell. DR.. J. S. Fergu-
son, W. L. Flye, DR.. w. 0. Plympton
and DR.. F. n. Patterson.