Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-01-12

,ens upon Iand IN dnincorporated ana IN
Incorporated tcwns-all these are pro-
,osed by this report and will come to
,ou presumably from the legislature az
ma tiers for your determination. May
,sk every member OF this legislature.
carefully to read the report Of the tax
commission, or should ] not rather as
ume that every member Of these deliber-
tive bodies here assembled has already
cad It? You owe II to the state. at least.
% appreciate the gravity Of some Of its
suggestions. before you enter upon the
consideration Of these subjects. some Of
hem implying q radical departure from
he customs and policies OF nearly CEN
.ury Let every personal consideration
,e set aside In your deliberations Let
public good over-balance private greed.
Let US do nothing in haste that we shall
lave to repent at leisure. but let W not
,e afraid to 70 ahead. While the best
" tax systems is bound to be faulty.
hat system Is absolutely vicious and un-
peakably evil that is fashioned In favor
kisrn or conceived In a spirit Of reprisai
The current questions Of taxation car
never be settled right even for this gen.
Grafton until they dispense justice to
every man. rich or poor. and SO far al
possible dispose the burdens OF public
tax In Just proportion to every interest
great or small.
Temperance and Prohibition.
And now. as we draw near the close
permit me to say word concerning the
laws prohibiting the sale Of intoxicating
beverages and their enforcement. In
the first place. urge upon you the
thought with which opened this address.
namely. that the burden Is upon you and
not upon me to formulate legislation.
am glad to fulfil my duties which are
10 suggest. admonish or inform. so Tar
as ! am able but II you look to me for
new devises or expedients have
none TO offer. Your duty and mine
are fixed by the constitution-mine
to execute, yours to legislate, put
and mine are fixed by the constitution
mine to execute. yours to legislate, bu'
] shall not hesitate to exercise every
constitutional obligation and privilege
belonging to my office, to redeem the
solemn pledges that we have made FOR
enforcement.
Today, we have prohibition In the con-
etitution, state enforcement in the stat
utes. and resubmission In the limbos.
II YOU will be content to let them re-
main there, with such legislation as you
may devise to simplify their operations
and eauaiize their burdens and RESPONSE
bilities. and will turn your attention TO
graver things, such as the conservation
OF the great natural resources OF the
state, the determination OF the pressing
issues Of taxation: to legislation In keep
Ing with the national spirit OF moral and
economic reform. you will pursue the
wiser course.
Here would leave the discussion, were
ha thof
ment enters into the situation. a spirit
Of so-called nuliihcation. which rises
like a menace or stalks behind like an
evil thing in the night. ! believe that
neither you as legislators. nor / as exec
utive will be doing our duty, IL we fail
TO oppose every step that tends to pro-
mote It, The people have not chosen
US in the full understanding OF those is
sues TO come here and hoodwink the law
or stultify ourselves. II Is not my pur-
pose to threaten or to caJole. l snail
not declare here and now what ! shall
do in this juncture or In that, but do
say, that whatever you do In regard to
temperance legislation. you must not
legislate state enforcement out OF the
statutes. The Issue rests with you, but
! repeat what have said. that IL see
in the delibe rations of this legislature Il
need OF further and more explicit decla-
rations from me. shall not hesitate to
make them and In such time and place
as think will be the most emphatic and
will do the most good for public welfare
! believe the prohibitory law to be wise,
judicious and salutary. ! should consid-
er il a disaster to the general cause OF
public morals throughout the land should
they pass away from Maine.
Initiative and Referendum.
During the year just passed, we have
adopted the initiative and referendum
by the vote Of the people. This secures
to the voter a power which as yet he
hardly appreciates. and which yet has TO
be tested. Under this. there can be small
complaint at inability. either to sound
public sentiment or to participate In
general legislation.
And now. gentlemen. members OF the
seventy fourth Maine legislature, in your
care these issues are placed. ] proffer
them not in a spirit Of self assertion.
but as issues which ! believe demand
your attention, II Maine is to keep up in
the procession of her neighboring states.
The people will forgive honest mistakes.
but they never can and never should for
give wilful misrule. ! do not sickle for
methods. / but plead for measures. deep
laid In justice and in right. I do not
ASK you 10 IOlIOW III way,
but ask you to follow in some way that
leads into avenues Of progress and re.
form. I do not ask you to do violence to
your party or your Affiliations. but ! do
ask you to remember that higher than
you or your party or your friendships. In
your duty to the state and. in the fear
Of God and In respect OF that duty. must
you bear ever In mind when you cast
your vdte that you legislate great con-
sequences into being. potent for good or
I'll, to Maine.
God has given great blessings to our
state. He has made her, as We believe,
fairer and richer than her sisters. He
has lifted her hills. and cupped the har-
bors and the bays between the rugged
barriers to the restless seas. Our ma
tural beauties. the inestimable wealth OF
our forests and our water powers, our
Incompatible climate. the purity Of our
rivers, the intellectual and moral strength
Of our people. these also. are our heri-
tage, and these must be kept intact for
our children's children. doubt the SIN
certify OF purpose Of no man or Interest,
but self seeking frequently clothes it
self In a garb that bears the name OF pro-
gress. forgetting the claims OF the flu
ture in its desire for the reward OF the
present. Be cautious and on your guard;
remember that we are servants. not rul-
ers. and that the talents committed 10
our keeping for a time must be husband
ed against that day when our Master.
wh5 10 IN People shall call upon ne for