Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-01-12
BINDS STATE
AND GOVERNOR
Governor Ferna|d's Oath Of Of.
flee a Solemn Covenant

flee a Solemn Covenant
HIS MESSAGE TO LEGISLATURE
Great complexIty Of Problems In
Moral and Economic Fields to es
solved-state Finances In Excellent
condition-conservatIon Of Re
sources Demands Earnest Consider
ation-state institutions In a Mos
Satisfactory Condition
Augusta, Me-, Jan. Tn his
message to the legislature today Gov
ernor Fernald says:
The oath OF Office taken here today II
the presence of the people OF Maine MAJ
become a solemn covenant binding them
and me.
Behind US both, as guide and a pro-
lection Of that covenant, Is the constitu
ton OF Maine. which both the iesisia
tive and the executive departments o
this government have now sworn to oo
serve and to cherish. Under The Prov
sions of that constitution, the powers
OF this government were divided int'
three distinct departments. legislative
executive. and judicial. with the ex
press declaration therein that no persof
belonging to one department shali eN
ercise the powers belonging 10 elther D
the others. Against any usurption %
preroEative, against oversieppinS th'
dividing line between your duties an'
mine. ! hereby give you the pledge o
my solemn purpose thereto. and viii
the notification that sha!l exact th'
same obligation from you. And alsf
in order to emphasize the importance .
this principle Of good government an'
further to define the duties and power:
OF the executive department under thcs'
sections which relate to a distribution o
the same. may I call to your attention
the apt expressions OF a few of the ear
lier chief executives OF our state upoi
this same important question, whicl
seem to me to serve us go htiy boti
to counsel and admonish that beg yo'
to hearken to them today as TO tie foic'
Of wisdom from out the past.
Standing here sixty-eight years as'
TODAY Governor Kent. distinguished alik'
as q lawyer and an executive, said Il
both branches OF the Legislature: this
provision ior the distribution ~ power
between the distinct departments o. -
government OF Maine. and the dtinihoA
OF the functions of the same would re
strain mt from attempting TO dictat" Z"
direct the subjects or the course Ot '"S
islation. but the constitution OF Maine
also makes II the duty OF the governo
TO give the legislature information NJ
to the condition OF our state. and Il
recommend to its consideration suci
measures as he may judge cxrcdi mt, am
in fulfilling this direction | wish 20 b'
regarded as performing duty strict,
enjolned upon me by my guide ana dl
rectory In the discharge OF my duty, an
/ ask and desire for my views no othc
weight of influence but such as they ma!
be entitled 10 upon full and sober con
sideration. In my opinion. the grea
chara cteristic feature of our govcrnmen
is to he found in this careful
and Jealous distribution OF power am
this solemn and decisive admonition Z
each department TO keep strictly within
it's own limit and to beware OF lniring
ing upon or assuming tho power right
fully belonging to another. With an uh
doubting assurance that the rights. pow
ers. and responsibilities conferred on Ia
executive will not upon your part be In
terfered with or assaiied, can assur
you that ii will he my pleasure. as
Is my duty. to leave the legislature AM
all other departments TO the free. ful
and uninterrupted performance OF til
duties enjoined upon them"
Lot MorriIls View.
Exactly fifty years ago. to day. Gov
ernor Lot NJ. Morrill, also stood in tai
place. and said: The checks provide
not only in the two distinct branche
OF the legislature. but also in the par
ticipation OF the executive indicate Wit
what jealous care these important func
tions have been guarded"
Governor Enoch Lincoln In 1927 re
ferred to duties appropriate exclusively {
his office. and Governor Hubbard wen
farther than this and even declared tho
"opinions formed and acted upon unds
the influence OF party dictation or unde
that OF affiliated societies, whether poll
tical moral. or fanatical are dangerou
to our liberties and subversive OF demo
cratic principles" II these quotation
from the fathers Of our state serve t
give US Il clearer understanding OF ou
respective line OF duties. they hav
served my purpose. Starting out, there
fore, with this understanding that you d
your work and that ! do mine. each II
helpfulness to the other. let US consid
er what are the duties that press upo
us. and the Importance OF our consecra
tf hfpl a nf a
do not believe It is necessary for me (
suggest thar these duties are solem
and potential. You know. as well as
that the consequences OF vicious. hasty
and ill-advised legislation may be bligh
upon state for years and years L
come; while the fruits OF wise and bene
ficent laws make states happier and bet
ter. I beg of you. however, 10 conside
this phase OF your duties seriously.
there be hny man here who looks upo
his oath OF Office taken before God an
man, as Of small account, let me be-
him to revise his views. IL any maj
there be who assumes his first duty &
be to his political party and his secon
duty to his state. let me beg him [
desist. This Is not the proper field 70
an exploitation OF party prejudlces or o
personal and political ambitions. TIL
gravity of the duties here imposed call
FOR higher estibate OF our service thai
this. and constitutes an appeal to tn
patriotism OF every man. In such degre
that he will ungrudgingly sink himsel
and his party. In devotion TO the servic
II the whole people.
l need not say that large issues con
front us. Rarely has legislature face
greater complexity Of problems In bot
moral and economic fields Of legisla tio
than does yours. Your solution Of som
of them may determine the policy o
the state for years to come and be tn
means OF setting her face either toward
progress or decline. 1t Is not much legis
lation, but wise legislation that we need
arless regard for the rights OF tn
people Is required OF each OF us. Tn
study Of these problems demands ou
whole time and requires that our ser
vice be In the very spirit OF the religion
OF our better natures. I believe. In al
solemnity, as I doubt not you do. tina
the Lord has this nation and this stat
In His holy keeping and that He will
lead us by His kindly light as He has le,
US until now. Reliance on Him. con
fidsnce in ourselves. determination 4
be swayed from what We believe to b.
right, neither by wealth nor by powe
nor by any influence or combination o
influences that may be brought agains
US. will carry US through to such an EN-
bodiment OF justice into law that W
shall not fail to justify our service ak
to our consciences and to our constituen
cies.
A Prosperous Two Years.
II Is hardly necessary for me TO sa
that our state has been very prosperous
the past two years. and that our finan
ces are In excellent condition. Our tota
bonded indebtedness is but six hundre
ninety eight thousand dollars CS6sS.OOol
no part of which Will fall dur during thi
administration. On December 81. l9O'
there was $56S. .53i.i4 cash in the treas