Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-06-13
Governors Address.

system.
f. X -
Governors Address.
The Governor spoke in part as fol-
lows:
The occasion that calls us here today
is no ordinary one. 1t marks nota-
bic milestone in the educational his
tory of this town, of this county and
of the State. We have assembled for
the purpose of dedicating this build
ing and the institution of which it is
the embodiment to the cause of pop
ular education, cause which must
ever stand as the very cornerstone OF
democratic form of government,
since no people can remain self-gov-
erning unless there be dispersed among
them high type of education.
This town and this county have TAX
en-, from the earliest colonial days, a
leading place in the history of our
State and nation. Settled permanent
~ just prior to the outbreak of the
Revolution. Machias became at once
an important outpost. Here in 1863
came little band of men and women
who built their log houses and estab-
lisned their pioneer homes. This little
band in seven years grew to an inpor-
tance that justified the General Court
of Massachusetts in granting incor-
poration. In 1771 the proprietors
raised 81 pounds to have. 4 minister
preach the gospel, and in TIA the first
meeting house was built.
In 1775 those first shots were fired
that We're heard around the world and
nowhere did they quicken more the
hearts of men of fire liberty-loving
souls with more eager response than
in the ease of this frontier settlement.
Highly appropriate it seems to me is
the establishment of this State insti-
tuition upon the very estate of that
brave Captain O'Brien whose arm was
successfully raised in that first naval
battle for freedom. We may well i'm
agine what lofty satisfaction would
come TO those patriotic souls of that
time if they could contemplate in spirit
this occasion when the State they
helped to establish re-dedicates this
already hallowed soil 70 new SER
vice for humanity.
In the educational history of the
community this institution also finds
most fitting background Immediate
town. provision was made by private
contributions for school and within
fifteen years, by a unanimous vote of
the town. a public school. one of the
first of the State, was established. In
1873 our first school house was built
and within fifty years of the founding
of the town the people had already
begun to look beyond the common
school in their ambitions for their
children and a free high school was
established.
There is small cause for wonder that
out of an environment like this should
have come body of men and women
pledged 20 the unfolding of the high
est ideals, or that there should have
been produced individual men and wo-
men destined to take high rank in the
educational leadership of our State
and Nation. Among these notable
sons of this community l find such dis
tinguished names as those of Presi-
dent Harris of Amherst College; of
Chancellor Day Of Syracuse UNIVERSE
~. of Samuel Harris. President of our
own Bowdoin College: of DR.. Hitch
cock, President of Union Theological
of Wheaton College.
With an historical background like
:his and an environment rich in educa-
tional influence the State now joins in
setting up another standard To guide
the youth of this and of later genera
lions to careers of service.
And as l look back today over the
educational history of our State / find
in its splendid record that evidence
which assures me that the hopes we
cherish for the future shall be realized.
Very early in its history Maine com
mitted herself to a liberal policy with
regard to education. Few other states
contain in their fundamental law,
which is the constitution, more speci-
Tic or more generous pledges in this
respect. And through all the years of
its existence. while Maine men and
women have been called by the hum
bred thousand to open other parts of
the country. while Maine wealth has
gone generously to deVelope other
states, yet through it all there has
been no diminution in respect to the
fidelity of our people to popular edu-
cation as shown in their material sup
port of it. With the details of this
growth l shall not weary you, but it
appears to me fitting. on this oeea-
sion of adding this new institution to
our educational resources. that we re-
view very briefly the course of our
history and its culmina
ton in the present status of our in
situations.
From its humble beginning of less
than a century ago when the common
school with meagre length of term
marked practically the limit of edu
opportunity for the mass of
our people. we come down through
years of steady growth and progress
RI This present day when we find that