Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-08-02
Presidents Address

ihe ffeSluenL Sdlu IN part.
1t IS not too much TO say that the
three centuries which have passed
since men of our race came here to
found a new state have been the most
momentous and the most pregnant in
all the progress Of human kind
To this and the Virginia shore
We're tranSplanted the seeds of rem
fesentatiNe democracy. the new ideals
Of nationality through association and
representation and there has develop
ed seemingly, the most dependable
form Of popular government ever wit
messed in the world.
Whether we reflect upon the re-
straints upon freedom which the
Fathers imposed, or measure the
broader liberty under the law of to-
day. here began the reign of depend
able public opinion, which unfailinelv
is the law of highest civilization.
one may not say whether the Pur-
itanS at home would have been to
work out such system il there had
been no American colonies and the
colonial Influences to react upon the
mother country. Doubtless the Eng
the settlement at Plymouth, would
have come even had there been no
settlement here, no ssachusetts
Bay colony, no Virginia plantation.
But it is easy to believe that in the
long struggle after the restoration,
, the fruits Of the Revolution, the
strengthened parliamentary institu
tons and the restrictions on royal
prerogatlye were helped by the in
f1uences of Colonial democracy.
/ NO one Will dispute the large part
New England played in the rearing
Of new standards of freedom. The
carly struggles here were contempor-
aneous with the making OF modern
British conStitutienalism, and the new
world beacon was an incentive and an
inspiration across the sea; and today
Old World and New Join in rejoicing
at the cnds achieved The beginning
OF the American Revolution may fair
4 ~ be traced the larger part of CEN
fury from the date we commonly fixed
for it. TO the great town meeting in
the Old South church, to which was
submitted the question whether the
colony would assent to the charter
I reorga nization that the King demand
ed.
! IF the idea of religious freedom had
! little - hope TOR from the effort Of
the stern old fathers to set up theo-
crazy in New England. the ideal of
political freedom found here partic
ularly fertile soil in which to germin-
ate.
1 "a T.1r Sla 1,atv l. ~.
/ tyranny on this side and q political
! tyranny on the other resulted in the
destruction OF both. to the vast bet
/ terment of every human interest in-
! volved
! The men and women who came
| here 10 found in d wilderness, across
y thousand leagues of ocean waste,
! Il new state. came with high and
! conscious purpose Of achieyine
| great human end. Out of their vol
luminous letters memoirs, public
records and historical writings we
| constantly get the IMPRESSION of
their deep conviction that they had
| been called as divine instruments to
accomplish work OF supremest
significance.
Hand Of man alone did not build
what was founded here; il was but
| the visible sign, the human symbol,
of a purpose which we may not I'M
derstand, but for whose benehcence
Al linen must give tribute of praise
and voice undying gratitude. We
may speculate and conjecture: we
may seek to frame laws of human
relationship. by which TO account
for such results as here have been
wrought; but a last we will have, to
recognize that they are not for US TO
explain.
The English speaking race had
, hardly established itself in true
character AS the foremost exponent
Of liberal institutions when it began
TO distribute itself among the will
aerness of the earth. Even before
liberty had been secured for the
mother country, its soldiers were adj
Nenturing into distant parts carry
ing their ambitions with them
The community of free people OF
our race. whether in Europe or in
America, Africa or Australia. under
the northern or southern skies, was
begun when jamestown and Ply
mouth were founded. 1t has carried
its ideals wherever it has set it's
standard. 1t has won recognition Of
those ideals as the basis of social
| conduct. of community relations,
throughout the world. Its work is
not finished but, pray God, 1t has
come triumphantly through its de-
| termininS ordeal. 1t comes forth
from that test, nerved and heartened
for further tasks; confident, assured,
reliant None questions either it's
place or its right of leadership; few
doubt Its destiny to establish. under
that divine guidance which it has
ever recognized. the splendid strue-
ture of human brotherhood in peace
and understanding.
The perspectives OF history are
not safely to be judged save from
the Hottest peaks of human exper-
fence. 1t is the dearly bought privi
lege of our generation to stand on
one Of those heights of the long
ages. to look over the pathways bv
which we have come thus far. to see
clearly wat have been the main
travelled roads and what the by
paths. If we will but let our minds
record that which our eyes tell us
we will note that the widespreading
| landscape behind US is now vastly