USA > Maine > Kennebec County > Winthrop > An Account of the centennial celebration at Winthrop, Me., May 20, 1871 : embracing the historic address and poem in full > Part 6
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dustries and schools, and churches; and environed them with sanctions and laws, and customs and ceremonies, that may seem to us burdensome or even ludicrous ; but which in those times were absolutely necessary to the welfare not only of the private individual, and of domestic and social life, but also of public liber- ty and public government. Hence it has been said that the ancient rights and dignities of towns lie at the foundation of our liberties. Impressed from early years with this view, I have been blamed by some, as evincing in my discussion of public questions, too much tenderness for the rights of municipalities. And I am glad when so striking a history as that we have in our minds and hearts to-day leads us back to the germs of our social order, and shows us the simple system by which liberty was made to honor law, and obedience was enjoined only that the free human will might be protected in its endeavor to work out its best.
Your historian has told us that this is the place where many good works have begun-that noble men and women have stood up here, single-handed, and lifted the banner of some high cause -the Sabbath school, temperance, the abolition of slavery ;- and without measuring the distance of their humble well-doing from the goal where perfect victory is heralded, holding on their way unswerving, constant and content. These beautiful and bold be- ginnings are a grand feature in the history and the fame of Win- throp. Is there not also here a lesson of good for us all? Humble beginnings, gratitude for small successes, while we steadily grow in courage and strength for greater achievements-is not this the true way to win ? It is only by the small earnings, only by the little balances of advantage, day by day and hour by hour, that we truly grow or gain. There is no alchemy now to transmute dross into gold. No mighty miracle converts the base to the high. No fiery chariot waits to roll us upward with sudden and swift glory. We must walk this road. We must watch and fight. Often we shall be at a standstill-sometimes actually set back ;
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still, the balance, if we are brave and patient, is on the upward side! It is what cometh not with observation-the small and silent winnings-it is this that tells and triumphs. It is thus that good lives and works, and cannot be lost or die.
The great poet saw not to the bottom of things when he said :
" The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones."
Not so, I deem it. To do evil-to create wrong, and leave that legacy behind, is indeed a fearful thing, and should warn us to be wise. But that evil shall endure while good shall perish-believe it never! Not thus has the Good Father ordered our lot. Not for this has He ordained the toil, the struggle, the temptation, the trial, the weariness and wounding, and all the chances of this mortal conflicte "He will not leave us in the dust." No, believe me, every least triumph over evil, every resistance to wrong, every cherished purpose of good, every humble and unseen aspiration, belongs to that which cannot die, and will have part in the resur- rection. No, the same God who from invisible atoms opens these blossoms and spreads this radiance, will make up also of your atoms of good a glory yet to be revealed. Behold yonder noble tree. How from the first it struggled with every adversity that seemed to human observation more than a match for it! Benumbed with cold, and stiffened with ice, dead and buried sometimes- still, atom by atom it forced its way, made meat of its enemies, grew by its buffetings and pushed on in the bright company that strive upward to the sun. Yet you might have sat down by it, and watched it day and night, and instant by instant, and no motion of growth could you catch with mortal gaze. But all the while the broad bright leaf was swelling on, and the stout heart waxing stronger, and all the life currents filling fuller; so that while all your watchers should stoutly deny that there was any motion to their eye, lo! there spreads the glorious form, mighty and complete, fashioned unto the eternal archetype. So we might
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watch each other, or ourselves perchance, and see no growth or gain, and yet if the heart be sound and the spirit turned towards the light, the time will come when we may spread in blessing high and far, though no man know the humble ways by which we grew. Be this a comfort to you, who in silent and modest ways are patient in well doing. No matter how lowly, how unnoticed, how unpraised and uncared for your doings ; you shall build up a character and work a work blessed among men, and not despised of God.
I heard amidst your manifold salutations of the morning, the music of bells. There struck the key-note of all. Yes, amidst the booming cannon, waking thoughts of anger, defiance, and strife, rung high above all the clear tones of the school bell. Was it not so, Mr. President? Yes, and these are the foundations. Work and worship ! Fight when need is, but always pray ! De- fence and offence, but above all to know the right ! Make strong the arm, but keep bright the mind ! Give us the plow, the axe, the anvil and the loom ; but above all the school and the church. Let skill turn strength into power, and truth make valor virtue.
TOASTS AND RESPONSES AT THE TENT.
Our good Mother Maine-Who on her daughter's 100th birth- day is bidden a welcome in the person of His Excellency, Governor Perham.
The Governor responded as follows :
He said he came to mingle with the men and women of Win- throp on their 100th anniversary, and had given himself up entirely to the enjoyment of the occasion. He was not sure that the sen- timent is quite correct. He believed that Winthrop was half a century older than Maine, and that the State itself ought to boast of being the daughter of the good old mother. Winthrop is one of the members of the State confederation, and when she rejoices the whole State rejoices; and as the telegraphic wires tell of the great success of this gathering, every town in the State rejoices.
It has been supposed by many that Maine is a rock-bound, hard State to live in. But when they consider the physical and intel- lectual strength that is born here, they are forced to acknowledge that at least it is a good State in which to raise men and women. There are no farmers in all the broad land that are happier than the farmers of Maine. Others have a more fertile soil, without the other advantages which we possess. When we look at our vast water power, sufficient to carry the present machinery of the entire country-when we look at our sea coast, nearly 3,000 miles in extent -- our system of railroads, which when completed will extend from the eastern limits to the Pacific shore, making Maine the great highway of the nations-we see the great destiny before us, if we but improve the opportunity. We must introduce indus- tries here that will keep our young men and women at home ; and not let the impression go out that it is our sole duty to raise men and women for other parts of the country. It is, however, grati- 5
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fying to know, that wherever you find Maine men abroad you generally find men of marked character and influence-men of courage and perserverance, who are called to fill responsible places. He referred to the progress that had been made in general reforms, and complimented the citizens on the success of the celebration.
At the close of his remarks three cheers were given for the Governor.
Other sentiments were offered by the toast-master, as follows :
The Winthrop Band-As modest and well-behaved as comports with the show of so much brass.
'Responded to by music by the Winthrop Band.
Our Twin Sister-Whose maiden name was Winthrop until she married a Mr. Readfield and set up for herself.
The Constitution of the United States-Being now in harmony with the Declaration of Independence, is a platform on which all can stand, and from which our country may rise to the height of na- tional prosperity.
Responded to by Rev. A. Bosserman.
The Ladies of Winthrop-Our better half in name; our better two-thirds in reality.
Responded to by the Band.
Dr. Ezekiel Holmes-A pioneer of scientific agriculture in Maine, a citizen of Winthrop, but belonging to the State at large.
Responded to by Mr. Arnold S. Richmond of Monmouth, for- merly of Winthrop.
The first Town Meeting which assembled 100 years ago to-day-The day we celebrate.
Responded to by B. S. Kelley, in the following poem :
'Twas just One Hundred years ago, If History tells the truth,
There was assembled at Squier Bishop's house The aged, middle aged and youth.
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The call for this assembling there Came from Justice Howard, greeting, That in the name of this Commonwealth They were to meet there in town meeting.
Prompt at the hour they all were there, And not one a moment later, The meeting was to order called, And Howe chosen Moderator.
A Clerk was to be chosen next, And without any fighting They manfully went to the ballot-box And put in Jonathan Whiting.
For Selectmen they next did vote, And without a political handler, And with not a single scattering vote Elected one John Chandler.
So having now elected one, And met with no disaster, They for a second cast their votes, And put in Timothy Foster.
So far, so good, all things went well; There was a third one now To be elected to the board, And this was Ichabod Howe.
A fourth man now was to be found, But soon his face they saw- Wheeled into line, marched to the box And chose one Robert Waugh.
They now had four good honest men, And did not believe in slighting, So for the fifth one and the last Elected Jonathan Whiting.
A Constable they now must have, To keep the boys and girls from foolin', So up to the ballot-box they marched And put in Stephen Pullen.
Then three Assessors they must have, And must be chosen now, And with a unanimous vote Elected Ichabod Howe.
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1
Having their first, they went to work With steps quick and alert, And for the second one put in Their old friend Gideon Lambert.
Honor to whom honor due, Was a watchword of their liking, So the honor of the third upon the board They gave to Jonathan Whiting.
Two Wardens then they wished to choose, That would be up to time, and pert, And so no better could they do Than put in Gideon Lambert.
They canvassed for the other one Among the crowd, though small, And finally they they thought it best To elect Josiah Hall.
Then Highways there were not so good As those we have to ride on, And so to fix and mend their ways They chose one Abraham Wyman.
Another one was needed then To help to boss the work, And this they thought in right belonged To Mr. Gideon Lambert.
And this concludes the officers That were elected there, And everything was done up right, And "done upon the square."
No wire pulling there was done, The offices filled before, But when they met to do their work They looked the company o'er.
They then selected their best men To fill their various stations, And "availability" was not known To the people of that generation.
They only asked, "Is he the man That is best qualified, And if elected to the place Will give the people pride ?"
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But now-a-days they never ask A question such as this, But "Is he the most 'available' man," Is on everybody's lips.
It makes no odds if he can't write, Or read, or cypher, or spell, He will answer the wire-puller's purpose the better, And suit his party as well.
The result of this we have often seen In mistakes in our legislation, They legislate for rings and self, Instead of for the nation.
So let us return to the good old customs Of the days of our Fathers of yore, Leave off this "availability" question, And make qualifications the score.
From 1871 to 1971:
May we perform well our parts in the several careers appointed us in the century that lies before us ;- may our several death-beds, as we sooner or later reach them, witness the triumph of the Christian hope ;- and to our children or children's children, as they shall be gathered in like convocation to celebrate the Bi-Centennial of their town, may our memories be fragrant, our names honored, and our characters models for imitation.
MOPPE
F 84197.967
5990H
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