USA > Maine > The history of Maine > Part 47
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51
The schools were under no general supervision by the State until 1846, when a State Board of Education was established, with provision for holding teachers' institutes in each county. This system brought about great improvement, but was soon swept away and followed by vacillating legislation which built up only to tear down, and the schools are now left to the supervision of a State Superintendent, with county associations which hold meetings for the discussion of educational methods by teachers and others. The Pedagogical Society is an associa- tion of teachers for the same purpose. The annual report of
.
556
THE HISTORY OF MAINE.
the Superintendent for 1892 shows the total number of scholars in the public schools of the State, drawing school money, to be 210,997.
A law making compulsory the attendance at some school of every child between the ages of nine and fifteen years, for at least twelve weeks in each year, was enacted in 1875, but its provisions were not enforced, and another law intended to be more effective has been passed as a substitute. Children em- ployed in factories are now required to attend school a portion of the time, and this law is having the effect of increasing the attendance at schools.
While the State has thus been engaged in providing for the education of its children on the New England plan of qualify- ing the rising generation for the duties of citizenship, a foreign influence has been at work withdrawing children from the pub- lic schools and sending them to other schools established in the interest of a religious sect. The Roman Catholic priesthood have sixteen parochial schools, which, in 1892, were attended by six thousand scholars. These are withdrawn from the instruction of the public schools and educated in the interest of a foreigh hierarchy. The parochial schools are attended chiefly by the children of Irish and French Canadian immi- grants. They constitute a menace to the public school system of the State.
This system, though far from perfection, has resulted in placing Maine among the States showing the least amount of · illiteracy. By the census of 1880, of persons in Maine of ten years of age and upward, only 3.5 per cent were unable to read, the only States and Territories having a lower percentage being Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska and Wyoming. Of those unable to write the percentage was but 4.3, only Iowa, Nebraska and Wyoming showing a less percentage.
Among the instrumentalities tending to enlighten the public mind, the newspaper press holds an important position. For more than a century and a half there was no printing press in Maine. The first newspaper was started in Falmouth (now Portland), January 1, 1785, by Benjamin Titcomb and Thomas B. Waite. It was called the Falmouth Gazette and Weekiy Advertiser. The return of peace had brought reviving pros- perity, and Falmouth was rapidly increasing in population. Still the times were hard, and the people were poor. The cur
557
THE HISTORY OF MAINE.
reney was deranged, the roads were few and very bad, there were no stage lines, and only three or four post-offices in the whole district. Falmouth had a mail from Boston but once a week. In times like these it required courage to undertake the establishment of a newspaper. Yet the Gazette managed to exist, and after undergoing many changes of name its lineal descendant is still found in the Portland Advertiser. Popula- tion was now flowing from Massachusetts into the eastern counties, and the press went with it; though as late as 1824, when Joseph Griffin started the Maine Baptist Herald at Bruns- wick, he was obliged, at his own expense, to establish a weekly mail route as far as Jay, about forty-five miles. The first news- paper in Kennebec County was the Eastern Star, started at Hallowell, August 4, 1794. Lincoln County followed next with The Telegraph, published at Wiscasset in 1798. Oxford County started in the same year, with Russell's Echo or The North Star .- - Hancock followed next with the Castine Journal and Advertiser, the publication of which was begun by David J. Waters, in 1799. York, the oldest county, did not possess a newspaper until 1803, when The Annals of the Times appeared, and was continued about two years in Kennebunk. After the lapse of twelve years Penobscot entered the newspaper ranks with the Bangor Weekly Register, the first number of which appeared Nov. 25, 1815. Washington County next entered the list with the Eastport Sentinel, August, 1818. Within the limits of what is now Waldo County, no newspaper appeared until July 6, 1820, when the first number of the Hancock Gazette was published at Belfast. The Maine Gazette, published at Bath, December 8, 1820, was the first newspaper within the limits of what is now Sagadahoc County. Somerset issued its first news- paper at Norridgewock, May 15, 1823. It was called The Somerset Journal. Knox followed with the Thomaston Register, May 17, 1825. Franklin came next with the Sandy River Yeo- man, which appeared at Farmington in 1832. The Piscataquis Herald appeared at Dover, June 1, 1838. The first newspaper within the limits of the present county of Androscoggin was the Lewiston Falls Journal, established May 21, 1847, by Wm. H. Waldron and Dr. Alonzo Garcelon. Lastly the forest county of Aroostook entered the list with the Aroostook Pioneer, in the fall of 1857.
These were the first county newspapers. They were rapidly
558
THE HISTORY OF MAINE.
followed by others, until now nearly every village has its local sheet. Among the political journals which have exerted a wide influence may be mentioned the Portland Advertiser; the Eastern Argus, started at Portland in 1803, which through an unbroken existence of eighty-six years has remained the able advocate of the Democratic party; the Kennebec Journal, Augusta, 1823, organ of the Whig and Republican parties ; the Bangor Whig and Courier, dating from September 22, 1833; the Lewiston Journal, which through the enterprise of its pub- lishers in gathering the news has attained a wide circulation, and the Portland Press, established as the organ of the Republi- can party in June, 1862. The first religious journal published in Maine was the Christian Intelligencer, an organ of the Uni- versalists, which appeared in Portland in 1821, under the editor- ship of the Rev. Russell Streeter. The Christian Mirror, issued in the interest of the Congregational church, appeared in Port- land in August, 1822, and still exists. Zion's Advocate has ably represented the Baptist denomination since 1828. The first attempt at a literary journal was made by John Neal, in The Yankee, the first number of which was issued in Portland, January 1, 1829. It had but a brief existence. The first liter- ary and family journal which obtained a permanent footing in Maine was the Portland Transcript, ushered into existence by Charles P. Ilsley, April, 1837. The Transcript has attained a wide circulation and maintained a high literary character. Of agricultural journals the Maine Farmer, dating from 1833, has done much for the education of the people in matters pertain- ing to the cultivation of the carth.
In 1880 there were one hundred and twenty-three newspapers and periodicals published in Maine, the State then ranking twenty-sixth as regards numbers, while as regards circulation it ranked sixth, having an aggregate circulation of 1,214,460, the number being swollen by the wide extended circulation of a class of papers devoted to light literature, published in the State. In 1810 there were eight periodicals published in Maine; in 1840, thirty-six; in 1850, forty-nine; in 1860, seventy; in 1870, as a consequence of the hard times of the civil war, the number had fallen to sixty-five; in 1880, however it had made a rapid increase to 123; and in 1892, the number is 190, circulat- ing 3,511,000 copies.
Of these depositories of learning and literature - public
559
HISTORY OF MAINE.
libraries - Maine has a fair equipment. The State library at Augusta is well supplied with works pertaining to governmental matters, and is rich in general literature. The library at Bow- doin College numbers 50,000 volumes; of Colby University, 29,000 volumes, and of Bates College and accessories, 16,000 volumes. The State College of Agriculture has 6,856 volumes. There are in the State about sixty libraries of over 1,000 vol- umes each. Many towns have established public libraries, and some possess neat library buildings. The most costly and ele- gant of these buildings is that presented to the city of Portland by the munificence of a citizen, Mr. James P. Baxter, which affords accommodation to the public library containing 37,000 volumes, and the library of the Maine Historical Society, com- prising about 6,500 volumes, and as many more pamphlets.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
POLITICAL.
Division of Legislative, Executive and Judicial Powers - Maine Entered the Union as an Anti-Federalist State in 1820 - Became Democratic in 1834 - Republican in 1856 - Fusion in 1879-The "Count Out"-Its Pro- ceedings Condemned by the Supreme Court - Fusionists Elect Governor by Plurality Vote in 1880 - Republicans Return to Power in 1882.
T HE legislative power of the State of Maine is vested in two distinct branches, a House of Representatives, com- posed of one hundred and fifty-one members, representing the towns, and a Senate, comprising thirty-one members, represent- ing the sixteen counties. The supreme executive power resides in a Governor, elected by a plurality vote of the people, and a Council of seven members, representing as many districts of the State, but chosen by the joint ballot of the two houses in convention, as are also the Treasurer and Secretary of State. The judicial power is vested in a Supreme Judicial Court, and Superior Courts in such counties as have sufficient business to require them. The justices are appointed by the Governor and Council, and hold their offices for a term of seven years. Sheriffs, judges, and registers of probate are elected by the people of their respective counties. The justices of the Su- preme Judicial Court are obliged to give their opinions upon important questions of law, and upon solemn occasions, when required by the Governor, Council, Senate, or House of Rep- resentatives. Until the year 1880, the State elections were held annually, and the Legislature held annual sessions. In that year the Constitution was so amended that the State elec- tions and sessions of the Legislature are now held biennially.
Maine entered the Union in 1820 as an Anti-Federalist State, and became Democratic when the party adopted that name in 1834. The Federalists, after being known as National Repub- licans, now chose to call themselves Whigs. The State remained Democratic up to the year 1833, when Edward Kent, the Whig candidate, was elected Governor. He was succeeded by John Fairfield, Democrat, in 1839 and 1840, but was again chosen in 1841. A succession of Democratic governors followed until 1853, when through a division of the Democratic party, caused by the question of prohibiting the liquor traffic, William G. 560
STATE HOUSE, AUGUSTA, MAINE.
.
مالية الغربية جيبا للبيع
-
-
561
THE HISTORY OF MAINE.
Crosby, the Whig candidate, was elected by the Legislature, and was also chosen the succeeding year by that body, the Constitution then requiring a majority vote of the people to elect, which neither candidate received. In the following year the old parties were again broken up by the question of the Maine Law and the formation of the "Know Nothing " or American party, organized in opposition to foreign influence in our elections, and Anson P. Morrill, the candidate of these two parties was chosen Governor by the Legislature, the people having again failed to elect. In 1855, the people failing to elect, Samuel Wells, the Democratic and anti-Maine Law candi -. date, was chosen Governor by the Legislature. Meantime a new party, destined to become the nucleus of a great national party, had been slowly gaining ground in the State. This was the Liberty party, formed in opposition to the existence of slavery. The question of the slave power was now becoming supreme in national politics, and was breaking up the old parties. The Democrats divided on it, a part being known as "Free Soil Democrats." The Anti-Slavery Whigs split off from their party, those who remained being called "Straight Whigs," and ultimately joining the old Democratic party. The Liberty party, Free Soilers and Anti-Slavery Whigs coa- lesced and formed the Republican party in 1856, which that year elected Hannibal Hamlin Governor of the State. Mr. Hamlin had been elected to the United States Senate by the Democratic party, but left it on the question of slavery, and after being elected Governor by the Republicans was sent back to the Senate by them. The Republicans now held unbroken possession of the State for a period of twenty-two years, Israel Washburn jr., Abner Coburn and Samuel Cony serving as Governors through the period of the civil war, and being suc- ceeded by Joshua L. Chamberlain, who had served with distinc- tion in the war, by Sidney Perham and Nelson Dingley jr., who represented the Maine Law wing of the party, and by Selden Connor, another gallant soldier, who had been maimed in the service of the Union.
In 1878, a disturbing element appeared in the politics of the State in the shape of the new Greenback party, formed in opposition to the resumption of specie payments, which had been suspended during the war. This party, on the plea of cheap currency, caught the popular favor, especially in the eastern part of the State, and in 1878 drew off the great body
562
THE HISTORY OF MAINE.
of the Democrats, and also a considerable number of Republi- can voters. The result was no election of Governor by the people, and the Legislature chose Dr. Alonzo Garcelon, the Democratic nominee.
The administration of Governor Garcelon was marked by the most exciting political event in the history of the State, at one time threatening civil war. The election in 1879 resulted, as before, in no choice of Governor by the people. There were three candidates in the field, the nominees of the Republican, Greenback and Democratic parties. On minor officers the Greenbackers and Democrats had already begun to coalesce, and in the Legislature their members acted together. On the face of the returns the Republicans had elected a majority of the Legislature, which would give them the election of Gov- ernor and the control of the State. Just here a great tempta- tion assailed the Governor and Council, who acted as a return- ing board. Through the negligence or incompetency of many of the town officers, there were always many clerical or techni- cal errors in the returns. It had been customary to allow the correction of these, and a law had been passed for that purpose. Governor Garcelon and his Council set this law aside as uncon- stitutional, thus usurping the office of the Supreme Judicial Court, and determined on a strict construction of the law in counting the returns. Some were thrown out because they were not made up and sealed in open town meeting, others because they were not attested by the town clerk, others again be- cause they did not set forth the whole number of ballots, or because they did not state for whom the "scattering " votes were thrown, while in the case of several cities, they were not signed by a majority of the aldermen. It was noted that the informalities resulted in throwing out only Republican mem- bers, and it was charged, and afterward proved before an in- vestigating committee of the Legislature, that the Fusionists were allowed to secretly correct their imperfect returns. The result of this proceedure was that by certification of the Governor and Council, the House was understood to stand Re- publicans, sixty-one; Fusion, seventy-eight, with twelve vacan- cies, and the Senate, Republicans, eleven ; Fusion, twenty.
When it was learned that the number of those members who had been "counted in" by this process, together with those who had been "counted out," gave the Democrats and Green- backers a majority of the Legislature, thus reversing the result
563
THE HISTORY OF MAINE.
of the election, great excitement ensued throughout the State. Indignation meetings were held in all the cities and larger towns, and the clergy thundered from their pulpits. So great was the popular indignation that the Governor and Council thought it necessary to fortify their position by military prepa- rations, and the capitol was placed under guard. These pro- ceedings but added fuel to the flame. An attempt to remove guns from Bangor to Augusta was frustrated by an uprising of the people of the former city.
The Republican leaders demanded that the question of the legality of the returns should be submitted to the justices of the Supreme Court, as provided in the Constitution. The Council objected to this, but the Governor, being advised thereto by leading members of his own party, took the respon- sibility of complying with the demand. A series of carefully guarded questions was submitted to the justices. They did not confine themselves to these, but reviewed the whole matter, and explicitly condemned at every point the action of the Governor and Council, declaring that the returns made by municipal officers, in the hurry, bustle and confusion of an election, are not required to be written with scrupulous nicety, and are not to be strangled by idle technicalities. They were unanimous in their decision, one of the justices being a Democrat.
The Governor, however, refused to recall any certificates issued, or to issue new ones, as his work had been performed under the Constitution and statutes as he understood them. It was determined to organize the Legislature under the certifi- cates issued. When that body met a contest for supremacy took place in both Houses. In the Senate, the Republicans, led by Senator Joseph A. Locke, moved to substitute the names of the Senators really elected for those read by the Secretary. This was refused, and the Fusion members elected James D. Lamson of Waldo, President, the Republicans abstaining from voting. In the House the Republicans, led by Eugene Hale, protested against the organization of the House in the absence of a quorum. The protest was disregarded, and John C. Tal- bot of East Machias was elected Speaker by the votes of the Fusionists, the Republican members leaving the House in a body.
As the Legislature was the judge of the election of its mem- bers, it had been stated that on its assembling the Representa-
564
THE HISTORY OF MAINE.
tives of cities excluded because of informalities would be immediately admitted. But the Fusionists did not proceed to admit them ; they improved the opportunity of their absence to organize both Houses, elect minor officers, and so far as they were able to take possession of the government.
A complication now arose from a charge made by two Fusion members of the House, Swan of Minot, and Harriman of Ken- nebunk, to the effect that an attempt had been made by the Republicans, by offer of a bribe of one thousand dollars, to induce them to refuse to take their seats. The money was displayed by them, having been taken, as they alleged, in order to expose the attempt at bribery. Wallace R. White of Win- throp, who it was alleged made the offer, denied the charge.
The President of the Senate refusing at first to qualify as Governor, and the term of Governor Garcelon having expired, he issued an order authorizing Gen. Joshua L. Chamberlain, commanding the militia of the State, to protect the public property, and maintain order until his successor should be elected. Meantime, President Lamson of the Senate, having become convinced that it was his duty to qualify as Governor, attempted to assume the duties of that office, but was not recognized by Gen. Chamberlain, whose authority was acknowl- edged by all parties. He dismissed the guard at the capitol and placed the building in charge of the police of Augusta under Mayor Nash. Despite the protests of the Fusionists, he permitted the Republican members of the Legislature to occupy the halls in the evening, after the Fusionists had adjourned. The Republican members of the House, on meet- ing, numbered eighty-four, the number in the Fusion House being seventy-five. Both branches proceeded to organize, the Senate electing Joseph A. Locke of Cumberland, President, and the House choosing George E. Weeks of Augusta, Speaker. The members counted out were admitted to their seats, and an order was passed calling upon the Supreme Court for its opinion in regard to the legal organization of the Legislature. "Gov. ernor " Lamson sent a messenger to the court warning it not to "give countenance to revolutionary proceedings."
There were now two Legislatures, meeting alternately. The Fusion body proceeded to the election of Governor, and Joseph L. Smith, the Greenback candidate, was declared elected in due form. Councilors were also elected, and "Governor" Smith delivered his inaugural address. Meantime, the reply of the court, sustaining in every particular the positions assumed by
200
565
THE HISTORY OF MAINE.
the Republicans, having been received, they proceeded to elect Daniel F. Davis as Governor, who appeared and took the oath amid tremendous cheering, and a scene of great excitement.
"Governor " Smith had previously ordered three companies of militia to meet at Augusta, but they did not respond. Gov- ernor Davis notified the militia to be ready at a moment's call, and a very large police force was placed in the capitol. It was necessary to force an entrance to several of the department offices, and the State seal was found to be missing.
During all this time the excitable men on both sides were sending despatches to Lewiston, Portland, Bath, Waterville, ' and other places, now calling for reinforcements, and again sending them back. This state of things forced Gen. Cham- berlain to issue a proclamation giving assurance that there was no occasion for public alarm. The guards at the capitol were increased to one hundred and fifty men, a large force of Hal- lowell stone-cutters being called in. Mayor Nash gave notice that admission to the capitol was to be confined to members elect, those claiming seats, State officers, and those having passes from Gen. Chamberlain.
Upon learning that the Supreme Court had decided in favor of the Republicans, "Governor " Smith issued an order reliev- ing Gen. Chamberlain of his command of the militia, and revoking the special order directing him to protect the public property. Gen. Chamberlain replied by asking the Governor for the proper evidence of his authority, to which he promised a prompt obedience. Meantime, Gov. Davis wrote to the General, informing him of his election and qualification, and submitting the opinion of the court. To this Gen. Chamber- lain replied, resigning the trust conferred on him by the special order of Gov. Garcelon as his last official act.
When the Fusion Legislature next attempted to enter the capitol, headed by " Governor" Smith, they were refused ad- mission by Mayor Nash, acting under orders of Governor Davis. They held a brief session on the sidewalk, and adjourned to meet next day at a hall in the city. When they met there was evidence of divided counsels, but finally a vote was passed requiring the opinion of the Supreme Court on the question as to which was the legal Legislature. The court gave a unani- mous decision, declining to recognize the Fusion bodies, and explicitly declaring the House and Senate then holding sessions in the capitol, to be the legal Legislature of Maine. Thereupon the Fusion bodies dispersed, the members legally elected, with
.
566
THE HISTORY OF MAINE.
a few exceptions, taking their seats in the Legislature. Those remaining finally adjourned in secret session, on the 28th of January, 1880, to meet on the first Wednesday in August. They never came together again. Under stress of a warrant for his arrest, the Fusion Secretary of State returned the State seal, and the legally constituted government took possession of the offices.
During this period of heated controversy there was great excitement throughout the State. Rumors of plots and coun- terplots flew thick and fast. Extreme partisans counseled violent action, and at one time a report that the Fusionists were about to seize the capitol, induced Gov. Davis to order several companies of militia to its defense, but the sound, sober sense of the people prevented any overt acts, and no deeds of violence were committed by members of either party. Gen. Chamberlain won great praise for the firmness and im- partiality with which he discharged the duties of his responsi- ble position.
The exciting question was carried into the next State election. The Democrats and Greenbackers united on Gen. Harris M. Plaisted as their candidate for Governor, and strained every nerve to procure a popular vindication of their course the pre- vious year. The Republicans renominated Gov. Davis, and made a vigorous canvass on "the count out," but they were handicapped by 'the charges of bribery which had not been satisfactorily disproved. The result was that while the Repub- licans carried the Legislature, Gen. Plaisted received a plurality of 169 votes, or of 226 votes, counting 57 cast for Harrison M. Plaisted. The amendments to the Constitution providing for the election of Governor by plurality vote, and for biennial elections and sessions of the Legislature, having now come into effect, Gen. Plaisted was declared duly elected, and served the term of two years. The Legislature, being Republican, elected a Council between whom and the Governor there was a consid- erable amount of friction during the term.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.