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Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, our former Republican four-term governor, Bowdoin College president, Civil War hero and great leader would likely be shocked and saddened by the so-called leaders of Maine’s Republican party.
As he so keenly stated on February 12, 1909: “The heroes of history are not self seekers; they are the saviors They give their strength to the weak, the wronged, the imperiled. Suffering and sacrifice that they take on themselves.”
I would like to suggest that all Maine politicians read “On Great Fields,” the life story of Chamberlain, by Ronald C. White. Chamberlain’s virtue came from his strong Christian beliefs, which included that we treat our neighbor as ourself, not have any false gods and live a modest life. There is nothing modest, it seems, about the current Republicans, who worship bitcoins, insult our neighbors and appear to care not a fig for the less fortunate.
Finally, Chamberlain knew that the strength of Maine’s economy was based on trade. As it was then, it is still so today. He helped get a railroad built to an ice-free port in New Brunswick so Maine could ship goods in the winter. He encouraged reaching out to Europe and was responsible for bringing Swedish immigrants to Maine.
Maine will surely suffer during the next few years of this administration. I predict that there will be large layoffs throughout the economy, the cost of food and healthcare will rise, and our former friends and allies will wonder why we became a nation of self seekers.
Rob Bauer
Blue Hill
