The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-02-02
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENTS
Augusta, Jan. q, 1855.

guide. Exhausted by q long, and peculiarly
painful disease, from which there was no
hope for escape, the Hon. Luther Severance
has, a, last, sunk to rest. lie died in his
own house on Thursday afternoon, the 18th
ul.., just as the sun was setting. The able
and conscientious editor, the long tried and
faithful public servant, the upright and in
,telligens citizen, the warm and generous
friend, and the aHectionate husband and
parent, has finished his earthly career, aud
gone to meet his reward gone hence to
Do seen here no more forever. His death
was fttingly amounted in the two houses
yesterday, resolutions Of coincidence with
his afflicted family passed, and arrangements
made to attend his funeral to-day. The
services were held in the Unitarian Church,
which was filed with the neighbors and
friends Of the deceased, and with the mem.
bers Of the Legislature. Both the Rev. DR..
Tsppan and the Rev. Mr.. Ware, ofhciaied in
the funeral services. DR.. Tappan gave an
interesting account Of his public services,
and well.merited eulogium upon his char
acter as man and citizen, and the prayer
of Rev. Mr.. Ware was peculiarly appropri-
ute. Mr.. S,verance's ago was 81, and he
leaves, besides large circle Of relatives and
friends, wife and three children, two sons
and daughter, to lament his loss.
Probably There was no man in the State,
whose name, q few years ago, was 50 ia
miliar to the people, as that Of Mr.. Sever
ance. And il was name always men,
toned with respect by persons who had not
the pleasure Of his intimate acquaintance :
and with love and regard combined, by those
who wero blessed with closer communion
with him. Coming into our State soon after
it was separated from Massachusetts,, and
associa.ing hinsel: in the publication Of n
paper, which he edited for many years with
singular tact and ability, his position was
one highly favorable to the formation Of q
large number Of friends, and to give him a
commanding influence in the party to which
he was attached and by his social virtues
and the warm interest which he took in the
welfare Of the community in which he lived
to obtain the good will Of his neighbors and
townsmen. He established the Kennebec
Journal thirty years ago, and for more than
twenty-five years was its chief editor. For
number Of years he was a member, in one
or the other branch Of our State Legislature,
for two successive terms Representative
from the Kennebec District in Congress, and
finally, Commissioner Of the United State
Government to the Spanish Islands. In al
these public trusts he did honor to his con-
stitueuts, and to the Government Tor which
he acted
There is no pursuit, perhaps, which calls
for the moro frequent exercise of patience,
forbsarancs AID calm judgment, than that
Of conducting political paper. 10 be-
come successful editor, requires combi'
nation of talents and requirements which
few men possess, Scholastic knowledge
alone will never make successful editor |;
to knowledge there should be added va
ried acquaintance with men and things
Mr.. Severance, in these particulars, was
most fortunate. Although unfortunate in
not having early advantages, he was never
theless man Of great intelligence. He
had love for the acquisition Of knowledge,
and with man Of his Industrious habits,
this was sufficient 10 give him, in the end, a
cultivated mind, and to store it with an UNI
failing supply of knowledge adapted to the
practical wants Of life. He had, also, in
abundant store, good hard sense, and this
he applied always with tact and ability, dur
ing his long and honorable editorial career.
There were those, when partiran warfare
was rife, who charged upon him the usual
accusations brought against political editors,
uoscrupulously, in defending the party to
which he was attached. We do not believe
there Is a man living who would now reite.
rate the charge. His duty, as an editor, was
always discharged conscientiously, firmly
and courteously. lie did not belong to that
school Of politicians which is willing to sac
ri6co conscience to party ends,-,he meas
ures which he supported were approved BY
his Judgment, and his views were honestly
expressed. lie commenced member Of
the Republican party, and although at q
late period Of life, parties were known
by different names, still we believe he adyo-
Gated, Professionally, that theory Of govern
ment, and the measures founded upon il,
which had tho approval Of Washington,
Jefferson and Madison. In the manage
ment Of hi, paper, he was careful on all
OCCASIONS, to DO on the side Of virtue, ADD
70 sustain and approve such, and such things
only, az would conduce to n better morality,
and no good cause found in him Zoe. In
theory and in practice he was an ardent
friend Of temperance, an enemy to all op-
preston, and ha,er Of all bigo,ry, in.ol.
erancs and superstition. If he did no. rem.
der himself so conspicuous as some have in
the reforms Of the day, he was always
found, both as public man and pri-
vale citizen, acting on the right side;
and the influence Of his paper was constantly