The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-04-08

long ana useful service 10 the oo"AA
which he has lived. Mr.. Evans was porn IN
Hallowell January II, 1877. Receiving MS
preliminary education at the Academies OF
Ha,,owell and Monmouth, he took his degree
from Rowdoin College in 1915, at the age of Is.
ua Immediately commenced the study of law,
and ON being admitted to the Bar, he opened
an office in Gardiner in 1918, having just at
tanned the age of q years. The Bar of Ken
nebec then contained the highest talent
Among its members were Reuel Williams,
Thomas Bond, Timothy Boutelle, Frederic Al
len and Peleg Sprague. Judge Wilde had been
appointed to the Supreme Court in 1916, and
Mr.. Sprague had taken his place the same year.
Amidst such learned and eloquent lawyers,
the prospect of advancing in the profession
would seem to be dark and discOIraging
Sprague was brilliant and popular as an advo-
cate, and the others were able leaders at the
Bar. But Mr.. Evans entered into the conflict
knowing the chances of success, and with quick
perception, a sound legal and well cultivated
mind, he had an honorable ambition to be-
come a leader among the leaders. His progress
was rapid; his discriminating and logical pow
ers aided by an easy and graceful elocution,
soon placed him in the front rank of the young
er members of the profession in the State, and
attracted large and profitable business. His
style of speaking varied from that both of Al
len and Sprague. Allen was slow and hesitat-
ing in his manner, but patient and persistent
in placing his well digested facts and points
before the Court and jury. Sprague was snowy
and declamatory with a melodious voice and
very graceful manner; Evans was clear and
impressive in his statement, close and logical
in his argument With these high qualities he
constantly rose in reputation and influence at
the Bar. In the midst Of this success he was
elected in 1925 to the Legislature of the State,
and reelected the three following years; in the
last of which he filled the office of Speaker of
the House with ability and general acceptance.
In 1929, while yet holding the Office of Repre-
sentative, a vacancy occurred in the Kennebec
District for Congress by the transfer of Peleg
Sprague from the lower house to the Senate
To fill this vacancy Mr.. Evans was elected,
after very sharp and animated contest with
his rival candidate, Mr.. Williams. He receiv-
ed every vote out Of 500 in his own town but
three. This important position he held, by re-
peated elections, for twelve years with distin-
tinguished ability, and to the entire satisfac-
ton of his constituents. He was elected for q
seventh term to the same Office; but the Leg
islature took him ont of the hands of his con-
stituents, and placed him in the more exalted
station of Senator He took his seat at that
Board in March 1841 at the commencement of
Gen. Harrisons administration, and continued
there his full term Of six years, thus serving
in Congress period Of eighteen years; long
er time than any other member from Maine
has ever occupied the Office. A contemporary
| thus spoke him "His career as a statesman has
| drawn great praise from his political friends,
| and his financial abilities have been pronounce
| ed by Mr.. Webster equal to those of any man
since Crawford and Gallatin, and not surpass-
ed by either of those great men," He was for
a long time chairman of the Committee on FL
/ nance, and it was said that no man in either
House of Congress could more clearly and
| ably present the details Of a complicated
question of finance than Mr.. Evans He was
mentioned as a candidate for Secretary of the
| Treasury on the accession of Gen. Harrison
but reasons of State" gave the appointment
to Ewing, of Ohio. His speeches were sound
and eloquent they were spoken to the ques-
ton and not to the outside public, and were
always listened to with respectful attention.
He discussed with marked force subjects OF
tariff, revenue and political economy, and il
Illuminated whatever he discussed. He bore a
conspicuous part in causing the adoption Of
the Webster Ashburton treaty to be carried
through, although other members from Maine
were hostile to it under an impression that its
ratification would be unpopular at home
Among the Senators associated with him were
| Woodbury., of New Hampshire, Choate and
1 Webster, of Mass, Wright of New York, Day
ton, of New Jersey, Buchanan, of Penn, Clay
ton, of Delaware, Rives, of Virginia, Berrian,
of Georgia, Calhoun, of 8. c., and Benton,
of Missouri. To be aleader among such prom
inent statesmen is no ordinary praise and de-
mands more than ordinary ability. In 1849
President Taylor appointed him chairman OF
the Board of Commissioners on Mexican
Claims. In 1852 he was appointed Attorney
| General of Maine, and held the Office three
years. about this time 1854 he moved to Portland
for a larger practice of his profession, than was
afforded him in Gardiner. Having filed pub
lie office for nearly thirty years. with little in
PERMISSION, he returned to private life and de-
voted his remaining years, but with shatter-
ed constitution, to the profession in which he
delighted. is 5u
During this period he was among the best, il
not the best lawyer in the State; for lucid ar
rangement and sound logical argument we
must award to him the front rank. He never
resorted to those low articles which are fire.
| quently employed by mean or less able practi-
| TONERS. And his practice was always marked
| by courtesy to the Court, and fair and honora-
BILE consideration to his associates at the Bar
Mr.. Evans was not what might be called a
literary man, his attention was never turned
that way; he early engaged iu politics, and was
engrossed by them during the best part of his
life. He may be said to have given his life to
politics and the bar; these pursuits he loved,
and in them he excelled, and his forensic pow
ers, and his clear and acute Judgment qualified
him for distinction in the discharge of the du-
ties they exacted. In these respects he resem-
bled Webster, although Webster by force of
circumstances acquired great skill and beauty
in literary efforts. -.....,.....i..
Mr. Evans was q trustee of BowdOin College
for twenty years, and received from it in 1847
the honorary degree Of L. L. D., which had
been bestowed upon him the previous year by
the Washington, Pennsylvania, College.
For the last three or fonr years he has been
quite infirm, suffering from chronic disease;
and within the last month OF two, during which
he was confined to his house, his pain and an
guish of body have been extremely severe,
from which death was a welcome deliverer.
Yet, amidst it ALL his mind has been calm and
clear, waiting patiently and serenely for the
great deliverance.
OF the eminent men who constituted the
Kennebec Bar when Mr.. Evans took his place
in it, Judge Sprague, now of Boston, alone re-
mains, and he, with great infirmity, fingers on
the border of the grave. The procession has
moved steadily on, and the honored and distin-
guished men who in their brief time perform
ed great deeds in public and private affairs,
have passed on, and we gaze with sad eyes
upon the receding column, and feel that we
shall never look upon their like again-Bridge,
Williams, Bond, Wilde Boutelle, Allen, Evans
eminent and venerable men; the world was
better for your having lived in it; may the re-
ward of your works still illuminate the spheres
in vuhi