The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-12-22
Remarks of Hon, Eugene Hale
of Maine, in the U. S. House of Representa-
tives on the 18th of December, in memory OF
the late Senator FEssENDEN.

oSNDIN' A"eVe years ago, Wnen cast my
nrst vote he was an honored Senatorfrom the
State OF Maine. In that State his life had been
passed and his education and experience had
been such as to eIlinently fit him for the
high place that he then filed.
He was graduate of our Oldest college, had
chosen the profession of law, been admitted
to practice at an early age, and for many ears
had given to it his best talent, which had car
ried him to the head of the profession in his
State
His professional life was always marked by
the highest sense Of honor, by keen sympa-
thy tor the poor or oppressed suitor, by pla n
ly shown impatience at that pub ic clamor
which now and then uslrps the place cf pub
lie justice and demands a victim without
much heed as to the question of guilt or in
nocence. His single term in this House, nd
his longer service in our State Leg stature,
had prevented his mind from running in a
purely legal channel, and be stood, by natural
ability and varied training, the peer of his
fellows in the United States Senate.
Since that time his public life las been open
to the view OF all, and in common with, l sup
pose, a large majority of men who have
watched it, have learned the lesson of re-
spect for its excellence. Within the last lew
years have enjoyed the privilege OF his close
acquaintance and friendship, aud can bear
earnest testimony TO the kindness OF heart
and graciousness of manner which made him,
to those who knew him best, the good friend
and fascinating companion. l hope TO carry
through my life green memory of the good
counsel and help that he always generously
gave me. Of his career as public man it is
not fitting that l should attempt TO speak.
1t was open to inspection from its beginning
to its close, and, like the broad river which
gains new volume with every af1uent, it IN
creased in its force with each year until at
last it ended in that vast sea whittier all hui
man life flows. Others who have been inti-
mately associated with him in the important
legislation of the last fifteen years, and who
can more clearly point out the guiding
and restraining Influence of his mind upon
that legislation, have spoken in language OF
full appreciation.
admiration Tor the infexibe spirit of inde-
pendence that he always displayed in main
tanning what he believed to be right, refusing
to be swayed by popular octcry or the fear OF
party displeasure. And this, joined with the
absence of any overweening desire to enforce
views simply as his own views, thus prevent
ing him from becoming an 6 impracticable'
IN politics, made him what seems to me as
the nearly complete pattern of an American
legislator. His steadfastncss in adhering tC
given course when both wind and tide were
against him was shown most conspicuousy in
the impeachment trial. But l have studied
his life before that event closely enough to
see that any one we'll knowing him need not
take that instance into the account in con-
Guiding that Mr.. FEssENDEN would not be
turned from the way he believed to be the
right way by fear of Immediate unpopulaIity.
No tempest of voices ever dictated to him who
should be released to the people and who
should be crucfied. But he who believes that
hiS fr,p d., ,Hop and
thet:c spirit is, think, wholly wrong. Mr..
Fessenden understood fully and talked freely
with his friends of the burdens and restraints
imposed by political lie, and he always
strove to so hear himself that no Teproach oil
neglected duty could be laid at his door, and
that his motives should not be cheapened by
the inducements that beset the politician. He
has portrayed all this in his eulOgy upon the
honorable Solomon Foot, Senator from Yer
mont, who died in 1866, and whom he respect
ed and loved.
From his place in the Senate Chamber he
then said:
"When, Mr.. President, a man, however EN-
inent in other pursuits and whatever claim!
he may have to public confidence, becomes
member of this body he has much to learn and
much to endure. Little does be know of whai
he will have 10 encounter. He may be wei
read in public affairs, but he is unaware of the
every effort to render what he may know
available and useful. He may be upright iu
purpose and strong in the belief of his own in
tegrity, but he cannot even dream Of the orde.
al TO which he cannot fail to be exposed; o
how much courage he must possess to resis
the temptations which daily beset him; of thai
sensitive shrinking from undeserved cepsure
which he must learn to control; of the ever-re-
curing contest between a natural desire for
public appreciation and sense OF public duty
Of tha of irtu hs.y ha liant "a
bear even from those who should be his friends
the imputations on his motives; the sneers and
sarcasms OF ignorance and malice; all the mani
fold injuries which partisan or private maligni-
ty disappointed of It's object may shower upon
his unprotected head All this, if he would
retain his integrity, be must learn to bear un-
moved and walk steadily onward in the path
of public duty sustained only by the reflection
that time may do him justice; or, if not, that
his individual hopes and aspirations, and even
his name among men, should be of little ac-
count to him when weighed in the balance
against the welfare of a people of whose des-
tinv he is a constituted guardian and defend
er."
As read these words the form of the dead
statesman rises before me; 1 behold him in
his place in the Senate Chamber presenting
the matured result OF his thought and inves-
tigation, or casting his vote uninfuenced by
any consideration whether he was for the
4
listen to his voice, when beseiged by importu-
nate supplicants for political influence or po-
Gtical place. his stern rebuke broke down the
braZen siront of the man who sought to put
his own advancement higher than the good of
the public service; and when l interpret this
loftiness by the light ofthe words that he utter
ed al the grave of the friend that he loved
know that he was not just because his nature
was cold, and that he did not hate demagogues
booanca "a had no cnpnpafbv xpitb bo 10
but that his ideal of the Senator was so high
and he so'loyally strove t, reach it, that his
course carried him over all tie pain and heart
sickness that he often ielt when the people
muImured and friends grew estranged.
But be went in quest of no popularity that
had to be bought by time serving, and never
kept himself before the people by eccentric
courses and dangerous experiments in legis-
lalion. 1t was not of such as he that Dryden
wrote:
''A daring pilot in extremity;
Pleased with the danger when the waves went high
He sought The storm, but fur calm unfit
Would steer to nigh the sands to boast his witt
He had no such ambition for leader ship that
for its sake he would bring the Republic nigh
to final shipwreck.
Mr. Speaker, our own State mourns an hon
ored son and the nation has lost tiied and
faithful public servant. Those who have for
years taken part in our national Government
will miss the leader who was yet the comrade
in this, that he took upon himself his full
share OF the burden and work of the day.
But to the young men who are just enter
ing public lille the deprivation is even greater
That life with its temptations and seduce-
meDts is all before us. There are tricks and
sbams and intimidations that are set as pit
falls in our paths. With much that is noble
and inspiring about us, there are manifold
inclnations to sloth, to fickeness, and it may
be to corruption. Who can tell whether he
has not already set his feet in the way that
leads down to moral death? We need the
tones of that voice which never directed the
towards retreat, the splendid calm OF that
clear face that kept its serenity when the bat
tie around him was at its thickest; we need
the actual sight of and association with him
and all such as he was, who by example and
precept, elevate our aims, establish our char
acter, aud makes us truly public servants fol
the public good. And for him who, connect
ed with public affairs, seeks to build up an
honorable reputation, what better course can
be given than to emulate the steadiastness
the sobriety, the justice of WILLIAM PIT1
FEssENDEN?
CoAL.-The people of the country, espe
:olIx ~ A.