Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-12-22
A Political Reminiseence.


Communications are published in The
order in which they are received.
A Political Reminiseence.
In the year ISIS, while passing the summer IN
Vermont. VAS surprised one day on receiving an
Official notice OF my election to the lower branch
Of the Legislature Of Maine for the session OF
1902 The surprise was all the greater. as al pre-
limlnary action was done without my own action
In the premises, or any promise on NV part to
take this position hut a. II has been with me n
principle. controlling NV life TO conccle TO the
people the right, so cmincntly belonging IN them
of selecting their own sgents, az "a done IN at
other relations outside OF politics. was er'tihed
with this expression ~ confidence In me, anil con-
cluded 10 accept the honor TINS 81 summ'r'lN
thrus, upon me. I, wac In ihis wav was n'
luecd officially 10 the public service. '0' b i-
my career o. Legislator. w Ideal NJ ~"
and position Of a leglslai0r was sornewNr , ''''
by actual aequa luiance with the mat ~ p 20
lngs Of those Ia publN life. and w -undr, hints
AMI srtnises Of the senatorial siraEGle. Tho" pcnd
lne 20 that looked forward 10 tho coming .cs-
sion 81 the Legislature with no srecinl eSpeeia'
ton, boz with mach mlsglyinR. before the meet
ing OF the legislature, I received nom BAnEor
printed circular containing an appeal 20 the uieni
hers elect In behalf OF Hannibal HAmln's claims
10 the post OF L. s. Senator, Ia which 10 was re-
presented BY serles or statistical tables. that the
eastern sect on OF the State had not been treated
with courtesy in the past but had gracefully
yielded It's rights TO the western section In the
matter OF senator. But this course, IL was urged
could no longer be Submitted 10. The Penobseot
region must now be regarded as having prior
claims TO the kennebec, and must have the nlling
OF The ne1tienn Oft the SenA,orship. NothngwAs
said, a. 10 the Htness or qualifications, or eharae'
Ter Of the two candidatesi no comparison was IN
slituted between ihem, not even the honor or dig.
nty Of the State were eoasulsred: the plea was
solely q sectional one. On reading that circular,
was struck with this total absence Of all aluslon
70 the best interests OF the State, and with the
prominence given 10 the minor sectional Interest;
and regarded 10 then, and now, as an indication
that. by this special plea. attention could be con-
venlently diverted from due regard to the fitness
and character OF the respective candidates, TO
matters wholly irrelevant and immaterlAl. Sub
sequently, | understood better the bearings Of
this procedure. At the opening of the session OF
lsJ9 took cars Tor Augusta, arriving there the
evening before ! was summoned 10 the Augusta
House TO meet my County delegation. WAS
again surprised TO see how mul,iiudinous the
Maine legislature had become. Instead OF Que
member from = representative district, there must
have been ten nine Ol whom were self appointed
% engineer the senate. ial election. IL was evil
dent 10 me. In taking the measure and tone Of that
gathering that the peoples choice for senator
was 10 be disregar,led and the sectional agree
ment, supplemented by intrigue and pressure OF
office -hodcrs, was TO be forced upon the lczisla.
ture, As was the case, and this argument, coupled
with the plea OF poverty and desire for only one
term more in the senate. a l know from stale
repetition during the canvass, were urged in be-
half Of Mr. Hamlin, and secured tho election OF
the sectional candidate. / received a new idea OF
modern statesmanshp that night, from seeing in
the crowd, consp!cuousy and demonsuatively
urging his claims, the late Vice President of the
L. States twas not enough 10 press the section
al plea, TO this must be superadded the personal
identity and proves Of the claimant And thus
he stood, in that surgng crowd, by voice entreaty
and bravado, challenging for himself the votes of
men, some of whom were ready TO barter and
higge for place, if eichance the emergency re-
quired it. From that humiliatng spectacle of
sycophantic begging for Office, turned away in
disgust. determined for one that, what would,
my vote should be given for some one else rather
than for a shameless demagogue. The result Of
the cnnvassing of that night and the following
days has passed into history sectiOnalitm pre-
vailed, and Hamlin took his place in the Senate
chamber at Washington, on a new career Of states
msnship.
From inquiry of one or two Of nv colleague
learned that long bofare the beginuius OF ihe
session, there had been n personal vi-it,t. .u ot
snch members elect, as were shaky or tud,ci -J.
to secure their votes in advance; and one mcnp.i
had the lrsnkness to say that he was postmaster
in his town, and had pledged himself for Hamlin.
Another member, sitting near me, whs was told
was elected by an anti Hamln constituency, but
who voted for the successful candidate, at the
close of the session took ears with others Tor
Washington, and has ever since held position I'M
der government, a. if In consideration for his
change OF base, and as quid pro quo for his re.
creancy.
These "reminiscences of my brief political course
have impressed upon Inc the importance OF choos
ing men OF integri y aud honorable charactnr, for
positions of public trust. Too long has place
been the reward Bipartisan service aud OF unscru.
pulous measures; and when an eY.yice President
stOops from his high position to pander to the low
and mercenary spirit OF political place hunters,
even though successful in retaining thereby his
hold Of public station, yet there comes in the