Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-11-23
or CICE PRESIDENT

and the Weekly Kennebec Journal.
Augusta, Nov II, 1878.
DEATH or TICE PRESIDENT WILSON,
Another of the heroes of the anti-savery
struggle has passed from the scenes ofthis
life. Henry Wilson, Vice President of the
United States. died yesterday morning in
Washington. All readers of the papers
have known of his recent sickness and the
hopes expressed of his recovery. Alas
that the confidence thus inspired should so
soon have gone out in disappointment and
mourning as wide as the bounds OF the
nation.
In the death of Mr.. Wilson we not only
lament the decease of man in high posi-
ton, q statesman, patriot, citizen adorned
with all the qualities that made him re-
spected and beloved as neighbor and
friend, but one OF those men whose name
is rendered memorable for the distin.
guished part he acted in the great contest
which resulted in the overthrow of the
he was he made himself. Like Lincoln he
sprang from the most humble position.
Every step he took upwards was without
assistance. Says one of his biographers:
.Iincoln from the slave States, and Chase
land Henry Wilson in the free, may be
"called the peculiar sons of Democracy.
THAT hard Spartan mother trained them
'searly on her black broth to her fatigues,
land wrestlings, and watchings, and gave
them their shields on entering the battle
"of life with only the Spartan mothers
"brief-'With this, or upon this ;"
Mr.. Wilson was born at Pennington, N.
H., Feb. 16. 1912. His parents were
SO poor that at the age of ten he was
bound to farmer until he was twenty
one. Here he had steady work. coarse
but wholesome food, and few weeks
schooling in the winter at the district
school. Beside what knowledge he ac-
quired at school, he read everything that
he could obtain from libraries and individ
uoio, anu tIiuS aSiuiiSN - iai "hhOuhe Va
information which was very useful TO him
in after life. At the age of lwenty-one he
went to Natick, Mass. to learn the shoe
makers trade, at which he worked several
years. During that period he organized a
debating society among his felow-me-
chanics. in which he cultivated the art of
speaking in public and learned to invest-
gate and discuss questions of public inter
est. In 1910 he took the stump for Gen
eral Harrison, and that year was elected
a member of the Massachusetts legisla-
ture. He served in that body in 1871,
II, IA, A., '4G, 80. 81 and ~, the last
two years as President of the Senate. He
early introduced a motion in the lcgisla-
ture against the extension of slavery, and
in 1915 went with Whittier TO Washington
with the remonstrance of Massachusetts
against the admission of Texas as slave
State. He was member Of the State
constitutional convention Of 1858, and for
ten years was an active officer Of the State
militia.
In 1855, after sharply contested cleo
ton, Mr.. Wilson took his seat in the Sem
ale OF the United States, to succeed Ed
ward Everett, who had resigned the posi-
ton. This was great triumph for him
the poor shoemaker stepping into the
place vacated by one OF the most learned,
eloquent and aiislocraiic of the cultured
and proud arisiocracy of the city Of Bos-
ton. From that time until he became Vice
President of the United States Mr.. Wilson
was senator in Congress, being le-elec-
ted in 1859, 1865 and 1871, resigning his
seat only 10 accept the Vice Presidency
in 1873.
Mr.. Wilson's course in the Senate was
governed by his anti-slavery principles
lie entered the Senate as a republican,
that party having just come into exist
encc. For its success it was very largely
indebted to the courage, constancy, de-
yotiou and moderation which he dis.
played. His speeches were marked for
their good common sense. They showed
no labored attempt at style. They were
plain. simple. direct. carrying with them
the conviction that the sentiments were
well weighed and honestly spoken. When
he went to Congress the Southern mem
bers were at the height their impudence
Wilson drought there, says writer, "hi'
..facc of serene coed nature, his vigorous