The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-01-23
William Kings Statue.
Senator Biaine's Presentation Remarks.

1oANsSh EECScuthtlOA h9tmAFAss
William King was wholly identified with Maine.
he was born on her SOIL and lies buried beneath 1t,
after long and useful life devoted with rare intei
gence and singular energy to the welfare and honor
of her people.
Maine has not selected his statue to adorn the
National Gallery from lack of men presminently
distinguished in the service OF the general govern
ment. One of her first Senators in Congress was
John Holmes, illustrious In his day for wit and wis
dom, the sturdy and eloquent opponent of the anti
war federaists of Massachusetts, the trusted ad-
wiser of Mr.. Madison's administration In New Eng
land, and twice invited to seat in his Cabinet.
Mr.. Holmes followed in the Senate by the accom-
pished, the graceful the eloquent the learned Peeg
Sprague. He served ten years in Congress, where
he attained an exalted position, exceed only by his
larger fame as a lawyer; and after brilliant pro-
fessional and political In Maine passed thirty
honorable years as a member Of the United States
judiciary in Massachusetts, adding to his renown as
Senator and his fame lawyer the high and en-
vable title OF learned aud upright Judge. His only
disqualification to be presented as contribution
from Maine to the National Gallery is the fact that
in the full possession Of his great mental faculties he
still survives by reason of strength, with more than
fourscore years crownng his honored and venerable
head.
Succeeding Mr.. Sprague, first in the House and
afterward in the Senate, came George Evans, whose
contemporary fame as debater placed him amsng
New England Senators second only to Mr.. Webster.
He served eighteen years in Congress with constantly
growing reputation, and retired in his forty-ninth
year with position and prestige rarely attained at
that age. 1t was my good fortune to know Mr..
Evans during the last fifteen years of his life, and
to frequently hear him at the bar and In public ad-
dresses. Though such efforts lacked the stimulus
which trained and logical debater feels in contest
In this Chamber, yet he spoke without creating
the most profound impression on his hearers. In
discussion in Congress ne always exhibited the tact
the force, the readiness the that tradition
assigns to the parliamentary efforts of Charles
james Fox.
William Pitt Fessenden entered the Sen ,te at the
same age at which Mr. Evans retired. He entered
in all respects prepared for the leadership that was
readily assigned him. According to Lord Bacon,
reading makes full man, writing an exact man,
talking ready man. Mr.. Fessenden was all three.
he was full, he was exact, he was ready. Perhaps
If he had fault, it was in being too ready. 1t was
usually so easy for him to do better than others In
debate that he seldom made the preparation that
enabled him to do his best. His report on the quss-
tion Of Reconstruction in 1866 is good example OF
hit clearest and most forcibe style, and will take
rank venture to affirm, with the best state papers
In the English tongue. At home comparison is not
unfrequently made between Mr.. Evans and Mr.. Fes-
senden though 1t is difficult to institute one that is
fair. Mr.. Evans would have been leader of the SEN
ate with Clay, Webster and Calhoun out of :t. Mr.
Fessenden's prominence would not have been so
marked had the illustrious trio been his contempo-
rarics.
In full view Of the eminent public reputation Of
these great Senators, and also Of the fame Of the
Colonial and Revolutionary heroes so fittngly re-
ferred to by my colleague NJ aine has indicated by
general unanimity of public opinion, expressed
through her Legislature, that William King Is her
choice for the distinguished honor OF her first rep
resentatve In the National Gallery She has chosen
him because first Of all men he was influential in
erecting the District Of Maine into free and inde-
pendent State. The connection Of the District with
Massachusetts had become exceedingly distasteful
might say ntolerabe, to the majority OF our peo-
pie, and sentiment amounting well nigh to rancor
and hatred could be satisfied with nothing less than
separation. This dislike, which was mutual and
had been growing for years, was strongly infamed
by the OF 1872 and the resulting politica differ
ences. Massachusetts, was deeply hostile to the war
and did all in her power to embarrass its prosecu
tion. Maine stood firmly by the administration of
Mr.. Madison in upholding the honor Of the flag, and
she contributed believe, larger number of troops
than any other equal population in the Union. The
majority Of her people regarded the attitude OF Mas
sachusetts towards the general government during
that struggle thoroughly unpatriotic if not trea-
sonable. Participancy in the Hartford convention
or any sympathy with its proceedings or its aims
was political death and well nigh socia ostracism to
any man in Maine. The contrary spirit prevailed
in Massachusetts,, and the venersbl civilian Wild
ruho tod q Maina dstriak in HouU
and voted for the declaration of war against Great
Britain was seriously threatened with mob violence
as he passed through Massachusetts, on his way
homeward.
Maine felt the pressure Of war keenly. A large
portion Of her territory and full onehaf OF her long
coast including some very considerable towns were
held and occupied by the British. A bloody naval
battle fought within gun-shot of her Shores In
which the commanders of both vessels were among
the slain and their remains now peacefully repose
side by side in the ancient cemetery at Portland
Both on sea and on land, the war was present and
terrible to our people, but they endured it defantly
and successfully. These events greatly increased
the bitterness between the District and the "step-
mother State,'' as Massachusetts, to be humor-
ously termed and after the peace of 1916 the agta
on for independence proceeded with increased force
At the head of the movementits leader its organ
liam King. He restrained the wrath Of the impru-
dent, quickened the zeal of the laggard dispated
the fears of the doubling and nodded his adherents
and followers into compact, cooperative, efectivs
force, and by the strength public opinion conson
dated largely by his personal efforts, he, than
any other man-nay more than all other men-crsated
the State of Maine.
Succeeding thus In the immediate field Of his per-
sonal influence which indeed was quite Irresistible to
those who under Its spell, MIR. King lacked Of
course the power to command public sentiment In
Massachusetts proper. There, indeed, he was cor
daily disliked and even execrated. The people Of
Maine, though of the same original stock as Mas
sachusetts had come by reason OF different surround
ings In five ak generations Of Descent to have
tirely different characteristics They were essential
ly, as indeed they still are, frontier peope with
vast forest on one side and great ocean the
other and they were accustomed and Injured by
slant occupation, to the hardshps and dangers Of
both. These circumstances naturally developed
bluff, hearty brave and generous people, who were
never understood appreciated In Boston, consi-
tutlng then even more than now the governing pow
in Massachusetts Indeed Of the leading fsder-
asts active In Massachusetts at the ime Of separa-
tion described the Inhabitants of Maine "yioant
and vicious people" and such judge to have been
the general estimate placed upon them at that day
by the ilinformed and preiudiced citizens OF Bos-
ton. But the federal managers of Massachusetts,
began to dread the growing strength and bodnsss Of
the Maine republicans and lively fear was devel-
oped and spread like wd-hre that under the lead Of
William King the party of 1912, the followers OF
| Madison and Clay, would capture the State and
| make laws for Boston as well as Bangor.
The open and public agitation for State govern
| ment independent of Massachusetts, had begun
directly after the treaty OF peace in 1885, and before
the adoption of the Federal Constitution. But
it had been resisted in Massachusetts, always with
frmness, often with offensive arrogance Finally the
people of Maine indebted for their success not
the justice ofther cause and the righteousness Of
their prayer, to liberal sense of fair deal
ing on the part of the people Of Massachusetts but
solely to fear in the minds Of the governing polit
cal party that their sscendsncy would be endangered
if Maine should continue to be integral portion Of
the State. They determined therefore to let the dis
trict CO. and congratulated themselves that IL well
rid of the "vioent, and vicious people OF Maine."
they could, in their language, have "snug lit
tie federal State for the rest Of their lives" But
even this assurance 1t is worthy Of remark proved