The Republican journal., 1881-01-06
Hannibal Hamlin.

AN INTERESTING SKETCH OF THE RETIRING VEL
FRAN SENATOR.
Of the men III political life III this country, no
one has so long a continuance in prominent places
as the senior Senator from Maine. whose present
term IN the Ienate will expire on the 4th OF March
next and whose successor will be chosen this
month He has held seat in the National Senate,
either presiding; officer OF on the floor, most OF
the time for more than thirty wears aid among
his colleagues when be irst entered that body
were Daniel Webster. John c. Calhoun. Stephen
A. Douglass. K. NJ. I Hunter, } NJ Mason and
Sam Houston. Among the distinguished men
whom he preceded. and who became his colleagues
little later were Seward. Salmon p
Chase. J2dah P Benjamin. John Slidell, VIM. Pitt
tossenden, Charles Sumner. Henry Wilson, Ham
ilton Fish, Robert Toombs, Ben Wade, and Andrew
Johnson. most of ~ HON finished their work Oh
Garth wears ago. Among the great men with whom
he associated he very soon Llecame recognized
leader and when few years later he abandoned
the party with which he had acted, his detection
was regarded as d serious loss and he ca Cd
with him a state it h9s never recovered
Although he is remarkably vigorousin bouy
acuve in mind fer a man who has passed the years
Of three score and tcn it is probable that his pub
lie career vii! practically close when he ietires
from the Senate Just twenty yeais from the time
wheG by the voice of the people OF the country he
became the president Of thal body and the second
highest officer of the government. He was born
at Paris in the State Of Maine and will reach his
farmer he spent The years Of his minority IN agri-
cultural pursuits though he found time to prepare
himself or COLLEGE before the intervention of cir
cumstarces that prevented him from securing the
liberal education he desired Subsequently he
worked III printing office and the practical intor
III ltiou he there acquired was of much value to
llm that he has never regretted his inability to
take collegiate course. he graduated from the
printing office at the age OF twenty-tour, and hav
Ing improved his opportunities for the study OF
Hon ,,,,l,, - Il a
eessiul practice until he became absorbed in the
duties OF political office, and abandoned his pro
feSslOn
II the age OF twenty-seven he was elected to the
Name Legislature and took SO prominent rank
that the next year he was elected to the speaker
ship. succeeding Jonathan Cilley. who became the
victim Of political iuel after his election to Con
gIesS This position Mr.. Hamn held, by success
Sivo elections for three years. he ran on the Dem
Ocratic ticket for Congress in 1910, and beaten
by Elisha II. Allen, who subsequently went to the
Sandwich Islands, and is now the Hawaiian Minis
ter at Washington He was elected to Congress in
1912, and again in 1914, and gained such distinc-
ton that in 1913 he was elected to the Senate.
whore he Las passed so large portion of the inter
vening years. He acted with the Democrats up
to the year 800. when, finding that the great body
Of his party friends at the North were but the ser
wants Of the save-ocracy he took a new departure
and was foremost among those who in Maine cast
IN their fortunes with the new Republican party,
that was dtStlned Tour years later 10 secure the
co troll of the government.
He ran a candidate for Governor in opposition
To his old political associates and was elected This
office, after reslgning his seat in the Senate, he
held less than two months when he resigned, hav-
ing been elected to the higher branch of Congress-
-Four years later he given the second place on
the Republican national ticket and the election of
Lincoln and Hamlln was followed by the secession
Of most Of the states that had voted against them.
Because OF desire to cater to the wishes Of Re
publlcanS i'll the border states Andrew johnson
was nominated and elected as his successor in 1864
and as consequence on the assassination of Pres
ldent Lincoln, the country had ybrid chief mag
iStratc. when it needed a man of fixed principles
true to his country, and to liberty.
For a short time Mr.. Hamlin held the office of
Collector OF the port of Boston, but he unwill
ing to letters. and soon resigned. In 1869
the legislature of his native State which has ever
delighted to honor him, again elected him to the
highest office III It's gilt, and for third time he
entered upon the senatorial career soon to close
Senator Hamlin, without the possession Of the
graces Of oratory, and lacking the culture of some
Of his associates has had great influence in the
body where he hes served so long. He is a man of
convictions, with the courage to maintain them.
He is always at his post. and what is quite as i'm
portant he is always posted Into all his work he
carries his whole heart HI is strong partisan.
because he believes the principles Of his party are
right. and he seeks their success but he has no
personal anmosltes, and he enjoys the friendship
alike of party associates and political opponents
He never forges his friends and is never afraid or
unwilling to stand up for them.
He has sometimes been the subject of political
detractlon, just as were Lincoln and Seward and
Wllson and Wade, Of whom he was contemporary
and friend; but it can be said of him as of them.
that his political acts were influenced not by per
sonal, but by public considerations. At the end of
more than forty years in high offices, and life
% comparatively frugal habits, with opportunities
Tor helping himself such as few men have had, his
old aye finds him with only moderate means He
has served faithfully and diligently in the councils
OF hs country, and he has been so well contented
with the honors and the remuneration with which
he has been repaid that he has neither sought oc-
cason nor improved opportunities for enriching
himself. He will enjoy in his retirement the
friendship of the survivors among bis associates
and the esteem Of the public, and this he deserves
because he has been true man-true to princi-
pies to liberty, TO justice, and to his country
boston Traveller