Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-01-02

giving proclamations was so brief ant
comprehensive, and was so popular that
it was printed on satin by his admirers
for general circulation.
During Mr.. Lincoln administration as
governor the question of the northeastern
boundary of our State acquired serious
and alarming dimensions. He vindicat-
ed the rights Of the State to the territory
in question with great energy and ear
nestness. He took strong State sover-
eighty ground, boldly and decidedly de-
nying the RICH. Of the national govern
ment to cede any portion of the territory
Of the State without its consent. Had
his counsels prevailed the historian Of
Maine would have had no such chapter
of concessions, submissions and humilia-
tons to record as that written by anoth-
er Governor Of Maine.
Governor Lincoln gave much atten-
ton to the subjects Of internal improve
ment, and of education, pressing them
upon the attention of the Legislature in
communications filled with appropriate
suggestions and recommendations. Even
at Thu. early day road to Canada was
anticipated ia an able rcpor, made BY the
Hon. George Evans. 1t was during
Governor Lincoln's administration also
that Capitol hill in Augusta was deter
mined on as the future site of the capt.
tol, at a session Of the governor and
council held al Augusta in June 1927.
But while thus devo,ing himself, with
a high sense Of duty, to the interests of
the State, Governor Lincoln looked for
ward to period of retirement in which
he could indulge in pursuits more con-
genial to his scholarly tastes. Before
completing his last gubernatorial term ne
declined being again candidate, desir-
ing to devote his time to agriculture, to
the study of the classics and the natural
sciences, and to literary a vocations,es-
pecially to the completion OF work on
the history, resources and policy Of
Maine, for which he collected many ma
terials. He had also in view work on
the language and history of the aborigi-
nal inhabitants of the State, a specimen
Of which may be found in the first VOL
ume of the collections of the Maine His
,orical society.
But it was no: permitted Mr.. Lincoln
to complete the chosen labors Of his leis-
ure hours. During the las: year Of his
term as governor his health began to
fail. In the month of July Of that year,
1929. he delivered an Grafton at the cere-
mony Of LAYING the corner stone OF the
capitol at Augusta. In the following
October he was again called to Augusta
TO deliver an address at the establish
ment of the Coney Female Academy.
This was his last public performance. |
/ find in the YANKEE and Boston Literary
~
Gazette-John Meals paper so full
and interesting an account of his last
hours that | venture to introduce 1t here:
He left Portland with belief that
be should not return. He said so and
repeated it, as he stood on the floor OF
his room preparing to 90, and playing
with a piece Of paper which he had suf-
fered to drop twice without perceivlng
it. I am very weak said ne, my
strength is leaving do not expect to
return This was uttered with str'k-
ing solemni,y, and the impression will
never depart from the recollection OF
those who heard IT, On his arrival al
Augusta, whittier he had gone to deliver
an address before the children of the Co.
ney Female Academy-he mentioned
two or three times that he had come to
| die there; and when his friends gather
ed about him, and reminded him of the
state of his health, and begged him t
forbear, he said in his mild, firm way
1t is my duty Afterwards he alluded
to his mother, an extraordinary woman,
who had left him suddenly, but few
weeks before; and it was evident from
his behavior, even more than by his
language, that her sudden death was
heavy blow to him. He was thorough.
y assessed with the belief that as he ow'
ed so much to his mother, he owed 1t t
her memory by the last Of his publi
acts to impress the future mothers OF GU
country with becoming sense OF thei
own value. On the day when he deliv
cred the address he had been quite un
well before he made the attempt: during
, the delivery he grew so i'll that he wa
oblioed TO sit down and after it was de-
Ivered he went s,raightway to bed-th'
bed Of death.