The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1885-07-01

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did not comprehend It's true slgnficance
until mouths had passed. The eDthu.la- m
which vas witness in the uprising u the
North directly after the attack upon stump
ter, had passed away. The most hopeful
saw long and bloody war ahead and
Thousands we're doubtful concerning the re-
cut. Loyal men were dlsheartened be-
cause Of an apparent lack OF leadership 10
the fed. Demagognrs seized upon the
Pres dents Emancipation Proclamation a.
pretext to oppose the Government.
Rebel sympsthlser. IN the North boldly
denounced The Administration and the war.
10 several states, tue fall election had been
uufayorabie 10 The War party. No Iohger
could calls upon the states FOR troops De
flied by voluntary en.istments and The
draft act had ~ De resOrted 10. Nalne was
no exception. II had Ito -b re 0! a. ma
lignsnl traitors a. ever bush8acked the
rear guard Of patriot army. They de-
nouuced the draft, and in several Instances
they resisted the couscrp.ion officers,
threatening the lives Of several. anu Que
was murdered. Ia one town the standard
Of resistance was raised, but thauE- 10 the
prompiness of Governor Coburn, the us
ing was strsngled 10 It's Inception by the
veteran troops which he hurried 10 the
plague spot.
Do you ask ue why it is necessary ID re-
call this page Of shame in the Safes his
toryi | do SO because IL Is Impossible
without SO doing TO impress upon a law
abiding people the perils which beset Abb
ner Coburn when Governor and 10 render
full Justice TO one who was as patriotic and
courageous man a. ever discharged a
great public duty. When, from any change
Of feeling or newborn sentiment, II may
become impolitic to tell the ruth here
about the war period, first give Ncmoria.
Hall new name, destroy that beautiful
work OF art which commentaries the
chI' alric Terrorism and the pathetic martyr
dom Of some Of the sons Of Alma Mater
and from the memorial tablets ease the
names Of Heath, Boothby, Parker, Lesv!tt,
Bigelow and the Stevenses. And when
the work of celebrating the names OF pat
riots from the records o. the College Is be-
gun, let the name Of AoDer Coburn be the
first 10 be erased, for 10 that thick plight Of
doubt and fear, there was no trUer nor
more courageous heart than hi.
He was one Of the war Governors who
held up the hands OF Lincoln in the darkest
hour. All OF his Official papers, plain and
simple 10 their structure, are permeated
with an intense loyalty aud Illuminated by
a faith which inspired courage 10 the
hearts OF those about him. To the council
chamber, he carried that cool head, that
penetrating mind, that sound Judgment,
that high integrity and hat unfiinching
purp Sc which had marked his business
career. Fields might be lost, treason
might threaten, and fren4s, in their i'm
patience might be more exaspersting than
foes, but be never lost his wonderful poise.
He was neither dogmatic nor trucking,
headstrong nor adroit; he listened 20 all
and then he adopted that policy which his
conscience and his own judg seni which he
had learned to trust, dictated. The de-
cision once clearly made upon the basis OF
right and Justice, was never set aside. He
was never Influenced by tiattery or his OVID
personal or political interests, to deviate
from what he believed 10 be the path Of
duty. He did not do some things as custom
might dictate. but for that reason, he often
did them better. The following incident
related by one who was sesr him and one
who did not slways agree with him, illus
trstes his careful method The First
Maine Cavalry was a regiment of which
every man in the State may be proud. but
during Gov. Columns Term, 1t lost its field
officers oy the casualties of the service and
there was such condition of affairs in the
command, that regular promotions did not
brief period, Gov. Coburn surprised those
about him, by nominating two young Of
fcer., not the oldest in RINK, for Colonel and
Lieut. Colone. When asked for an explain
alton, he said Il have carefully looked
matter over. know the appointees. Tney
are popular in the regiment and | have
known them several years. Their sppoint-
nett is the best thing for the Regiment.
The sequel proved that he had selected
most wisely. one of the names Of the of
feers thus appointed is inscribed on your
tablet OF heroes-Stephen Boothby; the
other graduated from this institution in
1856, was pronounced by General Sheridan
to be one of the best volunteer cavalry Of
hcers in the service, and Is now the highly
este. med Colonel OF the 18th lnfautry-
Char II. Smith. Twenty years away
from that period of doubt, during which,
Gov. Coburn stood 1T the helm of State,
his Administration stands a model If eff
fcieucy etectivuess, and he q Chief Mag
istrate who was then without fear and is
DOW without reproach.
IL LIS private life and in his personal re-
latious, Gov. Coburn was the same upright
and conscientious man, that he was in bust
ness and public affairs He was SO con-
.picuously free from the appearance Of
vice of every nature, that even the ldlest
village gossip never had the seublance OF
pretext to tribe with his naise. All his
he he was not only total abstainer from
in. yxicatiug liquors. but in all things, he
lived au absttmious and frugal life.
Although his earlier life WAS spent much in
contact with men OF rough habits, he was.
in his intercourse with all, refined IN speech
and differential in act. Impure or profsue
words never passed his lips. Totally I'M