Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-07-06
ons Of the Fouodsrs OF tbs Republican
Party in Maine.

Hannibal Haralin vas born st Paris, Me.
Aug. 2T, 1909 As TO his early life and ths
pre- epsrafory stages for bis conspicuous and
singular public cArees, very little is recorded
He gathered vide fund Of information, Va.
manifes,ly we'll educated, and bis training
was ample for the career Of 4 successful
statesman.
He studied Law aud was admitted to the
bar, when "a years old, in 1853. He st once
became an active member OF the Democratic
party, and his services were early and
| literally rewarded. He was not long con-
fined TO dubious law practice, but found his
sphere of life enlarged by political positions.
| However. be carried on his law practice
until 1913. when the pressure Of the public
service led him 10 renounce il
Ii 1886 he Was elected 20 the Legislature,
and he at once took such prominent and
| influential position as to become the leader
| Of bis party on the l1or. The mex. year he
was chosen speaker and was twice reelected
holding the position for three years.
Even then, in his political childhood, Mr..
Hamlin manifested those eharscteristics
| which made him 90 prominent in later times.
In lS42 the Democratic party sent him
| to Congress and be WAS reelected In 1874 =.
vas AtJ EJtsA tpt IAil ~ sou4
in ls48 he vert 10 the United States Senate
to all vacancy. Three years later he was
sent to the Senate for full term by ihs
Democrats.
Soon after this election to the Senste for
six years, there was precipitsted upon
the country the great political battle between
freedom AMI slavery, which was the preeur-
sor and ASSURANCE of the desdiier cor fict at
t., b,tb ~ tbas aft
giles Mr.. Hsmlin was 10 bear part.
There were iilustrious Democrats who
viewed with alarm the sudacious encroach-
ments Of the slave power, and VIII, were
determined not to be whipped into the
party traces in trucking subserviency to
the southern aristocracy. There was a
not ,ble group OF these Democrats in the
early ffIies. With Hannibal fI.miin stood
such men xs Salmon z. Chase. John p.
Hale, Preston King, John M. Niles. David
Wiimos, David X. Carter and John Went
worth.
When Mr.. Hsmlin entered tue Senate,
be had hot work on hand at home. He was
q Democrat, but not sn ultra pro. slavery
Democrat. ard he was fighting the slavery
element a. home aud at Washington. 1t was
ju.t here that Hannibal Hamlin began to
drift from his political mooriDgs. He got
light earlier than most men OF his time and
ties. He was possessed OK political sagaci-
ty in a remarkable degree, and he saw his
course away ahead Of his sailing. There
was a limit TO even Democratic endurance
with some men, and that limit was passed
in the repeal of the Missouri Compromise.
Hannibal Hsmlin was thenceforth no longer
Democra. as Jefferson Davis and Roger
IT. l,fi oh 1zffa
ocracy.
In 1856 he left the party. and was one OF
the most conspicuous and important leaders
in the formation of the new Republican
party In that same year he entered the
political arena at h1me in an encounter
with his old supporters As the candidate OF
the Republicans for Governor. He struck
so hard that he demoralizsd the Democracy
of Maine and got elected. Then the Re
pubicans 70 elected him to the United
States Senate, and hs resigned the office OF
G lvernor His position at This time WAS
most promising and envisble, and his career
had bsen an unqualified and pronounced
success.
The momentus presidential election Of
1860 WAS approaching, and as it vas genar-
ally & 1ected that New England would not
Rtt tuS Dut NOuiu sSh VIC 'iSS
presidential candidate, there was no one
more talked Of for Vice President than the
popular and energetic senator from the
Pine Ire State.
Ia 1856 Fremont was defeated because
the right man was not nominated for Vice
President. The convention Of 1860 made
no such mistake. No better man in all
the country could have been selected and
- af at
me m orabIe convention found its climax
when Hannibal Hsmlin was placed on the
ticket with Mr.. Lincoln. The West wss
satisfied and the Ess. was more than graft
fed In the stirring and desperate CAM
p,ign which followed the nominations, MIR.
usmlin bore his full part and he Vas ore
OF the efficient champions OF that cause
which was so soon 10 triumph. Through
out the East he stood for the ticket. Mr..
Lincoln was we'll known at the West but in
New England he was not then very much
appreciated, so that Mr.. Hamlin's name
was tower of strength and he aroused the
| enthusiasm Of the masses aud secured
! thousands of votes for the republics an can
dids,es After the election and the tri-
| umph Mr.. Hsmlin was much consulted as
| to the policy Of the now dominant psrty.
| ne tAICSE VI ISc-l ttpisSus i'oiiithh -
the administration of President Lincoln
was Of the most useful, pronounced and
happiest character. As 4 presiding officer
of the Senate he stands almost unexcelled
and his record is most honorable.
Soon after,his election IS Vice President
in 1860, Mr.. Hamlin, by invitation. met
President eec! Lincoln at Chicago. When
the two men met, entirely Unattended, Mr..
Lincoln asked as he extended his hand :;
Have we ever been introduced to each
other, Mr.. Hsmlin?'
"I think not" was the reply.
| That is my impression" said Mr.. Lin
coin, "but / remember once hearing you
make q speech in the Senate speech
that Twas particularly struck with, for the
reason that it was filled 'chock up with the
very best kind of anti-sisvery doctrine.
"Well, that is singular replied MIR.
| Hsmlin. "for my first recollection OF you,
Mr.. Lincoln. is Of hearing you make a
speech in the House, speech so full OF
good humor and sharp points that was
convuised with laughter.
| The friendship between Lincoln and
| Hamlin, begun at this meeting, continued
to be of the most eoriisl character during
the four years of the war, ard up to the
| day o! his death Mr.. lismlin slTsys spoke
Of the martyred President with degree. of
reverence and affection ,h,, was extremely
tonchipg to all who heard him.
Asa statesman his influence in th' crisis
of the government was OF the highest order
and Was highly efficient. As an eminent
politician Of the Republican party he ma
terisly sided to dignity the organization
snd to strengthen its hold On the masses OF