Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-07-10
Denth OF Hannibal mnmIin.

EX-Vice President Hannibal Hamln,
whose death occurred at Bangor Saturday
evening, was one of the most picturesque
figures in Maine Mr.. Hamin's death
took place at the rooms of the Terratine
club, where he was spending the evening,
having been in his usual health during the
day. His wife and other members of his
family were summoned and were with him
at the end
Mr.. Hamlin was born in Paris, Me-, Au-
| gust p, 1909, the son of village doctor.
| When of age he served his time in print
ing office, and afterward studied law, so
that he was admitted to the bar in 1888.
continuing in practice at Hampden until
| 1913 His public career began with his
election to the legislature, in 1896. and he
was reelected four times, being speaker OF
the House the last two years. Mr. Ham
lin had been identified with the Democratic
| party in his early political career and was
sent to Congress and first elected to the
! United States Senate by that party: but
when the slavery question became the lead
ing political issue he was among the first
to help organize the Republican party. He
was one of its most efficient leaders i'm
Maine, and his ability was recognized by
the Chicago national convention of 1860.
which put him upon its ticket as a candi-
date for vice president. He was elected
and served with success He was one of
the most trusted counsclors of Abraham
Lincoln, and it was against Mr.. Lncoln's
wish. it is claimed, that he was not renOm-
mated with him. Had he been renomin-
ated in 1861. the history of the rcconstruc-
tion of the rcbcllious territory of the
South would have been materially differ
ent. lIamlin, instead of johnson. would
have succeeded to the presidency. and the
reconstruction quarrel between the Presi-
dent and Congress would never have oc-
Cured. Reconstruction would have been
effected with much more unanimity and
probably in a wiser way
Mr.. Hamlin had been elected as governor
Of his state in 1887. though he soon re-
signed to serve as United States senator
and had also served as collector of the port
of Boston and as minister to Spain. His
connection with the Senate had been al
most as extended as that OF Thomas Ben
ton, for his service in that body was l3
years from lS4S to 1861, with only short
intcrmisson: four years AS its presiding
officer, from 1861 to 1865. and double
term of II years from 1859 to 1881. He
was thus connected with the senate. as
member or presiding officer. for % years.
not to speak of his work as representative.
Hannibal IIamlm was one of the last of
the old guard of anti-slavery statesmen.
Most of his associates passed away when
he had many years of public life before
him. His career was probably the longest
of any man in American public life. He
was for nearly fifty continuous years in Of
fee.
Hr. Hamlin was "A man of simple habits,
fond OF his home and unaffected and gen
uinc almost to oStentation. His home was
in the city of Bangor. but he had a little
farm outside the town limits, where he did
the honesty light work that was so great
pleasure to him. even to driving the COWS
to pasture. He had been for many years
president of the Terratinc club, in whose
rooms he died, and there he was wont to
spend the greater part Of his afternoons
playing cards. He was a leading member
of the local Unitarian church and presi-
dent of the Maine Unitarian association
Up TO his death he had not been sick for
"a years, and ascribed his good health to
his fondness for open-air exercise.
The old mans last public appearance
was on the 10th ult.. when he addressed
the full bench of the Maine supreme court
in warm eulogy of his lifelong friend and
neighbor, the late eX-Chief Justice Apple
ton. 1t will be remembered also that he
spoke at the Lincoln banquet in New York
city last February, which was his last trip
out of the state.
In studying the character of Hannibal
Hamlin it appears that the one strong
point which-added to his grand abilities
made him a truly great man was his sterl-
ing honesty. He was honest from no mo-
tive of policy but from principle. This
element of his character became early
known and recognized, and only once in
his whole public life did any man approach
him with any proposition which savored
of corruption. He leaves an honorable
name and fame, and when judged for what
he was and the impress he made upon his
time, though he may not measure up to the
highest standard, yet lofty place must be
given him.
The day following Mr.. Hamlin's death
the President issued an announcement
from the White House, recognizing Mr..
services to the country and ex-
pressing the personal and national respect +.
and sorrow, and ordering the display of |
flags at half-mast upon all public buildings
in the United States upon the day of his .
funeral, Wednesday.