The Portland daily press., 1891-07-10

Army; and at the time of writing was ron.
fined in the United States Barracks in Car
Isle, Penn, 1t was most piteous appeal to
get him released l immediately called on
Mr.. Hamlin and presented NV case. He Mt
once proposed that we visit the War De
partment ana call on John r. Flovd then
Secretary OF War This we did. and upon
MT MI. Haunihs explanation of the case, the
Won NJ oiu secretary replied, II know
you, MT. damllD, as an honest man relying
u upUn your Statements will discharge the
young man from the army" which he did by
psdcnlng despatch to that effect in the hands
VI Ten: Seth Williams to be forwarded at
b bnCs 70 tne young man, who in less than an
At another time an old soldier of the War
OF 1917, who lost an eye in the service, sent
me MS papers-being an application for a
pension, which had been in pension agents
nands sixteen years and been rejected at the
Penslon Department on account of some
technical defect or want of proof. He de-
sired me to get through special act for his
relief. AS usual with me in such cases,
called on Mr.. Hamlin for advice in the mat
ter. He examined the papers and said their
rejection In his opinion had been the work
OF some ignorant, careless clerk in the pen
sion office, that they were sufficient as to
proof, to give the old soldier pension from
the department. He proposed visit to the
commissioner Of pensions to whom we at
once repaired. Mr.. Hamlin called his per-
sonal attention to the completeness of thu
papers and at once satisfied the commission
er that he was correct In his conclusions;
who In return "cut all red tape" and made
the old soldier glad by granting his applica-
ton and Issuing his pension certificate.
These are but two instances among hun
dreds where the kind hand of Mr.. Hamlin
has been extended in aid of the people his
own state.
6; Mr.. Hamlin was a. man warmly at
tached to his friends and he never could do
too much for them; while his genial nature
and kind heart was an open door to the
humblest citizen who desired to approach
him.
To men of his own party, who desired his
assistance IN procuring positions under the
government, he always gave a patient hear
Ing; and whether he could help them or not.
they always left. feeling they had been kind
y treated. We have known him to have his
time and attention occupied In this way for
hours. without showing any signs of i'm
patience to his visitors. When advised by
his friends, as he often was to summarily
dispose of the political hangers on" he
would reply that that was one of the misfor-
tunes OF public man, at which he never
z. In 1.-THE Senate have sometimes been
found members who seemed to have an am
bition to keep their names constantly before
the country, by debating almost every ques-
ton that came before that body. Mr.. Ham
linneyer belonged to that class His speeches
were always made ITO use common phrase
when he had something to say; and no man
In that dignified body, ever had more atten-
Hamlin.
But Names great statesman is gone over
to the great majority. His body may quiet
ly repose In the silent slumbers of the tomb,
but his great public services for his country,
MS private virtues, his stern integrity, his
pure and spotless life,: and illustri0us name
will live forever In the hearts of the Ameri-
can people. JOHN j. PERRY.