The Portland daily press., 1894-02-24
THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Yesterdays Session Devoted to Historic
and Prehistoric Men.

ana Ere hIStOflc Meh.
Mr.. Richard Webb's Paper William
Pitt Fessenden-NIr. Charles b. Wilson
on the Prehistoric Fishermen of Maine
General John j. Perry Speaks of
Maine Politics Prior to 1860.
Yesterdays meeting OF the Maine
Historical Society at Baxter hall was an
interesting and well-attended session.
In the absence of President Baxter, Mr..
George f Talbot presided.
Secretary Bryant acknowledges the
following gifts:
Original MS. history OF the town of
Turner bv the late DR.. Timothy Howe,
1S43 Gift of J. G. Elder of Lewiston.
Original photograph portrait of VIM. T.
Fessenden, in frame, from DR.. Charles d.
Smith.
Ancient tea pot, from family of the
late j. H. Ingraham.
Candle stick, from family of Samuel
M. Quincy.
Hammatt papers. All given by Daniel
Goodhue.
Records of the town of Hartland were
also presented by Hon. J 0. Bradbury OF
Saco
The first paper of the afternoon was a
sketch of William Pitt Fessenden,
written and read by Richard Webb, Esq.
The concluding portion OF Mr.. Webo's
paper was as follows:
Mr.. Fessenden was not what is called
a popular man, that is he did not have
that quality best described, perhaps, as
personal magnetlsm," such as was
possessed in such marked degree by that
other distinguished son of Maine, who
soon after occupied his seat in the Sen
ate-Mr. Blaine The people believed in
his integrity, had confidence in his judg-
ment, and admired his ability. but they
were not inspired with feeling of per-
sonal loyalty and of intense and unques-
tioning devotion to himself and his for
tunes. His character did not appeal to
their emotions. 1t was not their love ne
won, he appealed to their consciences and
to their common sense, and they fol-
lowed him because they were convinced
thatshe was right was. He reservedand dig
pified in manner and was perhaps some
what aristocratic. had little patience
with those whom he considered bores,
cared nothing for the patronage OF his
position and was often short and sharp
with Office seekers He had a supreme
contempt, which he took no pains to
conceal for those who were in politics
for what they could make, and expected
reward for political services. These
traits naturally made him unpopular
with certain classes, and gave him
reputation for being cold and unap-
proachable, but to those admitted to his
personal friendship he was a most genial
companion, and was by them held in
such close affection as to prove such
reputation undeserved. No man had
warmer friends, and they knew, as per-
haps others did not, that truer, kinder
heart than his beat IN no other human
breast.
aFessenden exercised in private life the
same virtues that made his public
career conspicuous. He had no private
vices such as dim the lustre of the fame
of Clay. He was always perfect gen
tleman courteous, and refined. He was
slight in figure, with erect and dignified
carriage, and his face, finely cut and
attractive, without being handsome,
bore an expression OF shrewdness and
sagacity that did not suggest cunning.
During the later years of his life he was
SO engrossed in public affairs that he
had little time and less inclination for
social life, and except to few intimate
friends hewas essentially a public man.
"He often seemed Indifferent to popu-
lar opinion. He was perhaps too much
so. Yet he was peculiarly sensitive to
praise and censure, the more SO, perhaps
because he was unwilling to purchase
the one or seek to conciliate the other by
concessions which he regarded as veenal
He was not the man to feel the pubic
pulse before making up his own mind.
He was governed by principle, not by
policy. But in the application OF prin-
ciDles none was more practical. he
was not theorist like Sumner. and
while believing with Sumner that moral
principles should underlle legislation, he
realized, as Sumner sometimes did not,
that perfect righteousness is not attalna-
BILE on this mundane sphere, and that
Il. IIr-r rlnf Tcc
times beyond the power of human leg1S-
latures to enact He was remarkably
modest. He never distributed copies of
his speeches. and he made no collection
OF his works for publication. He under
estimated the Importance OF his public
services. He had self confidence, but
not self assurance; self respect, but not
self conceit.
His speeches are models of English
style in the purity of their language
and in the clearness of their compost
ton. There are in them no metaphorical
or other figurative expressions, no CLASH
cal illusions or poetical quotations
They appealed to the reason and the COM
mon sense, not to the passions or the
Imagination. His was not an eloquence
to move the masses, nor to win the APP
plause of the galleries. but was most
effective in bringing Senators to his
point of view. To HIM the Senate was
legislative pouy, an aSseHoiy coHVeheu
for business, not an audience for oratori-
cal display. He spoke not to win APP
plause. but to win votes. Consequently
itawas as a debater, not as an orator that
he excelled, and in the parry and thrust
of general debate he was without peer.
The ponderous orations of Summer,
which I'LL many volumes of his published
works, held the Senate spell bound with
their matchless eloquence, but the de-
bates in which they were delivered were
influenced more by the short five minute
speeches of Fessenden, now buried III
the columns of the Congressional Globe,
than by the learned essays of his fellow
champion SO carefully preserved for an
admiring posterity.
"Fessenden was vigorous and strong in
intellect, keen and sagacious i'll judg
ment, practical in striving for results,
but the great overshadowing elements
of his fame and character were an integ-