Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-02-13
A Grand Celebration byLincoIn
Club at Portland.
Eloquent and Stirring Speeches -0ne
by Hon. A. M. Spear, Gardiner.
Light Sentences in Case Of Would.bs IGcen-
diaries al Lewiston.


the annual banquet, which was largely at
tended, plates being laid for 225, After
dinner was served President Carroll w
Morrell called the assemblage to order, and
made the opening address.
He read letters from Hon. T. B. Reed
Sc natOrs Hale and Frye, Governor Green
haIge aud oilers. Addresses were made
by Governor Cleaves, Mayor Baxter
Gen. Connor, Hon. L. Llewellyn Powers
of Houltop, Hon. A. M. Spear Of Gardiner,
Judge F.. M. Ray of Wesbrook, Curt.
Guild, Jr., of Boston, and others.
All the addresses were spirited and were
received with rounds Of applause. Most Of
the speakers referred in eulogistic terms to
Lincoln, and allusion was frequently made
to the political questions of the day.
Mr.. Spear made an admirable speech
In part he said
If you compare the humble origin, the
destitute circumstances, the lack of educa.
tiOnal advantages and the isolated sur
roundings of Abraham Lincoln in earl,
life with his wonderful knowledge, consum-
ate tact, inexhausti1le resources, and in
tu tive foresight in his later years, the
word 'destined" alone seems to account f)r
his almost supernatural wisdom and tran
scendent character. In my judgment
no statesman has ever excelled him
in intellectual ability and few have
equslled him in moral courage and
the true ins incts of justice. Time
forbids an extended review Of his ca
reer to establish bis high place in the tenn
10 80 Go In, Is pNy
His debates with Stephen A. Douglass,
which first brought him national reputation,
are masterpieces of intellectual grasp and
power. The Little Giant was unsurpassed
as debater in his day in the United States
Senate. An analysis of his method Of
debate discloses that he was not
only master in legitimate contro
versy, but, when occasion required, a
most cunning sophist. Under his spacious
rea. oning fiction appeared like fact and the
false like the true. William Pitt Fessen-
den Of our yown city was as great debater
as Douglass, but in the use of his powers he
was always legitimate. His merciless logic
cut like Damascus blade and everything
not of equal merit fell before his relentless
strokes. A man of equal ability could fight
Fessenden to draw. But to meet in de-
bate where arguments could not possibly
b, anticipated, not only the truth but al
the same time the sophistry of q man like
Douglass required more than equal ability.
That Lincoln met Douglass successfully is
admitted by all. From an examination of
these debates it is not difficult to discover
Lincoln's power. He was strong and &C.
curate in his facts. His logic was faultless
His power of statement direct, plain, sim
ole and unsurpassed even by Webster
With only these powers he might not have
xcelled Douglass. But in addition to these
he possessed strength never excelled if
sver equalled. namely, the power to demon
strate truth and expose error by illustration
and anecdote. He used these equally to es-
,lish lofty principles and grand truths and
to destroy with merciless ridicule and biting
sarcasm.
Through these debates upon the exciting
questions then involved Lincoln's name be
came national. His fame wss no longer
confined to the western states but hao
reached the great metropolis and the
East with such favor that h"
vas invited by the Young Mems
Republican Club of New York city to ad
,iress them, when he delivered his famous
Cooper Institute speech. Probably no
speech since the famous reply Of Webster
to Haine had so clearly and truthfully de-
fined the illogical and unreasonable attitude
of the Soutl, toward the North. A rhe-
torical production this speech has been used
by our most distinguished literary institu
tons a. model. But as great a. were his
intellectual powers, his moral endowment
we're even greater. His was great mind
governed by greater soul. with char.
ity for all and malice toward none" he en-
tert d upon the great work which providence
had detigned him to perform. Little did
his contemporaries appreciate his greatness
ar understand the delicacy of his duties
Thirty wears have but partially disclosed
either, but We know now what we did no.
know then, that it was his wisdom and his
patriotism and his firmness that saved the
Union. In cabinet divided in sentiment
upon the great issues of the day, he sat az
the conservator of peace and harmony. He
was assailed by the border states for his
haste and by the Northern states for his
moderation upon the great question Of
emancipation. Yet he manifested . pa
,iance and forbearance equalled only ty
Washington when censured by the Cont
mental Congress. Had he followed the i'm
nstient advice of his Northern supp orters,
the border states would have seceded. These
st.tes lost and the Union was lost. With .
patriotism and foresight never surpassed, he
maintained the equilibrium between these
hostile factions until the time was ripe
for the promulga,ion of the greatest pfocla-
nation of modern times, which, instead OF
dissolving secured the safety of the Union
and struck the death-knell Of the rebellion.
But in our admiration for Abraham Lin
coin We should not over look on this coca
eion the rise to majesty and power Of that
ma agnificent party of which he was the ex-
ponent and head. As you stand upon the
great Brooklyn bridge suspended in mid AIR
and spannicg East river from side to side,
and marvel at the handiworh of man, you
observe two great wire cables exts ndins
from end to end. A closer examination
discloses the fact that these cables are COM
posed of innumersble strands Of inner wire.
woven end interviewer to make them strong
enough and long enough to span the chaam
over which they PATS But = either side
Of this river massive pillars OF nasonfy rise