Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-04-18
A MARK OF ESTEEM.
Beautiful GIFTS to Ex-Depub Secretary Of Stat,
Chadbourne by State House Friends.

nonusoHio OAK Toll Top desk and q sum
OF money. The gathering was held in
the agricultural department and the
presentation speech was made by Col. f.
c. Harrington, clerk in the State railroad
department, in the following interesting
words
Mr.. Chadbourne: We are pleased To
meet you this morning. Some of YOUR
friends who through years of friendly in
tercourse have learned to honor and re-
spect you, yea more, to admire and love
you, cannot now, when our official rela-
lions have been changed, let the oppor
tunlty pass without placing in your hands
some testimony, other than words to
snow even IN small way their great re-
gard for you.
FOR more than thirty years, you have
Deen almost continually connected with
the affairs of State, never failing to do
your duties in a manner that has won the
confidence of all those who have known
or done business with you. We might
envy you the confidence and esteem. even
more the warm personal friendship you
nave won by the performance of your
Official duties. From the time you first
entered the capitol buildings till the day
you passed out of your office never has the
shadow even of the finger of suspicion of
unfaithfulness been upon you.
On the other hand you have won place
in the hearts of the people of this State
by such painstaking application to our
duties that today you hold the confidence
and sympathy of the citizens of Maine
equal to that of any man we believe who
ever held a public trust in this State.
do not wish to bring to mind anything
that would disturb your peace of mind
but you will pardon me if | say that hero
ism is not always shown at best where
daring deeds are done but best when
man under trying circumstances firmly
adheres to that which is right and brave
ly faces adverse conditions Of life brush
ing away the obstacles that come about
him or carrying the burdens patiently
that befall him. From the time you
surrendered to the surgeons knife, when
boy, that strength which you so much
needed in after life, to this moment, I'M
knowingly, perhaps, you have shown a
heroism rarely found in the lives of men
This courage we know will never fail
you whatever your trials may be. True
for this time our official relations are
severed but the breaking of those ties only
bind stronger those of confidence and
friendship.
The same kind Providence that has so
sustained you in all your life will still send
the sunlight Of His love to bring peace that
knows no understanding to tighten your
way while life lasts. We pledge to you
today our renewed confidence and ask
you to accept our small testimonial to
remind you that in and under all cir
cumstances We stand ready to assist, if
need be, to make your remaining days
more sunny even than those that are gone
Secretary McKeen made few impress
i've remarks as follows:
Mr.. Chadbourne: It gives me much
pleasure to be present on this occasion
and to second the remarks of Col. Far
rington in presenting you these tokens
of our respect for you as a man and our
esteem for you as friend.
While have not associated with you
officially as long as many of those present,
our acquaintance dates from time,
several years previous to my coming to
tho State House. and the circumstances
under which we met at that time and
your earnest desire to act wisely and
prudently, impressed me with a sense of
your integrity of character and value as
friend and councillor. 1t is pleasant for
me that these exercises are held in
this department and | trust this oc-
casion may be one to which you may
always turn with pleasant recollections.
May our small tokens of our sincere
friendship ever be reminders to you that
YOU have left hero friends who will
always be true and may you be spared
many years in prosperity and happiness.
At the close of Secretary Mckeen's re-
marks Mr. Chadbourne stepped forward
and feelingly responded as follows;
NV friends: / will not say that / am
taken entirely by surprise. because 1t
would not be true, for did receive inti-
nation that something of the kind was
to occur, but l may safely declare | am
totally uaprepared to flttingly reply to
the eloquent remarks Of Col. harrington,
or to properly express my acknowledge
mepts for these tokens of your good will
and esteem. feel deeply chagrined that
7 did not heed the notice and make some
preparation to suitably reply, but my
mind has been SO occupied, l. did not
give such thought to this matter as due
appreciation of such demonstration OF
friendship would seem to demand
am profoundly impressed with this
act of your kindness and ] can only wish
YOU might know how much | appreciate
it, though the feeble words / may use,
utterly fail to give expression to the feel
ings of gratitude with which my heart is
OVERLOOKING.
/ went out from among you with a
heavy heart and light purse but by
this friendly act, you have lightened my
heart and made much heavier my purse
| I see before me the faces of some of my
older and earlier friends, Col. Harrington
and Gen. Harris, whom have known for
nearly thirty years.
l notice many whom / have known but
recently, but l reckon you all as among
my best friends, and as l approach the
sunset of life, and the declivity becomes
sleeper the memory Of each will become
dearer, and the recollection of this event
will cheer me on the way.
I reciprocate and fully appreciate the
friendship of the secretary of the board of
agriculture who has so feelingly alluded
to our first meeting and acquaintance.
| / shall ever hold you all in high esteem