Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-03-28

nativity and the country, both in public

dent, of presenting to you a likeness of
yourself. Your fellow senators recognize
the impartiality and the dignity and the
kindly courtesy with which you have pre-
sided over their deliberations. (Applause. }
They recognize the fact that you have
made of this body as deliberativc body in
fact as well as in name They present this
| likeness as a token of their appreciation
of your work as q public officer, not more
than that they present it as a token
of their appreciation of your per-
sonal character and genial, qualities
as man, and as n token of their
kindly feelings towards you. They recog
nize the fact that you have ever been
kindly, genial and courteous, and they
wish you in the future prosperity and
happiness in your family life and in your
business life; and should you ever be
called to serve the public further, you will
find in the members of this Senate body
of men who will watch your course with
kindly feeling, and who will rejoice in
your happiness and prosperity. We wish
you, Mr.. President, the richest blessings
| in your future life that Heaven can be-
stow. prolonged applausc.)
President Soldiers: My friends, do not
address you as senators on this occasion,
| for that is too distant term to use, what
words shall use, or in what sentences
shall express my qualification at this
| kindness on your part l can only use
that expression, thank you, and in using
that 1 wish it to carry every thing and
| every feeling that those words can carry.
You have kindly presented me with this
picture. which in itself appreciate, but
Il 7 h nd aa hat xVith
your best wishes your friendship and your
| kindly support the picture would be Of
but very little value TO me. 1t is of value
only so far as it represents your hearts
| and your feelings towards me.
When we came here three months ago
l found in this body senators with whom
/ had had long social acquaintance, as
has been said here by the senator from
| Washington. There were those also whose
hands had scarcely pressed until we met
here at that time. / entered upon the
duties of this Office with fear and trembl-
ing, for desired, If possible, to so conduct
myself in this position that my conduct
should meet with the approval, of this
Senate. 1t is fer you to judge whether
| have done SO or not, but can say this
| for myself, that of all bodies of men with
| whom L have been associated, have never
yet, never yet, associated with body
where every man has proved himself to he
n gentleman and a friend, as the senators
around these boards have proved them
selves to be. 1t is at this closing hour
great qualification to me to think that we
can close up this session with this kindly
| feeling. l have sought here during this
period Of time to be absolutely impartial,
to carry out the business of the Senate,
and to look after, as far as possible, the
interests of the State, that great State
which every true hearted American and
every true lover of his State should ever
bear in mind. How near l may have
come to that mark it is not for me to say,
| but l leave it with you, my friends, to
pronounce judgment.
| But we must not forget that we have
had very kindly assistance in our efforts
here. The other officers of the Senate
should be mentioned, and should receive
the courtesy due to them on this occasion
and first of all, allow me to speak of orr
| secretary the gentleman who vies with
me in acting as president of this Senate
when it necessary for him to do so.
We hardly appreciate the value whicb,he
| has been to us. We know that he has
done his duty in years past, and we know
| now from experience that it would be
hard to fill his place. The most that l can
say, and l think you will all agree with
| me. is to say that our best wishes go out
| to the secretary of this Senate that we
| wish him n long and prosperous life and
that the duties which he has so ably per
| formed in this office may be his SO long as
he wishes to undertake them. (Applause.)
Let me refer also to that other official
whom we all love, our messenger. So
easily are his duties performed, and SO
kindly. and so quietly, that we almost
| feel as though he had reached down into
his pocket and paid the bills, instead of
the great State; and l think when a gen
tleman has been able to perform his dut
les in that way we all feel tied up to him
He has surely done his duty well. / can
only wish to him the happiness of remain
ming here as long as he thinks fit; for l
know that if he does his duties will be
thoroughly and honestly done. ZAP
plause)
And now, my friends and senators, we
shall Immediately close this session. For
my own part / desire to keep up the
friendly relations, the interest which we
have in each other, beyond this session,
beyond this year, beyond the next year,
and / desire that they shall be continued
throughout our entire life. And in clos
ing let me say that while we have acted
here this winter in the capacity Of sena
tors and have performed the duties which
have come before us to the best OF our
ability. we are all men and all have our
frailties; but as we go forth from this
chamber and mix again with our towns
men, let us carry with us throughout our
entire lives the old State of Maine en-
craven on our hearts. applause And
let us conduct ourselves in the affairs of
government and of politics in the future
so that instead of lowering the plane of
politics we shall raise it up rs In the sight
of God. And when we shall have done
that we shall not only have performed our
duties here. but have performed those
which now lie before us. applause
Mr.. Wiggin of Aroostook: In this clos
ing hour of this session / have no pre-
meditated speech to make, but as mem
Der of the Senate Of 1898 and again Of the
Senate of 1895, wish to say one parting
word of thanks to our President and to
my fellow senators. 1t is coming to the
time now when the curtain must be rung