Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-02-13
PORTLAND LINCOLN CLUB
f,hso,v.e Rirthday Anniversary o
President Lincoln by Banquet
Governor cIeaves and Other, Prominent "'"
speak-ALarse Attendance.


Portland. Feb 12.-The Lincoln oi"D
a. Portland celebrated the anniversary
of the birth of Abraham Lincoln W
great banquet at the Prcble house. tnis
evening The dining room was COM
plete,y filed, plates being laid for more
than $50 gentlemen In fact the athena
anee would have been 100 larger II there
had been room to accommodate them, ior
the sale of tickets among the members Vi
the club was stopped several days ago
when the demand was still brisk.
The Lincoln Club is the most active
Republican organization in Maine. Inc
banquet hall was decorated with 1ags anu
CONSPICUOUS on the walls were great por
traits of Lincoln, Hon. Thomas b. heea'
Hon. James G. Blaine and Governor
Cleayes.. The president le,. the process
sion which entered the dining room at .
O'Clock, and on his right sat Governor
Clcaves, while Mayor Baxter, Hon. W. W..
Thomas Jr, ex-minister to Sweden, Hon.
Llewellyn Powers of Horlton. Hon. Geo.
NJ. Seidcrs, and Others had places Oh
honor.
After the banquet President George
Libby opened the exercises with an elo-
ouent speech on Lincoln. His fame, he
said. will spread and grow wider and
greater like that of other illustrious bene-
factors of mankind, ard the memory OF
his exalted life and character will live IN
the hearts of his countrymen so long as
the Capitol where his noblest efforts wer1
made shall be the pride and glory OF the
nation he gave his life to save
President Libby read letters and tele-
grams of regret from Gov. Mckinley,
Governor Morton, Hon. Robert Lincoln,
Hon. Henry C. Lodge, Hon. Thomas b.
Reed Senators Hale and Frye, Congress
men Boutelle, Dingley and Milliken, and
many others.
The first speaker introduced was
Governor Clcaves, who spoke eloqucntly
of the life and services of Lincoln, and
the sterling work OF the Lincoln club. He
said:
cone of Lincoln S strongest characters
tics was his loyalty and devotion to his
friends He gave striking illustration
of this when distinguished delegation
from California called upon him soon af-
ter his Inauguration, relating to the ap-
pointment of certain officials on the Pacific
coast, and during the conversation they
bitterly assailed friend of Lincoln's who
was then a senator from Oregon, and who
entertained different views relating to the
appointment from those entertained by
the delegation Lincoln. after listening
while to the assaults upon his friend,
standing at his full height, said
1" Gentlemen, if you think you can
win your cause by assailing my friend, l
desire to have you distinctly understand
that you cannot accomplish your purpose
by any such means
"Lincoln lived during the trying days
of the republic, when it was uncertain
whether we would have one flag or two
He never lost faith in the army. He was
always the friend of the private soldier
and was constantly giving them words of
encouragement. He had the confidence
not only of the Union army, but of the
American people.
HE despised slavery and loved free
dom. Although his administration was
unjustly assaulted at times by members Of
his own party, he never swerved in his
duty. rs he underst ,od it, to the Ameri
can people. His memory will be
cherished forever by the liberty loving,
patriotic people Of America.
He was followed by Mayor Baxter in n
brief address complimentary to the club
and eulogistic of Lincoln. Addresses
were also made by Hon. Llcwellyn Pow
ers of Houlton. Hon. Herbert NJ. Heath
of Augusta, Hon. James o. Bradbury of
Saco, Herbert M. Lord of Rockland, Hon.
W. W. Thomas. il, Hon. George NJ.
Soldiers and Rev. Matt S. Hughes of Port
land.
Hon. George NJ. Soldiers, President of
the Senate, in his address called particu-
lar attention to one quality in Abraham
Lincoln which, to his mind, stands out as
prominent as any quality which he pos
sessed, that of political honesty or hon
esty in politics.
Regardless of his own personal success,
regardless of the protests Of his friends,
Lincoln time and time again pursued his
even truthful way in politics, and the
result was that he began to be trusted ty
the masses of the people as no man has
ever been trusted.
He reached the Presidency over this
bridge He stood before the people of
Illinois as the advocate for right and
justice. Even when his friends advised
him to pursue a different course, he
Wayered not