Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-05-21
SOME or THE OLD GOVERNORS OF
MAINE.
ALBION X. PARIS, ENoCH LINCOLN
AND JONATHAN @. HUNToN.-BRlEF
NOTICES OF THE MEN AND THEIR
ADMINISTRATIONS.

Il
AND JONATHAN @. HUNToN.-BRIEf
NOTICES OF THE MEN AND THEIR
ADMINISTRATIONS.
Editor Democrat.
The first live governor ever saw was
Enoch Lincoln. IL was at "regimental
muster' on the old field then used for that
purpose between South Paris and Nor
way.
During that year Governor Lincoln
made tour through the state, review
ing the troops as he went, at their an
nual muster gatherings. l think It WAS
In 1923. Governor Lincoln Travelled on
horseback. was splendid horseman and
rode well-trained, spirited white horse,
which, with It's rider, attracted general
attention wherever he went.
was q boy, then, and, with other
boys, thought 1t a great sight to see q
governor. He was that day escorted to
the field by company OF cavalry, to
the music Of a ''drum corps" made up
of all the big and little drums and
screaming flies" that could be scared
up In the whole regiment.
can remember just how Governor
Lincoln then looked as he rode on to the
field in magnificent style on his pranc.
| ing steed, in citizens dress, surrounded
by a military staff, covered by the pro-
fuse military trappings OF those days.
| well remember how We boys took OIL
our hats and the girls (for lots Of them
attended muster In those days. waved
their handkerchiefs, how the men threw
up their hats aud cheered themselves
hoarse, and how the old cannon In the
background sent It's thunders echoing
and re-echoing over the old Oxford hius
and valleys.
Ii was a magnificent ovation Of the
Oxford Bears to chief magistrate they
all loved and respected.
After the review the regiment formed
a hollow square and Governor Lincoln
and made patriotic, eloquent address
to the soldiers, at the conclusion OF
which the whole regiment broke out into
one loud aud long roar OF applause.
| BY the way, Governor Lincoln, al
though native Of Massachusetts, came
to Maine soon after II became state,
and settled in Paris on the Chill" He
was member Of congress from the Ok
ford District from 1871 TO 1925, when he
resigned to accept the office OF governor,
TO which he had been elected, receiving
20, ESQ votes, with only 314 votes cast
against him in the state. He was elect
ed for second and a third term with
scarcely show OF opposition, and died
in office October s, 1879, greatly lament
ed by the people Of the whole state.
| Governor Lincoln In his day was one
Of the most popular public men we ever
had In Maine. He was emphatically n
peoples man., possessing fine educa-
tional attachments, but never lifted up
above his constituents; genial and easily
approached, yet dignihed and gentle
manly 10 all his bearings. His integrity
aud honesty were proverbial, while he en-
joyed the confidence of the people TO =
degree seldom attained by man clothed
with the high trusts and responsibilities
placed upon him by the people.
Governor Lincoln was never married.
and was buried In the public grounds
fronting the state capital on the banks
OF the Kennebec, where his tomb re-
mains until the present day.
While speaking Of the respect shown
Governor Lincoln as the chief magis-
trate OF the state, one Is forcibly remind
ed OF the difference between aye olden
times" aud the present. Then office and
official position were generally revered
and respected BY the populace. Both
the man and the office were respected.
Now, the elevation Of man to be q
governor, In the estimation OF majority
OF the people does not amount 10 much.
Perhaps the reason may be found In
the fact that some very small men work
themselves into high official positions.
The eccentric David Dunn once face
tiously remarked that ANY man could
make q governor OF Maine"-that he
himself "was once governor twenty
four hours, and the state survived"
To 90 back little further In Maine
politics, we find Albion X. Paris, the
predecessor OF Governor Lincoln in the
gubernatorial chair OF the state. He was
native of Hebron, In the good old
county Of Oxford, which has raised and
sent out to the country more statesmen
than any other county In the United
States.
Two things can be said OF Governor
| Paris that can not be said OF any other
man. He was governor longer term
than any Of his predecessors or success
sors, and had more boys named after
him than any other governor OF Maine.
He was chief magistrate Of the state five
successive years. Governor Paris did
not have an easy walk-over the first
year he was candidate. His political OPP
ponents were then known as Federalists,
and the late Judge Ezekiel Whitman
was their candidate. He also had an OPP
ponent in his own party In the person OF
! Joshua Wingate, Jr., but he beat them
both, receiving l2.Ss7 votes, Whitman
S,6ll, wingste 1873. The next year his
vote went up to Is, 466, Whitman o,19o,
Wingate 1855. He made comparative
gains every year, in his vote, until the
last (lS25), when he received II, 2O6 and
all others only ,046.
Few men ever received the public hon.
ors bestowed upon Governor Paris. Ia
ISL he was appointed attorney for Ok
ford County; in 1913 representative to
the general court" at Boston; in 1914
was a state senator; : In 1915 was elected
to congress, and again In 1917; In 1919
was member Of the constitutional con-
vention; in 1870 appointed judge OF
probate fol- Cumberland County; was
governor of Maine from 1871 To 1926; Ia
| 1927 elected TO the United States senate;
| In 1929 was appointed judge OF the
supreme judicial court OF Maine, which
Office he held until 1886, when he was
appointed second comptroller in the fed
araI traaeurv dana mont which office