Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-12-02

In this l trust the whole government,
In all its branches will be in accord with
each other and with the people
! When Mr.. Reed had finished. GeorS,
n. Fcss of the eth Illinois district, one OF
| the new Chicago members, and one of the
many young men in this Congress, in q
few well chosen words presented him with
a new gavel.
This gavel is an exquisite piooe of work
manship. 1t is about IS inches In length,
composed of wood from cherry and apple
trees standing ON the ground at Ashland,
the old homestead of Henry Clay, in Ken
lucky. The extreme end Of the handle
is beautiful piece of carved ivory, the
wood of the handle and Of the mallct be
ing surmounted with heavy bands of gold
and silver, beautifully chased The in
scription on the silver band encircling the
centre of the mallet is quotation from
Alexander Hamilton, reading:
GAS too much power leads to despotism,
too little leads to anarchy"
Another inscription is Presented To
the Honorable Thomas Brackett Reed by
the Hamilton Club of Chicago, 1925"
Mr. Hilborn, representing the Sd Cali
fornia district, said that California had
also gavel to present, and he proceeded to
make the presentation speech, in which he
said that the gavel was made of oak taken
from the old ship Hartford, Farragut ;
flagship, now undergoing repairs at the
navy yard in California. He added that
the country expected from this Congress,
under the guidance of Speaker Reed, legis-
lation which would bring back prosperity
to the land.
Mr.. Reed accepted both gavels with
Enthusiastically appropriate remarks. He
said:
Mr. Foss, l beg to thank most sincerely
the Hamilton Club for its beautiful gift
which is connected with the remembrance
of Alexander Hamilton and Henry Clay,
whose services to their country ended with
their lives. l can hope to have my name
associated with the names of these great
and famous men for this passing moment
only; and yet, brief as the moment is, it
adds greatly to the honor already bestowed
on me; and ask you to convey to the
Hamilton Club my high sense of the kind
ness with which they have always treated
me-"
Replying to Mr. Hilborn, Mr.. Reed said :
Mr.. Hilborn, I have, us YOU have said.
ooCh PitochOtu Nitii diittlltf VI GlIl-
blem of the Office which the kindness of
this assembly has indicated that / shall
occupy.
Coming from the central city of this
country, city, if its growth keep pace
with the courage of its people, that is
likely to reach both oceans, | cannot, how
ever, suppose 1t is In multiplication of that
event that you, in the flourishing city of
Oakland, take this occasion to give me
this memento which will remind me Of
one of the earlier years Of my life that was
spent on the Pacific coast, in which year
| learned to appreciate the greatness pre-
sent and future. of that great Western en-
pire.
1T will also remind me that l was in
"A humble capacity once connected with
that branch of the service, which has the
special right to hold in higher remem-
brance the sweet and serene face and the
noble carriage Of David Glasgow Farragut
and the other heroes whose names a sight
of the glorious old Hartford calls up in
every patriotic heart
please convey, Mr.. Hilborn, my sincere
thanks to the donors Of this much hppre.
ciated gift. To all the audience | must
add that | cannot undertake to reconcile
the difference of these gentlemen as to
their metallic views