The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1896-04-23
Value of Long Service.
The Influence OF the Maine Delegates in C0ngr ess.

''The Congressio nal Directory is not
a ccording to general impression, simply a
volume of cold facts. Of course sena-
tors and representatives write their ow
biographical sketches. While in som e
respects there is more or less sameress,
terest I'M reading. In short few people
re aliz e how much of human nature crops
out in the fran k detail and description of
The road which FINAL brings up in Con-
gress, says correspondent in the New
York Tribune. In more than one instance
it is easy to read betw cen the lines
statesmen who penned them. Some
give rotary list of political offices to
which they have previous sly attained, be-
ginning with justice of the peace, OF
county clerk, and breaking the chain with
the information that positions even as
high as cabinet portfolio have been ten
dered them, which they have evertheless
declined. Two or three-but only two or
three-have gone 50 for as to include
marriage among other important events
in their earthly careers.
An Englishman once said: ''Americans
do roam 500 This is not remarkable, as
an English opinion of Americans, excep t
that it is true. But it is not over the
world 50 much as from State to State all
over the United States that 'Americans
do roam So" 1t is surprising to note
among senators and representatives the
number of alien birth, education and oc-
cupation-that is, born in one State, edu-
Gated in another, seeking occupation in a
third, fame or fortune in fourth, and in
the long run reaching the goal of ambi-
ton in the halls of Congress. One of the
rare exceptions, perhaps the rarest. is the
Maine delegation, which stands out a con
spicuous example of native born, home
made men. Every member of that dele
cation was born, bred and educated in
Maine, and never lived away from the
State. They have never ''roamed'' even
SO far as seeking possible worldly advan-
tages in a neighboring State. All were
poor boys, making their way up from the
very bottom OF the ladder to place and
power. Four OF the six members of the
Maine delegation are college graduates
and two are editors of the two leading
newspapers of the State. The Maine
delegation Is not rich. Its members have
not been money making men. Though
possessed of comfortable means only,
Senator Hale, who acquired a fortune
with bis wife, would be rated a rich man
But it should be added that Senator Hale
had acquired something Of a national re-
putation dis a member of the House of
Representatives. before his marriage. so
that it was with him, no less than the
rest of the delegation, question of
brains and pluck.
In the past as now, intellectual force
has been the power of the Maine delega-
ton. To-day it is the strongest delegation
in Congress- To the House of Represen-
tatives Maine gives Il speaker whose
leadership and national fame are only
second to those of her great statesman
James G. blaine: TO three important com
mittees Maine gives chairmen Of signal
ability and wide experience, while in the
Senate the Pine Tree State is honored by
the unanimous choice Of her Junior sena-
tor to be president pro tempore of the
Senate. 1t may be said also that the
Maine del cation is conspicuous exam
pie of continuous service, which in no
small part is the secret of its foremost
place in Congress. Senator Fryes service
in Congress includes II years in the House
and Is years in the Senate-a continuous
service of u years. Senator Hale's ser
vice includes 10 years in the House and
Is years in the Senate-a continuous ser
vice of % years. While Mr.. Frye's whole
service is two years longer, Mr. Hale is
the senior Senator by IA days. Of the
Maine members in the House, MI. Reed
has been in continuous service 20 years;
Mr.. Dingley. Mr.. Boutelle and MI. Mill
ken have each served IA years.
L., Mai,
cess at home others ''roamed'' to much
advantage. Among the latter is Senator
Perkins of California, who has had a va
red career Mr.. Perkins early recollec-
tons are of Il Maine farm and ''limited
educational advantages so limited that
at l. years of age he left his native State
and went out in the world to seek some
thing better. He went by water-that is
to sea, as a cabin boy-and at IL shipped
''before the mast on sailing vessel. Ia
due time the young sailor reached Cali
fornia, where he expected to find his for
tune, and where he entirely realized his
expectations. Mining and banking made
Mr.. Perkins a rich man. and to this he
added the business of steamships on the
coasts of California, Oregon, British
Columbia, Alaska and Mexico. After
eight years in the State Senate he was
elected Governor of California. Two
years ago he came East, not as a cabin
boy by water, but across the continent in
his private car, to seat in the United
States Senate. And 40 years cover the
story of his ''roaming,' a story of real
ity far stranger than fiction.
Senator Germans education is summed
up in Just II words attended the pub
lie schools in his native county for brief
period'' That is all. But it is every
thing when said of man who, 20 years
after serving as a page in the Senate, took
his seat there United States senator;
who has been the power behind the Mary
land Democracy, and whose name has it's
place among those of candidates for the
presidency. MI. German has never
''roamed'' He was born in Maryland
His success and all that he is Senator
German owes to his native State.
The clerical element in Congress is not
apparent, though there are a number of
statesmen who have found politics more
agreeable and profitable than preaching.
Among the number is Senator Kyle, one
of the six Populists in the Senate. Mr..
Kyle was born in Ohio, was educatad in
Illinois, studied for the ministry i'll Penn
sylvania and preached in Utah, where he
was pastor of the congregational churches