Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-05-07


Near the close of the vear 1920. Mr..
severance went to Washington and
secured position in the Office Of the
national IntelIigencer where he re-
manned. with slight interruption. until
the 1aiI OF 1924. when he Joined his
fortunes with Mr.. Russell Eaton, a fell
low printer. and came to Augusta.
maine. at the invitation of It's citizens.
LOT the purpose of establishing the
Nenneoec Journal. the first number Of
Which they issued the eighth day of
January. 1925. 1t did not take Mr..
severance long to give his paper stand
ing IN the community. and to make
himself recognized power in the poll
ties of the State. He did not seek
political honors; but they soon came to
MN. nevertheless. In 1929 he was
chosen to represent Augusta in the
Maine house of Representatives. In
1885 and again in 1886, he was elected
to represent the county Of Kennebec in
the State Senate. His next political
honors came in 1910 and 1912 when he
received elections to the State House Of
Representatives. In 1S43 he was elected
to represent his Congressional district
at the national capital He continued
in this position for four years, winning
an honorable place in the national
councils by his breadth of view his
wide range of Information, and his de-
votion to principle. No man in the
National Congress at that time had so
extensive and accurate knowledge of
the tariff question as he, and the mas
terly speech which he delivered there
upon this subject. May 3. 1874, may still
be read with profit by the student Of
economic problems. Mr.. Severance's
Congressional career terminated March
4. 1S47, and he Immediately came home
to take his seat in the State legislature.
to which he had been elected the pre-
vious autumn as the representative
from Augusta.
In June, 1850, he was appointed by
President Taylor. United States Com
missioner to the Sandwich Islands, and
sailed for there with his family from
Boston,ili the ship Gentoo, the 10Th of the
following August. The voyage was a
tedious one: but they reached their
destination in safety the 18th day of Jan
uary 1851. His service there was sue
cessful in the highest degree, and he
endeared himself to the people of the
islands and obtained an influence with
them greater than has ever been oh
tanned by any other man. The King
even went so far as to offer him the
position of secretary of Foreign Affairs
the highest office in his gift, if he would
consent to remain upon the islands; but
the alurements of the place had no
charm for him. for with failing health
came an irresistible desire to pass his
Ia CT in Il
the people who had become very dear
to him through the associations of
quarter of a century. He. therefore
sailed for home after residence of two
years and eleven months in Honolulu
arriving in Augusta, April l., 1854
Here he fingered along in gradually
failing health. but undiminished intel
lectual strength. as is evidenced by his
constant contributions to the Kennebec
Journal during those days when he
was calmly awaiting the final sum
mons. until January 25 1855. when he
passed peacefully away. His remains
were inferred at the Forest Grove
cemetery where a plain marble head
stone now marks the final resting place
of one of the truest men. and one of the
greatest editorial writer's our State has
ever known.
The names of two other Kennebec
editors who attained national reputa-
tons will always be linked together
because of their close association in
newspaper work. from November 10,
1854, to October 8, 1857, and the warm
personal friendship that characterized
their relations through life. The careers
of James G. Blaine and John l.. Stevens
are too well known, and too fresh in
the public mind, to require special
mention at this time. AS newspaper
writer's there were strong points of re-
semblance between Mr.. Stevens and
Mr.. Blaine. Both were trenchant
writer's and each was master of pure
English style. Mr.. Blaine was better
reporter than Mr. Stevens, and the ele-
ment Of playful satire and humor was
found to a greater extent in his writ
ings. He was peculiarly happy IN his
use of smile, and his ability to illus
trate his points by reference to the
facts of history, both local and general,
in which he was widely read, was al
ways strong feature of his work,
His style was breezy and his theme
never lacked live interest. Mr.. Stevens
was seen at his best in controversy.
His style was far more didactic than
Mr.. Blaine's; but was direct and Wig
IOrous. If he lacked, to some extent,
his colleagues subtle power of analysis,
he was strong in analogy. He dealt
sledge hammer blows, never failing to
detect the weak spot in an opponents
armor, and to direct his attack there
with telling effect. Mr.. Stevens lacked
the impulsive temperament of Mr..
Blaine. He was cautious to a degree
but having made up his mind to a
course OF action he pursued it with I'M
flinchinS courage and tireless zeal. He
was an earnest student, his knowledge
| of geographical matters being specially
comprehensive and accurate. Together
Mr. Blaine and Mr.. Stevens constituted
an ideal newspaper team. and made the
Journal power in the life of the State.
Another of the early editorial writer's
of the kennebec valley who won wide
distinction in his profession, was the
late Daniel T. Pike. Mr.. Pike had a
long and cventful newspaper career,
but his best work in this line was done
upon The Age, the predecessor of The
New Age of this city, between the
years of 184S and 1856 While the ele
ment of humor was always marked
| Of Ar ;Eo's Io