Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1899-01-18
CONGRESSMAN DINGLEY.
Death of Names Honored Statesman
and Journalist.

Death of Names Honored Statesman
and Journalist.
Nelson Dingiey, OF lewiston, repre-
sentative to Congress from the second
district of Maine, and a most industrious
and most useful man in public life, died
in Washington Friday night at 10 80
O'Clock, of pneumonia.
Hon. Nelson Dingiey was born in Dur
ham, Me. and WIS sixty-seven years of
age. He graduated from Dartmouth col
lege in 1855. After leaving college lie
pursued the study of law and was ad
mitted to the bar, but being more in
clned to journalism than the practice of
law, he became, in 1856, one of the pro-
prietors and chief editor of the Lewiston
Journal. with which his connection con.
tinued until his death; even in late years
when his time was occupied with public
affairs, he directed the policy Of the pa
per, and wrote much for 1t.
Mr.. Dingley was one OF the first MEM
bers OF the republican party, and one OF
the sincerest believers in the justice and
truth Of the principles which 1t pro-
claimed. His abilities for pu bic station
were early recognized. He had a long
and active experience in the Maine legis-
lature, having served six terms in the
House, the first being in 1852, and the last
in 1873, two terms OF I he period Is speak er.
Holding places upon the most important
committees, participating in all i'm
portant debates, he acquired a practical
knowledge OF legislative movements and
State affairs. He was nominated for gov
ernor in 1874, and elected by nearly II 600
majority. He was reelected the next
year.
He was a delegate to the national repub-
lican convention in 1876. He was elected
to Congress at a special election in 1881,
to ill the vacancy caused by the election
Of William p. Frye to the United States
senate. He served continuously since,
and, next to Speaker Reed, was the recog-
nized republican leader in the House. He
was chairman OF the imp 3rtant ways and
means committee. He might nave been
Mckinley's secretary OF the treasury,
but refused. His final and greatest
achievement was in the last tariff legisla-
ton in Congress where he was in the
foremost of the battle and the measure
enacted bore hin name.
Congressmah Dingley came near to
being walking cyclopedia OF all political
and financial subjects rs any man in pub
lie life. He was the last man in the House
to do snowy things. He never "payed to
the galleries" or talked for .buneombe".
On the contrary he sat quietly by while
other men did 1t on INTEL, ctual capital
which they borrowed from him. He
never spoke except for he purpose of in
forming or persuRding the House, and
only at hat he regarded the COM
mand OF duty.
But rs he sat IN his seat, in his study,
at his hotel, his colleagues would come to
him for ideas and for information which
they needed for use in debate or in
speech making, and il all the speeches he
thus made by proxy were placed to his ac-
count, it would be found that he was the
most prolific man in Congress. The gem
erosity with which he thus distributed to
the necessities OF his colleagues WAS as
characteristic OF him a. his modesty. A
remarkable memory was one OF the dis
tinguishing features OF his remarkable
mind.
He had not accumulated this wealt h
without great industry. He was an indie
fatigsble, diligent and constant student
of books, affairs and facts OF all sorts, in
GLIDING men. He had no equal in debate
at short range which goes on in a CONVEX
sational way during the private consider
alton OF bill, and on the floor, in spite
OF the fact that he was not great orator,
he held his own against all opponents with
hon he crossed swords.
1t was not only his mental powers and
requirements, but his fine and true per-
sonal character which gave him the great
weig hit he had with his colleagues in COM
mittee and in the House. They knew
that he was absolutely honest, intellectu-
ally and morally, and they recognized,
too a confident courage which stands up
on settled convictions.
He was not society man in any sense,
and only went TO dinners when he had to.