Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-02-16

| 80 sss4AS 04Alt& A1lS nAEs y j.
TO 2 peculiar degree Lincoln repre-
sented the Joys and; sorrows. the Aspi
rations and ambitions, the thought, tn,
life and the intelligence Of the grea
commonalty OF the nation.
| Upon this cOmmOnalty rests tn,
strength and endurance of this nation
the permanence of our institutions.
From this commonalty have sprung
| all its great political leaders.
No man has yet risen to enviable
eminence in this nation whose heart
has not beat in sympathy with the in.
telligent thought and conscience Of the
people,
Demagogues arise in abundance who
Tor time may deceive the populace
out the test comes when man occu-
pies positions of public confidence and
trust for long term Of years.
There is no X-ray known to science
that penetrates like the glare Of the
public eye when brought to bear upon
the life and character OF public
servant.
Tried by this supreme test, I believe
Nelson Dingley win go down to poster
ity as one of the most useful and emil
nent public men the State or Maine has
produced.
For more than a quarter of a century
ne has been prominent figure in pub
lie affairs.
Who. now that he is gone mourn
mis- death? Go out among the people
IN his own city. throughout the State.
or the nation even. There you will
ma the mOnrners. There you will hear
earnest and sincere expressions Of re-
greet at his untimely taking off.
This TO my mind is the most striking
testimonial to his character, the sub
FINEST tribute TO his memory.
II shows that he had in no common
degree touched the hearts Of the peO-
pie and impressed himself upon them
as worthy of their confidence and es-
TEEN.
They saw here a man whom they
could trust. for during Il long public
career extending over a period when
party passions had been aroused to the
highest pitch. the hercest political on
ponents had never questioned his hon
esty or his integrity. lie was without
blemish in public as well as in private
life. They saw Il man whose daily life
ennoblei labor. FOR he was q mighty
worker himself. The conventionaiities
and enjoyments of society. exr,isablc
ana necessary though they may he
within certain limits. had no nttrac-
tons for him, for he had no time to
play.
To'him life was real, life was earnest.
They saw a man coming from out the
common walks of life, who by honest
and Industrious effort had become u
leader among the rulers of mighty
nation at a time when the nation burst
ing the bonds of provincialism had
taken its proper place among the great
world powers of the age, and yet who
had never forgotten his simplicity of
manner and address. and who was as
aproachable by the plainest citizen as
when he was tOiler at the press.
They saw a man of courage and
conviction in public affairs. who. with
consistent purpose. labored and legis-
lated for the greatest good Of the great
est number.
1t is no wonder that the death of
such man in the full strength of his
power and influence came to our peo-
pie with a sense of personal loss.
They felt that in his death they had
lost safe man in the halls Of legisle-
ton and a wise and prudent man in
the councils of the State.
l do not wish to claim for Mr.. Ding
ley any merit which is not justly MS
due, for if l knew the man, nothing
was more distasteful to him than ex-
travagant or undeserved praise. but it
can be justly and truly said of hun
that he was one of the best examples
of that high type of manhood which
represents the best thought and con-
science of New England.
The people Of this State, while 4
his death, have just reason
for congratulatiOn that their State has
produced SO worthy figure in national
affairs, and to the youth of the State
his example will be beacon to lead
them in the paths of good citizenship
and political integrity.
Senator Plummer of Penobsc0t said:
Your Excellency and Gentlemen of the
Assemblys
Although Nelson Dingley was born
g. years ago today in the home Of his
maternal grandfather. near THAT noble
river within the sound Of whose falling
wate:s his entire private business HE
was passed and his home permanently |
several years of his early |
childhood were passed at his fathers |
home, among the everlasting hills Of |
PiSCataGuis county. in FROM Of that !
grand uplift of mountain brows."
Which extends across our State from
A abraham and his fellows on the. west
10 old Katahlin-king of mou1tains-
IN the east. And who will ever know
now much of the high ambition. noble
separation and exalted gsentimen. of ;he
man was due to THE influence of the
natural environment of
nose childhood days?
There too. among as industrious AMI
lard- working people as ever forced
, rocky and unwilling soil to, yield
hem the necesSaries and comforts of
life. may have been stimulated that re-
prediction for unremitting
ab,r. which distinguished his whole
rfter life. and made ilustrious his
public career
This is not a fit occasion to attempt
complete sketch of Mr.. Nngley's life,
Tor a careful analysis of his mental
lEd mo:al traits: and passing by the
ecord of his useful and distinguished
service of four terms on the floor of
his hail and two terms in the chair;
passing by the story Of his masterful