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

from the dIs.racting noise Or the city.
night after night lui ed him to rest. he
peacefully and quietly dweit.
His brain largely conceived the Idea Of
those homes BY the sea, his hand pennesl
Inc words that shaped their government.
and 1t was mainly through his example
and influence that Inc mora! tone 81 thar
isla nj has been Of the highest ITS his
tory is a living monument to his princi-
lie dweit among his neighbors. quietly.
| without ostentation. AS though not aware
Strangers coming TO our island could
scarcely believe that the Iuiet. gentle
manly courteous man pointed out 10
| them as Congressman Dingiey, was the
same man OF whom they had read and
who stood 40 high at Washington. for no
| man upon our island was more unassum-
Ing than he ana yea ms n lasrn sce was ~, -
| "a adyOcatc any measure that was not
adOpted; his eaenestness OF manner and
his clearness Of expression always ca
| ried conviction Always ready and will
| ing to answer any proper question con-
| corning the affairs OF our state or eOun-
| try. | remember with gratitude the con
| yersat lions with him was. permitted 10
enjoy recall especially those concern
! ing the great national questions OF the
| mast few years the silver question, the
| iarifr and the Spanish war. in this lat
Ter affair / realized how near he stood "a
| The President and how important Il fac
| tnr he was In shaping the destiny Of
this country: learned from ms iips ,h@
! attitude of botn the President ana him
seif concerning the war. ana he said 10
me with an earnesiness J shali never Tor
| get view the matter 'is We may. the
| 1-nitad states have embarked upon il
,ours,. that will lead them no one knows
| where, bur of tins we are assured. thar
| whether we wish IL or not. the Simple
nv of the United States Of the past ~ Il
| ,,hiinr Of the past, and henceforth we
| shall take Il new stand among the ma
| lions of the world
.rhe extent Of his information upon va
/ rious subjects greatly surprised me. AMI
| i recall at this moment the last evening
i spent In his company. Some iegai
questions pertaining 10 the AFFAIRS 81 our
! island were discussed, and Mr.. DingItN
| rave trs his opinion WIN clearness Of
styl. that any lawyer mig M envy ana
| then the conversation turning upon ne
| war and finance he spoke of these mat
| tors and gave us figures by the score as
/ ready as though reading from boox'
! Again the conversation changed to th''
| history of our coast. ant. he related MANY
| Incidents In c,tnnec on with he early
| settlements OF Pemaqu.u, Monhegan aiid
| Fort Popham. that caused MS 10 look
win wonder upon the extent ~ ms M
| formation. His fInd of knowled2''
seemed lnexhaustlble. and from law to
! finance tn stale craft and 10 history. hls'
| mind passed with scarcely an effort.
| A few years ago. AT e.ie close OF a beau
tiful Sabbath day In August he adj
! dressed us In The open air upon fh.
! shores of our isia nd In coiiversat zion
| with him just before he began to speak !.
said Ia him. 1t must nc difficult for yoi
| to appear at your best when. consider
/, Ing the day. you would hardly expect
In. stimulus of applause you generally
| receive and he answered. Il care not for
| applause. the ciapping Of hands or the
| stamping Of feet make no impression up
| on me. If can have the eyes OF my au-
| dlence fixed upon me. If can have their
undivided attention | am perfectly salts
| fed Standing there in the open air.
| with head uncovered, with no sound sa*e
| the gentle puising of the sea upon the
| weather beaten rocks. and as the sun was
slowly sinking in The ocean he addressed
| us In such an earnest. impress-.e and
| conscientious manner. that the scene Will
| never he effaced from my mind. and am
| sure that he then received the reward
| that ne desired the earnest gaze and ui-
divided attention of his hearers.
| Born in the humble walks of life. with
/ no heritage of fame or fortune awaiting
him. Nelson Dingley by his own efforts.
friends slowly but surely climbed the
ladder of fame until he became great in
| the councils of the nation. and now the
grandeur of The man IS recognized by all.
| His career has not been brilliant or
swift. but by industry, honesty. faithful
ness. and uprighiness Of character he
trod the path from his birthplace upon
| hillside farm 10 seat in this House,
and those same principles secured for
him the highest office in tue gift az th..;
State. and right nobly did he MI the
| Congress 1t was years before he became
the leader upon the floor Of the llous,
years of patient toll, years of self-sacri-
ficing labor In the interests of his Stale
and ,.ts country. and he asked for no re-
ward save the consciousness of doing
right. Leader Of his avn party he was
more respected and followed ny his pu-
iitical opponents han any other me':iher
of that House
Trusted with the iunermos secrets os
the President and of e,ir government
hith oil hslka aris IL
| him. he never by word or look betrayed
that trust Honor him We ought. honor
him We must; his life. his virtues. conf
pei our admiration AMI command our re-
/ spec., for ne hnnpred every position
| which he filled
He loved this lard of his birth. he loved
| our rock-bound coast. against which, IN
! sunshine and in storm the ocean rails la
| cessanSly: our immense forests and ous
great lakes. our hills of granite, our fer
| tile valleys and our beautiful rivers
| which flow peacefully to the sea but
above all he loved and labored for those
| who chisel our granite. or hew our tim
Der for those who toll in our workshops
or upon our land, and for those who car
ry IN ships the prouucts of our skill ami
industry. for them he gave his efforts
and his life.
His work is finished his book is closed.
and turning over It's lages we read the
rich legacy he has left 10 his family. his
| friends. his State and his country II
/ legacy not If gold that might perish
with him. not Il reputation for base POW
| er that must soon he forgotten. hut a
legacy that is written in our hearts his
| noble character. He has left Il name i'm
perishablc in the history of our State; he
has lived life that with other strong.
honest. noble lives makes possible
| continuation of this land of The free. ana
| $" long as such men devote their enes-
g.es and lives 10 the cause of right 81
| long will this nation prosper.
God 9esse> s,iil the generous though.
And sun tie fitting word He speeds.
- a ,F,t,.