Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-01-14
The Late Nelson Dinqiey.

aDIe lOSSs SelQOm In the history u the
republic has it been the lot Of any
statesman to enjoy, in so marked de-
American people. Today, all shades of
political opinion, all differences re-
garding. questions of public policy are
lost sight Of, as a great people join in
expressions of profoundest sorrow at
the death of the distinguished man
whose life, during SO many long labori-
Gus years was devoted with unselfish
and untring zeal to the service of his
country.
The career of Mr.. Dingley forcefully
illustrates the possibilities of Ameri-
can citizenship. 1t is a shining exam
pie of what industry, integrity, and
tenacity of purpose may do to bring
man to the front under our system Of
government.
While Mr.. Dingley was naturally
man OF broad vision and great mental
activity. the scholarly attainments
that have so distinguished him among
the eminent men of his day, were the
immediate result of we'll directed, un-
firing effort. The processes of his
mind were clear and logical. He was
methodical in llthings. Whatever he
did was done thoroughly. So PANS
taking was He in ali Of, his researches.
so straightforward in all his dealings
with men, that even his political OPP
ponents never thought of questioning
his statements of fact. Mr.. Dingley
was not a man to skim surfaces or be
content with generalities. Whatever
subject he investigated he carried into
it's minutest details. He appreciated
the power of definite information, and
no man in American public life had a
greater fund Of it at his command.
But all this. while it strengthened him
in his clearly defined and we'll consid-
cred views upon great questions OF
public policy, did not make him dog
matte He was broadly tolerant in his
relations with his fellow men. and was
ever found. Throughout his long and
distinguished public career he was al
ways in close and sympathetic touch
with the plain people.
Mr.. Dingley was clean man in all
the relations of life. He was an ar
fectionate husband and father. gener-
Gus friend, a patriotic and upright cit
izen The sterling integrity of his
character was known of all men. Amid
all the alurments of an eminently sue
cessful public career, he maintained the
simplicity Of life and modesty Of bear
ing that were always characteristic of
him He was, all his life, democratic
and cordial. and there was in his ma
ture no trace of snobbery or affecta-
ton.
AS the leader of his party upon TIL"
floor of the National House of Repre-
sentatives, Mr.. Dingley had ample OPP
portunity to display the wide range of
knowledge and readiness in debate
which enabled him to strongly main
tain his position and grow rapidly in
the appreciation of the American peo-
pie He was an ideal man for the
place, cool, level-headed. even temper
ed and full of resources. The strong
est men of the opposition found in him
foeman worthy of their steel. The
greatest men of his own party learned
to have an abiding faith in the sound
ness of his judgments. He held a po-
stion of conspicuous power and re-
sponsibility, one which constantly
made large demands upon his strength
and resources and the verdict of his
tory must be that he was equal to them
all This, too. is the judgment of his
contemporaries. He played a larg5
part, on a large stage, before a large
audience, and played it we'll. Few men
have ever been more prominently IN
the public eye, than has he during th4
past lew years, ana the leTcc llSI'
that has shone upon his every act and
word, has only served to reveal more
clearly the strong. firm lines of his
well-rounded character.
Mr.. Dingley. long ago, out-srew II
the range of his work the limits of his
own State; but Maine gave him to the
nation. Her citizens had a just pridt
in his expanding public career. an(
while a great people mourns his loss
i, will bring special sadness to the peo
pie of his own State. who loved hin
for his own attractive and inspiring
. personality. even more than they ad
mired his just eminence in America.
public life. To the people of his ma
tive State he was SO we'll known tina
they never considered his national rep
utation apart from the magnetic quail
tiles of head and heart that constitute,
him loyal citizen, a warm friend.
generous neighbor. To them he was al
ways close and real