Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-03-21

HS lAAle anu IIiJtS ~
Hamlin, by his grandson. Charles Eu-
gene Hamlin: illustrated: published by
subscription: Cambridge: printed at
the Riverside Press.
Any work by member OF Hannibal
Hamlin's family dealing with the
events in his long and distinguished
career would be sure to attract much
attention, when, however to the excep-
tional facilities for securing data pos
sessed by such writer. Is added the
strength and charm of delightfully."-
clear and graceful literary style. the
work is necessarily one of absorbing
interest
No man has ever retained through SO
long a term of years the hold upon the
affections of the citizens or Maine and
the regard of the American people. that
was enjoyed by Hannibal Hamlln.
Other men from this State have sur
passed him in many of the elements OF
greatness. but none has excelled him in
all of them He was many-sided
man, rugged in his integrity, loyal In
his friendships, fearless In ms conVlc-
lions. industrious and Dainstaklng In
all things. He was at all tines, IN ms
long and notable career. in close ana
sympathetic touch with the plain peo-
ple. OF all the men who nave gone
forth from our State in years past to
attain eminence in the wider field OF
national affairs, none has had a great
er faculty for making and retaining
strong friendship.
~ and nilDllt services
acquire "A special Importance from the
stirring times in which they We're cas.
and the momentous issues with "hich
they were indissolubly connected.
The task of preparing c"mpi"hen-
sive. and accurate biography OF su'h
"A man must of necessity nave p'e''
both difficult and cXacting. ihe very
sunerabundance of material caIieu io'
n iudicious discrimination. ana pains
taking thoroughness. 1t is only just 10
cav that the author has accomplished
the work most admirably. T" 1t mas
given the earnest efforts or three
wears, and the result leaves niue 10 ot'
desired. The book VIII take RAM
among the strongest works OF do
graphical nature ever published In ms
country. 1t will have an eXceptiohai'y
wide range of interest. and VIII DE OF
specjal value to the people OF Maine
among whom Mr.. Hamlin achieved ms
earlier successes in his long public ca
reer. He was always an approachapie
man entirely cordial and unaffected in
his manners. and it is not surprising
that the people of his native s'a'e'
among whom he was for SO many years
q friend and neighbor. as well as po-
tential force in public AFFAIRS. sh"uiu
specially cherish his memory.
In presenting the life OF ms distlh-
yuished grandfather Mr. c. f.. Hamiih
gives us a brief review OF the '"'"''
cenealogy He passes then to the child
hood of Hannibal at Paris and notes
carefully many of the influences that
had "A part in the moulding of his char-
acter. Many incidents OF interest ana
importance for the side lights they
throw upon the subject of the volume
lend interest and impart ViVidness 10
the narrative. We see the young
Hannibal a strong, energetic. AMBITIOUS
country boy, a leader among his play
mates and q favorite with all VINO
knew him. exhibiting in his carrier
wears those notable qualities or head
and heart that so distinguished him IN
later life. We see him. upon the death
of his estimable father, sadly relin-
ouishing his cherished ambition to Sc
cure a college education, and returning
home to devote his energies to carrying
ing on the old farm, and furnishing
s,,pport for his mother and sisters.
We see him. later. when circum-
stances had made it possible, a law stu
dent in the office of General Samuel
Fessenden Then comes his early ca
reer as practicing lawyer. his mar
rage and removal to Hampden.
Naturally the brilliant young attor-
ney was soon hOnored with poiitlcal
preferment, For five successive years
he served his constituents az MEM
her of the Maine House OF Represent
tatiyes. At twenty eight years of age
he was the speaker of that body. the
Youngest man at the time who had
ever held this responsible position.
The career of Mr.. Hamin in Con-
gress is wildly portrayed. AS the au-
thor says. he came to the national capl-
tai at time when the slave power
not content with controlling the entire
South, was beginning to extend the in
stitution in the hope that it might con-
troll the entire country" In Mr.. Ham,
lin the friends OF liberty found an ear
nest and fearless friend and supporter
He rose rapidly to prominence in ma
tional affairs. and in the good opinion
of the eminent public men with whom
he was brought in contact. Naturally
his stronghold upon his party AT home.
brought him into prominence as can
didate for the United States Senate
and. i'm 1S4S, he was elected to that
body over four strong competitors.
His record in the Senate is one Of
determined opposition to the arrogant
and growing encroachments of the
slave power When he found that the
Democratic party was irreVokably
committed To the pro-slavery cause he
determined to leave it. and six days
after the nomination OF James huehan-
an as the presidential candidate of that
party, on June IL. 1885, he rose in his
place in the Senate and announced that
he could no longer maintain political
associations with party that had, in
national convention, Endorsed and an-
proved of the repeal OF the Missouri
compromise. He closed this notable
speech, which made a profound i'm
preston throughout the whole country,
wit l,, TaID a