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

Evans. feGseHueIt, IIu"H"t
DiDgley are names that stir the n'ood
Of the sons of Maine.
His services 10 the public ana TO hu-
mainly are not finished. The purity OF
his character. his modesty ana SIM
plicity. the intenseness Of his purpose
have left an indelible impression me
good he did lives after him.
Representative Domain OF Hepro"
said:
Your Excellency and Gentlemen OF tee
Assembly:
Ii Is with gratitude to my associ-
ates that | am given an opportunity oi
paying a word of sribute 70 sne ihei"-
ory Of the great congressman whom
earth has lost and Heaven has gained.
our words. today. are OF little conse-
ouence except as they express our III
| diyidual appreciation Of those guam
| ties Of mind which characterized the
man and his work.
A gentleman vi eminent quaiif1ca-
| tions and ample opportunities ior
| knowing, speaking in commentator "i
i the remarks of his pastor at the run
| e; al service said: There was OF MT.
! Dippley that which was both good and
1 great. and to exaggerate either. is To
! do an Injustice to his memory.
OF :ha. which was great-of his
/ great work in life. 1t is for those to
! speak who. by personal association,
knew him best.
or its grand results and benefits To
his fellowmen. those qualified by long
experience in the greater affairs of
men may judge them.
Today. | would pay tribute to that
| which was kind and good in Mr. Ding
ley's life. as made manifest by his
work. And in that work, his benefi-
| cenca was not characterized by indi-
. yidual preferences so much as by a
breadth Of mind. a keen Judgment Of
| what would bring to his people the
| most good and the greatest blessings.
| His kindly nature. united to his 10y
atty to duty. held his mind in active
exercise. 50 that nothing should escape
his notice wherein he might do for his
people. An when by virtue of the high
position he occupied as chairman OF the
committee to provide ways and means
for the government. the people of the
wh.ple country became his constituents.
and he was found equal to the require
merits of a nation.
W.sh all his emnence and the great
prestige he had won he was not given
to offering his opinions concerning
great questions unasked.
We recall one instance when out of
the kindness of his heart he spoke that
the people might be saved from the un-
! necessary anxiety and the business
men from an alarm that was liable to
bring disaster to the business interests
of the whole country.
When in November last. the senator
\ from Ohio was understood to say that
the tariff was to again undergo revi-
sion. to meet the requirements incident
To the war with Spain. his words had
hardly reached the masses. on their
mission of danger to the great centers
of II ade. before ii was flashed on light
ming winds throughout this great land.
that there would be no revision of the
tariff. Contingencies were provided for.
and business continued in the even
tenor of its way. undisturbad. for Nell
son Dingley had spoken.
As the statement of the misquoted
senator from Ohio was supposed to en-
body he views If the administration.
this timely act of our congressman
was the more grand. He risked the
prestige he had gained by years Of toll.
that ne might do his people kindness.
and in their hearts they thanked God
for this man. who could quiet their
fears with such authority and assur-
aEce.
AS "A citizen and neighbor. my first
impression of Mr.. Dngley was formed
under circumstances we'll remembered
by his friends. He had Just returned
from abroad. Three months of his time
had been devoted to the study of the
Irish question. il then agitated
America as well as all Europe True
to the nature of the man. he had
chosen to go to the source of the
trouble to study it, From the abject
misery of the Irish novels. he had come
to a land of plenty and home of lux
ury. To be once more among trusted
friends. and his beloved neighbors. so
affected his generous nature. that his
soul overfiowed with a joy have never
seen equalled. In recent converse
1 ton he told me that he never knew
what IA glorious thing it was to be an
American citizen. until he had lived
through this home coming.
The highest to which a man may at
tain in lie is to become ii; for the
the Lord 10 make use of him in His
care ana control of the universe 1t is
from this standpoint that we may ac-
| count for much that we know of In
the lives and works of Washington.
:, Lincoln and Grant. of Webster. Clay
and sumner. and of our own Hamlin.
Blaine and Dingley.
One of the most cherished memories
of my life is that this noble man made
some use of me. in extending his kind
ness to others.
4 desire for knowledge and a strug-
gle in gaining it. whether by school
boy or man. challenged his deepest in
terest
| was accustomed to send to Mr.
Dirgley for books. reports copies of
speeches and government literature
for the students of HEBRON Academy.
In preparing themselves for debates on
questions pertaining to our govern
ment. and essays in graduating exer-
i cises. etc. they had come to depend
I upon our representative in Congress
4 as one Of their ready and most valued
4 sources of information. Words once
reached him that it was feared that
i the students We're encroaching upon
\ his time. giving him trouble or at least