Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-12-17
Senator Hoar's Eloqucrce.

TIE elcquence of Senator Hoar OF
Massachusetts,. is of the highest type,
and as he in his character represents
what is best in American manhood, so
in his public speaking he is the en-
bodiment Of the grandest traditions OF
american oratory. The closing adj
tons centennial last week, of which
brief abstract was at that time given
in the Journal, was a splendid utter
ance of this cultured scholar ana
strong statesman at his best. 1t VIII
stand the test of time. we are sure,
and be rated as among the hnest
things spoken by the masters of ora
tory Senator Hoar has won many
laurels on commemorative occasions.
but we doubt if he is credited with
anything more admirable in thought
and expression than this summary OF
what the century has seen accom-
plished in our country's capital. Note
also the graceful tribute TO Senator
Lodge near the close of tie section
which we quote:
Here for a hundred years free
people have enacted a great history.
with its great achievements and It's
greater self-restraints. Here have
been enacted the laws under which
thirteen states have become forty-fve
states, and the country which at first
covered a little space by the side OF the
Atlantic. has spread until 1t covers a
continent and its portals are upon
both the seas. Here has been VII
messed the sublimest spectacle that
can exist on earth-a great and free
people governing itself by law hlgher
than its own desire A country where
every man has his equal voice must
in its legislation sometimes exnloit
the infirmity common to humanity.
But. in the MAN. faith and honor and
duty have triumphed in these halls
over selfishness and passion and ambl-
ton Here the interests of capital
have been protected by the votes of
labor: here debtors have fixed in good
faith the value of their payments to
no constraint but their own sense of
duty. determined. in spite of fearful
temptation. to continue TO bear the
weight of a vast debt; here the policy
Of dealing with the conquered was de-
cided at the end of a long war by the
votes of the conquerors. among wnom
every other family was in mourning
for its dead. and not drop OF blood
was shed and not a punishment eN-
acted Here finance and currency,
with their subtleties surprising the
subtleties of metaphysics. have been
dealt with by the plain sense OF plain
men. Here great public ways connect
ing distant oceans have been PROVIDED
for. Here the manufacturing indie
nendence of America has been
achieved Here the great measures
have been framed and enacted under
which millions of men have been raised
from slavery to citizenship and mil
lions more welcomed from foreign
lands Here a disputed title to eNecu-
tive power has been peacefully settled
under circumstances that would nave
.drenched any other land with blood.
And all this has been accomplished
under the restraints OF a written Con-
stitution.
Here. also. in yonder silent chamber
have been pronounced the judgments
under which the powers of nation ana
state have been kept each in It's ap-
nointed sphere. as the planets are kept
in their@courses. without noise and with
ort iar This has been the record OF q
single century 1t has been the RECORD
If the achievement of earliest youth
The men who have wrought TINS MIS-
tory knew we'll what they were dong
There has been no drifting into en-
miro They have but seen what they
foresaw. The man who is 70 write
this story. as Bancroft might nave
written it. as Nacaulay might nave
written it. as he who gave US the pest
nortraiture of Washington IN HleF
,rrra before Massachusetts called MN
to another service-called him from
writing history to making lt-might
have written It, has not yet begun hIs
| task But it will vet be written. IL
win he written t. be read OF an men,
as the one best story, 50 1ar' OF COZ
y-itutional liberty, protected and vlndl-
Gated by law. according TO the Will oI
4 r,acDlp