The Republican journal., 1904-12-22
SENATOR ffSSfNDfN.
How q Great Statesman Went Home to
Take Care of His Flower Garden.

VII " WV .OO6tv3~ 6tNo
How q Great Statesman Went Home to
Take Care of His Flower Garden.
A few days ago in rearranging my
books to make places for some new pur-
chases, came across the memorial adj
dresses on the life and character of
William Pit Fessenden, delivered in the
Senate and House of Representatives
December IA, 1859. In scanning them
over they brought back to memory
those stirring days of reconstruction
Immediately following the close of the
great struggle between the North and
South and the part taken in them by
Senator Fessenden. How the storms
as mighty as the greatest thunder bolts
lowered around him when he refused to
obey the whip of his party leaders and
work and vote for the impeachment of
Andrew johnson! and yet in only a
little while, as Father Time counts the
years, Senator FeSSenden was called to
stand at that bar upon which stitch
the greatest and last Judge. And in
those few years between the time when
the thunder bolts were hurled at him,
and his entering into that eternal rest,
public opinion, and the opinions of his
colleagues, had changed to a feeling OF
great admiration and firm endorsement
OF his stand taken in the Senate.
Would that every young man of our
present day could read those memorials
on the famous Senator from Maine and
profit thereby!
The following are few lines taken
from the memorial addresses:
Senator Morrill, of Maine said: His
character rested on a granite basis, and
sustained the structure of lofty pub
lie virtue and private integrity. Through
all his public life and services there
shines the luster of a gifted and noble
manhood, of tried patriotism, and dis
interested devotion to worthy ends and
aims.
Senator Sumner of Massachusetts
said:
Most faithfully and constantly did he
watch the interests intrusted to him.
Here he was a model.
Senator Anthony of Rhode Island,
said:
1t is not given to men to achieve per-
lection, else this would not be state OF
discipline; but of those elements which
60 towards it few possess so many as
did Mr.. Fessenden, conspicuous less for
the tleeting graces that adorn char
acter than for the solid virtues that dig
Nifty and enoble it.
Senator Williams of Oregon said:
When Mr.. Fessenden arose to address
the Senate, it will not be irreverent to
say that so far as the subject under dis
cussion was concerned he was gener-
ally able to say: Let there be light and
there was light
Senator Trumbull of Illinois said:
Mr.. President, while these last rites
are taking place, even though unsolicit-
lowed the occasion to pass without lay
ing upon the grave Of our departed
brother some token of my appreciation
and regard; and though the flowers |
bring are gathered by the wayside, they
represent love and a respect no less
sincere than those which have been
more skillfully selected and arranged for
this occasion.
Senator Cattell of New Jersey said:
His colleague and others have fifty
spoken of his public career, and it may
safely be left for the pen of the histori-
an to complete the record. My pur-
pose is more simple and grateful one.
l bring from the garden of the heart
few fresh modest flowers dripping with
the dew of affection, to cast upon the
grave of the friend l loved.
About the year 1924 VIM. Pitt Fes-
sender taught the village school at Lew
iston Falls, coming up from BOWdOin
colledge to take charge of the school. At
that time Representative Brooks of
New York State was clerk in the
village store at the Falls. The two
young men became companions. Rep
resentative Brooks on the floor of the
House said:
His unhinching devotion to duty, his
love Of independence, his fearlessness,
his determination to do his duty, no
matter what because of himself person,
ally. He went with his party when he
thought it was right and nothing on
earth could induce him to go with his
party when he thought it was wrong.
Representative Peters of Maine said:
Quick, though cool and cautious, and
in purpose independent and bold.
Representative Lynch of Maine said:
AT home he lived quite retired, pass
ing most of his time with his family and
in his garden and library.
Long years after these memorial ex-
ercises l paid my first visit to Washing
COll AulOuS tllo uIduy OUJeCCS OIL III
terest to be seen l desired to visit the
then very small Government conserva
tory. To obtain this privilege it was
necessary to have the endorsement of
some one prominent in government
affairs. By the kindness of Senator
Frye, who requested that be permitted
to visit the conservatory, l was allowed
to do so. The gentleman in charge was
a Mr.. Smith, who as boy and man had
served an apprenticeship in the famous
Kew Gardens, London, and by the in
fuence of some one of our ambassadors
to the court of st. James had been in
duced to come over here and assume
charge of the Governments conserva-
tory. l spent several hours in the con-
servatory with Mr.. Smith, whom I |
found to be one of those loveable char
acters who had found his right vocation,
and was happy when in the midst of |
his work in those lighthouses.
When he found that 1 was from
Maine and knew something of Senator
Fessenden's home city, it was the tails
man to awaken the old mans memories
of Senator Fessenden. He was thor
oughly conversant with the great strug
gle and hardships from 81 to IS, and the