The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1909-02-25

first and only lady ever filling the Grand
Worthy Patriarch chair of the State of
Maine, so far as know, was Mrs. L. c.
Darlington Of Portland, who is still living
and who has long been prominent in
temperance work. Maine has given to
the world few more logical, witty and
eloquent lady temperance orators than
Mrs. Darlington. 1t is to be regretted
that this order in Maine, which has
welded such a powerful influence for
good in our grand old State, is now near
ly extinct there being at this writing only
a few divisions in existence.
Speaking of the Civil War reminds me
that some nine or ten years before it oc-
cured Temperance Waterman club
movement sprang up and good many Of
these clubs were organized in the cities
and towns throughout the State. In the
early summer of 1852 a very large club
was organized in Belfast, and among the
prominent members was Judge Wood
bury Davis, who was born in Brooks,
VIM M. Woods, Col T. H. Marshall, c.
P. Carter, H. H. johnson and many
other well known and leading citizens of
your city. Among the active members
was Lemuel R. Palmer, a shipbullder,
and believe a brother of Capt. Geo. ID.
Palmer of Center Montville, who was I'M
doubtedly one of the ablest seamen OF
his day. When boy at the Center |
used to listened to his sea stories, and
often heard him say that there was
nothing more beautiful than full rugged
ship on the high sea- and also that liquor
was the sailors greatest foe. He voy-
aged around the world twice, but on a
distant and happy shore he is at rest
from sickness and pain and stormy seas.
One of the strong temperance leaders
Of our State before and after the Civil
! War was Hon. Lot M. Morrill,, who was
born in Belgrade in 1915, one of family
of IA children, among whom was EX-
Governor Arson P. Morrill,, who was also
strong temperance man. Hon. Lot M.
Morrill, entered Colby college, but did not
graduate, and soon after began the study
of law with Judge Fuller of Readfield.
Hon. Timothy O. Howe, Postmaster Cen
eral in Garfeld's administration, was also
student in the same office. At the age
of "a Mr.. Morrill, was admitted to the bar
and twelve years later moved to Augusta
He was first elected to the Maine Legis-
lature in 1853 as a Democrat and in 1856
was President of the Senate. 1t was
during this session of the Legislature that
he delivered his great speeches against the
removal of Judge Woodbury. Davis and
the repeal of the prohibitory law. These
speeches were perhaps the greatest he
ever delivered on the temperance ques-
tion although his speech in the United
| States Senate, when he branded the liquor
/ traffic on the floor of the greatest legls-
lative body in the world as the Gigantic
crime of crimes, - was mastery effort.
| These addresses, as well as his speech
against pledging the Democratic party
of Maine to any further concessions to
the extension of slavery in the territories
during the same legislative session, and
his denunciation of the National Demo-
cratic platform in 1856 as "a fragrant
outrage upon the country and an insult
to the North,'' ought to be published,
for they were among the most able and
eloquent speeches ever delivered in the
Maine Legislature.
In letter from Ex-Governor Sidney
Perham, written several years before he
died, he wrote: 81 have a vivid recolec-
ton of the great speeches of Hon. Lot
M. Morrill, against the removal of Judge
Davis and the repeal of the prohibitory
law during the legislative session OF 1856,
and also the change to the license system
during that year and then again from
license to prohibition in 1858, and am
certain that no temperance man who
recollects those times will ever, vote to
repeal the prohibitory law
''Hon. Lot M. Morrill, was Governor In
1858, was elected to the United States
Senate to fill vacancy for the term
ending in 1868, and reelected for sue
cessive terms. In 1876 he was made
Secretary of the Treasury under Presl-
dent Grant. He died in 1883 at his home
in Augusta at the age of IS years, and
thus passed away one of the pioneers IN
the founding of the Republican party and
one of the first great leaders in the Or
ganized prohibition movement IN the
State of Maine Long will his name live,
long will it stand among the brightest
stars as lover of temperance and hui
mainly.
"Oh bright is the name of this hero and sage,
1t will shine like stars through the dimness o.
age;
His deeds are inscribed on the pages of story
Forever to live in the sunlight of glory.
Sufferers who saw they have tried every