Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-08-28
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that he never hesitated between what
he thought was right and what he
Thought to be solely for his own inter-
ests. I, II the two conflicted he chose
the path OF public service. This made
him great; this crowned his life with
Something better than mere success:
this made him fit to be set in the same
frame With Abraham Lincoln; this en-
dows this spot on which we stand to-
day as hailowed with ten thousand
memories or his sweet and gentle TIA
ture, his kindly wit, his broad human
sympathy and his devotion to the right
His majestic abilities, his unique in
tellectual achievements, his political
sagacity could not alone have accom-
plished this Other men have had these
and failed Others have been equipped
with all that make men great only to
become little. At the height of his
career Hamlin sacrificed his apparent
future; broke with the political faith OF
his fathers; renowned the party of Cal
l1oun and Douglass in which he was
born and for the sake of his self respect
and at the cost of an influence that had
made him for generation the favorite
son Of the old democracy of Maine,
allied himself with new cause that
seemed hopeless and helpless. The
democracy was in the full flush of its
power; it had endorsed the repeal OF
the Missouri compromise, and had
stood forth in it's national convention
as the aggressive pro-slavery force OF
the land. The speech of remuneration
by Senator Hamlin in the U. S. Senate
was An epoch in his life. 1t was the
death of his hopes and ambitions; it
was apparently his political suicide.
yet 1t was but a part of the creed Of
the man who for IL years had fought
slavery within his party and who for
sock the party only when it became
evident that further fight On that field
was useless. He could row follow the
impulses of his heart and they led him,
in the passing of the next few years;
Of storm and stress, to the side of
Abraham Lincoln, for Senator Hamlin
became the leader and the hero of Il
new party in Maine, and that Iarty,
animated by the spirit of freedom,
swept the pine tree state for Hanni-
bal Hamlin as Governor by an unpre-
cedented majority IN 1856 and soon af-
ter sent Hannibal Hamlin back again
to the u. S. Senate as an unfettered
champion of human rights. and there
by placed him on an eminence from
which he was called into the seat of
power at the right hand of Lincoln in
1861.
If we dwell on this it is to empha-
size solely Mr.. Hamlin's loyalty to
principle. Men wavered in those days.
Those who wavered fell; those who
stood straight marched, on and on
reckless of their fate in the advance
of the flag of freedom. The incident
typifies Mr. Hamlin. He was loyal. He
was loyal to the democracy until 10y
atty was qualification. He was loyal
to Lincoln. He was loyal to the Union
throughout the war The soldiers of
the Union army never had a warmer
friend than was Hannibal Hamlin. I
have recently received from the State
Historian. Mr.. Henry S. Burrage, j
hitherto unpublished letter. recently
found among some of Governor Israel
Washburn's. papers, which shows Mr..
Hamlin's earnestness for the cause OF
freedom. and which letter am permit
ted through the kindness of the State
Historian to read to you for the first
time. 1t is as follows:
New York, Apr 80, 1861.
Dear Governors:
p arrived here this morning The de-
votion of our people of all classes is
heart cheering. The whole country is
wild with excitement. / have time to
say but few words and those l deem
Important. While Maine should act
with all POSSIBLE DISPATCH and
have her one regiment in the field at
the EARLIEST PRACTICABLE mo-
ment. still. before they are sent from
home be sure and have them all well
uniformed and equipped. Be sure of
that. I trust the legislature will put
at least ten more regiments upon a
war footing. ready to march at an
hours notice.
tl.t Yours truly.
az H. HAMLIN."
Mr.. Hamin was especially loyal 20
MS native state. He was loyal to
his neighbors He was loyal to HIM
self and to the memory of those true
hearted people from whom he had de-
scended. Upon his retirement from
Office as vice president he became COL
iector Of the Port of Boston under An
drew Johnson. Again he saw his duty
IN self sacrifice, for he resigned this
Office of great emolument beca use. as
ne said. he could not acquiesce by his
silence in measures that sought to re-
store to power men who had sought to
destroy the government He again re-
turned to the United States Senate,
where he served through the admins
trations Of General Grant and during q
portion of that of President Hayes.
UNTIL at the age Of ~, he voluntarily
Withdrew from his proud position as
the father of the senate in influence
and In wisdom, in order to make way
Ior younger men then coming upon the
Heid OF action. Mr. Hamlin hoped to
pass the serene twilight of his life at
MS nome in Bangor but he was again
eaiied into active political life in the
campaign of Mr.. Blaine Later he was
appointed United States Minister 20
'he court Of Spain, resigned after a
wear OF service and early in the
eighties came back to Bangor to
hVe among his old friends whom