Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-08-28

Paris, Me, Aug. 27.-To commence
rate the memory of Hannibal Hamiin,
vice president of the United States
during the troublous years of the Civil
War, a huge boulder, placed by loca
citizens on lot directly in front of
the Hamlin homestead in which he was
born 100 years ago today and bearing
suitably inscribed bronze tablet, was
unveiled and dedicated today under the
auspices of Maine Commandcry, Mill
tary order of the Loyal Legion of the
United States.
General Joshua l.. Chamberlain of
Brunswick was chosen to preside at
the exercises, which were held in the
Baptist church at noon, and the
progress included the names of a num-
Der of distinguished speakers, includ-
ing Gov. Bert NJ. Fernald. Former Sec
rotary OF the Navy John d. Long, a
native of Ruckncld. Il ncighborine
town, Senator Eugene Hale, Charles
S. Hamlin of Boston and Rev. Henry
y. Forbes. j.. D., OF st. Lawrence Unl-
vcrsity, Canton, n. Y.
The following is the inscription on
the tablet:
HANNIBAL HAMLIN.
Born Near This Spot August y, 1879.
Speaker Maine House of Representatives.,
Member of Both Branches of Congress.
Governor of Maine.
Vice President of the United states.
Minister to Spain.
Friend and Counselor of Lincoln
IGNORING the Man, the iatflo'' the
Statesman,
The Citizens of Paris
And His Companions of the Name Com
mandcry,
Military order of the Loyal Legion
of the United States,
Place This Memorial. August -, l9'9
In his tribute to Mr.. Hamlin, Gov.
Fernald called attention to the Tact
that he was born the same year as
President Lincoln and was tn" first
to have suggested Lincoln's birthday
as Il national holiday. Gov. Fernalo
said:
Mr.. Chairman and Friends:
| need not assure you how deeply
I am impressed by the significance OF
this occasion and by this distinguished
gathering. | know fun wei, that you
are drawn here by the same impulse
that draws me hcrc-thc earnest desire
by our words, a fitting turn to this
commemorative day and to sp"--. our
% the fulness of the heart of the State
of Maine. the tribute that il is eager
to Law above the natal place of the
great Commoner. 1t seems to me to be
singulsrly happy that this is, as 1T
is-in other words, that this event,
which we are concentrating should
have been in this especially God-given
spot: that it should have been in the
year of 1903, so rich in events worthy
| of memorial. and that he, whose cradle
W.. can always seem to see rocking, in
| those August days a century ago. should
himself have been born in the same
wear as Abraham Lincoln, and himself
have been the first. as | believe Is the
fact. to have suggested Iincoln's
birthday as a day of national holiday.
We have Just done celebrating that
other centennal-not WE alone, but
all the world; and what is finer. what
| is more fit, than that we in turn make
| This Il holiday. this a memorial and j
wear of Joint remembrance to the two
great men who struck hands together
| in love. friendship and perfect under
etanding in the great crisis of this mt
tion in 1861? The one was born IN th'
new West, where the tide of slavery
was ,t full flood. The other was borr
here in old oxford county in the land 81
mountains. that have ever bred free