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


memories of his academic days and put
himself in sympathy with us and our
Interests and ambitions, 1t was the
loutbubbling of his very instincts ana
temperament.
Hannibal Hamlin the politician,
honored be the title, is dead. Hannl-
bal Hamlin the statesman, yet hves'
Engraven in the history of their coun-
try and glowing today with living hre
in our hearts, are the names OF Abra-
lham Lincoln, and of Hannibal Hamlin..'
Charles S. Hamlin of Boston, Hanni-
bal Hamlin's second cousin, said, In
ITO my mind. perhaps the most con-
spicuous trait of Hannibal Hamlin was
his good Judgment and unerring COM
mon sense, which, coupled with states
manship of high order and lofty pa
triotism, have projected his life into
our country's history SO that he stands
forth not only great leader of men.
but, as well, wise Trainer OF laws,
at time when leadership and leg1sia-
tive capacity was imperatively called
for by the Nation.
The period of time covered by his
useful life embraces the most critical
period of the history OF cur country,
period during which there was de-
veloped from foundation well laid
but not too secure, an imposing struc-
ture of government admitted by all
to be, both Ideally and in fact, the most
successful Republic in the worlds his
tory.
Hannibal Hamlin represented. per-
haps as well as any man in our history,
those who firmly believed in the pres
ervation of the sovereign rights of the
individual States which had not been
transferred to the National govern
ment. In fact he may be said to be
one of the conspicuous leaders among
those who were bred under the inspira-
ton of the States Rights doctrine. I'm
der Ills leadership that doctrine stead
ily developed. Side by side with it,
however, was the doctrine of the Other
school which emphasized and stood for
the power Of the National government.
While in theory, as 1 have stated, there
was no necessary conflict between the
two, yet in practice the history of our
country has been but a record of the
conflicts between these two schools OF
political thought as recorded In the
legislation of Congress and of the
States respectively. For many years
in fact the so-called states Rights doc
trine marked the dividing line between
The two principal parties.
II think it can be stated with con-
fdence that Hannibal Hamlip, to the
time Of his death. never departed from
those fundamental ideas as to the
rights of the individual States which
he had imbibed from early boyhood.
The unreasonable, extreme application
of those ideas however, became repel-
liant to his keen intelligence and his
broad craftsmanship and finally his
conscience compelled him to leave the
party which insisted upon such appli
cation; yet he stood fast to the ideas
themselves as an essential part Of the
foundation of our great government,
believing them in no degree inconsist-
ent with the broadcast National de,
velopment.
I'VE hear much at the present time
as to the necessity of increasing the
National power at the expense of the
power of the individual States and
many questions have arisen in which
there appears to be inevitable conflict
between the two. l feel that to solve
these problems properly we need men
of the constructive genius and states
manship of Hannibal Hamlin.
eff he were with us today he would
be among the first in proclaiming the
doctrine that every subject embraced
within the powers granted by the Con-
stitution to the National government
is, and should be, within the absolute
supreme control of that government;
on the other hand, he would vigorous
ly stand for the powers retained by the
States and would defend and maintain
them as the very bulwarks of our lib
erty.
Hannibal Hamlin was faithful to
every trust He was loyal to his State
He was true to the Nation. We owe to
his services, in material part, the fact
that freedom, not slavery is the con-
nerstone of our Republic and that all
men, black as well as white, can gather
together as citizens under the folds OF
the flag of the United States"
To my mind, perhaps the most con-
spicuous trait of the man was his good
judgment and unerring common sense
which, coupled with craftsmanship oil
high order and lofty patriotism, have
projected his life into our country's
history so that he stands forth not only
as great leader of men but wise
Trainer of laws at time when leader
ship and legislative capacity were i'm,
peratively called for by the Nation.
The period covered by his useful life
embraces the most critical period O.
the history of our country; perio(
during which there was developed fror
a foundation well laid but not too Sc.
cure, an imposing structure of govern.
ment admitted by all to be both IDEAL.
| and in fact the most successful Repub
| lie in the worlds history. In the build
ing up of this structure Hanniba
Hamlin played an important part.
We should never forget that unde
| the Constitution the people of tn,
United States owe allegiance to M
personal sovereign, or ruler. They ow'
allegiance to our government-and thi'
allegiance is two-fold-to the govern
ment of the State as well as to thu
/ r