The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-06-01
this address is now in the archives of the

this address Is now IN the archives of the
Massachusetts Historical Society. On
Washington's retiring from the meet
ing, resolutions were unanimously adopt
ed agreeing entirely upon the policy
which he had recommended. Just be-
fore this meeting it is said that Wash
ington went to Col. Brooks to ascertain
the precise situation. Chief Justice
Parker of Massachusetts, writing in re-
gard to this says: Finding him, as he
expected, to be sound, he requested him
to keep his officers in their quarters, to
prevent them from attending the in
surgent meeting. Brooks replied: "Sir,
l have anticipated your wishes, and my
orders are given" Washington, with
tears in his eyes, took him by the hand,
and said: "Col. Brooks, this is what l
expected from you"
After the war, Col. Brooks, like most
of the other officers, found himself u
poor man. He was, however. immedi-
ately appointed major-general of the
third division of the Massachusetts mill
tia, and was subsequently often chosen
a representative to the general court of
the commonwealth. In 1888, as men,
Der of the State Convention to ratify
the constitution of the United States,
he took an active part in the debates of
the convention. He was for several
years senator from the county of Mid
dlesex, and a member of the executive
council. In 1895 he was appointed by
Washington marshal in his district, and
inspector of the revenue, and when the
army of the United States was organ
lied in 1898 he was designated by Wash
ington for the command of brigade, an
honor which he declined. He was adju-
tant-general of the State of Massachu-
sets from 1872 to 1915. and in 1916 was
elected governor of the commonwealth,
serving for six successive terms. Gov.
Brooks was assiduous in the discharge
of the duties of his office, and was SO
fortunate in allaying the great party
dissension which at that time existed in
the State, that affairs were brought to a
gratifying condition of internal harmony
before he left the executive chair in
1922. There was nothing of the partl-
san in him; his addresses to the legisla-
ture evincing broad and liberal views re-
garding State policy. To quote again
from his biographer, Chief Justice Bar
ker: "He maintained the dignity of the
office, and thereby honored the people
who bestowed it. Bred in the best school,
of manners, his department, though
grave and dignified like Washington's,
was nevertheless warm and affectionate.
On all ceremonious occasions, ceremony
seemed to become him better than any
one else. If the writer does not mis-
take, he was one of the last and best
samples of that old school of manners
which, though it has given way to the
ease and convenience of modern times,
will be regretted by some as having car
ried away with it many of the finest and
most delicate traits of social inter-
course"
In 1922 Gov. Brooks retired from poll
teal life, though he still continued to
hold positions of Importance, being presi-
dent of the Massachusetts, Medical Soci
ETY., the Massachusetts Society of Gin
cinnati, the w ashington Monument So
ciety and the Bunker Hill Monument
Association. In his private life he de-
voted himself to the cultivation of his
farm and extensive scientific and politi-
cal as we'll as general reading. Har-
ward gave him the degrees of M. D. and
LII. D. Gov. Brooks died at his home
March 2, 1925, leaving an only surviv ng
son, Lieut.. Col. Alexander Samuel
Brooks, U. S. A.