EUGENE HALE --- FRANK LAMBERT DINGLEY, LITT. D. Sprague's Journal of Maine History Vol. VI Nov. Dec. 1918, Jan. 1919 No. 3 Page 98-100 Contributed by Androscoggin Historical Society http://www.rootsweb.com/~meandrhs Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm EUGENE HALE---FRANK LAMBERT DINGLEY, LITT. D. Within the short period of 36 days of each other two of Maine's great men departed this life. Frank Lambert Dingley of Auburn died at his home in that city September 21, 1918, and Eugene Hale of Ellsworth died in Washington, D. C., Oct. 27, 1918. Mr. Dingley was born in Unity, Maine, Feb. 7, 1840, and Mr. Hale was born in Turner, Maine, June 9, 1836. Frank Dingley was a graduate of Bowdoin, was strictly a newspaper man and among the greatest of American editors and publicists of nationwide fame. Eugene Hale was not a college graduate but from the public schools and Hebron Academy passed to the study of the law and became a lawyer of ability in his day and when a young man entered the political field and for 30 years as United States Senator from his held a high place among the American statesmen of his time. We couple their names together for they belonged for a life time to the same political organization; each loved and strove for what he conceived to be for the best interests of his state and his community and each had high ideals and were fearless in following and defending them. And yet they were often at variance in their dis-cussion of public questions of the day. Certainly no man in Maine and but few in the country was ever nobler type of the radical than Mr. Dingley, and Eugene Hale's Maine will ever be a shining example among conservatives. As time passes and adjusts the problems which vexed them it may disclose that their differences were not as fundamental as they themselves believed, when in the heat of battle. Probably it will be seen that they arose from each standing at widely separated view points. The noble character and impregnable integrity of, each as pub-licists was never assailed nor even suspected :by their bitterest foes. In the history of the advancement of civilization we see stalwart leaders like these two Maine men upon its every page and they are immortals. It is such strong, positive characters as these, who, standing fearlessly in the ranks of both the conservatives and the radicals for many centuries in the past have been the impelling force in the progress of the Anglo Saxon race. There never has been and never can be but one test for true man-hood; to dare to follow ones own honest convictions and dare to change when one is convinced that he is wrong. Dingley and Hale both loved the state of Maine, and wrought for her welfare and the people of Maine loved them and will ever cherish and revere their memory. Frank Lambert Dingley and Eugene Hale were noble sons of Maine. On October 30, 1918, the following message of condolence was sent to U. S. Senator Frederick Hale, son of the deceased: In this, your hour of sorrow, as you mourn the death of your revered father, the late Senator Eugene Hale, who was so widely known and hon-ored, Governor Milliken and the members of the Executive Council desire to express to you and your mother not only their sincere sympathy, but the sympathy of the entire State as well.