Page:Portland, Oregon, its History and Builders volume 3.djvu/312

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306
THE CITY OF PORTLAND

the money that should be used for educational purposes. Mr. Brownell was president of the senate in 1902, 1903 and 1904, and continued as a member until 1906, since which time he has devoted his attention mainly to the practice of law. While acting as presiding officer of the senate, by a unanimous vote of both houses of the legislature, he was selected to deliver the address of welcome to President Roosevelt on the occasion of the president's visit to Oregon May 22, 1903. This was a distinguished honor. The address is an eloquent and beautiful tribute not only to the chief executive of the nation, but to the spirit of the people, whose representatives voiced their sentiments through the presiding officer of the highest legislative body in the state. The address is as follows:

"In behalf of the legislative assembly of the state of Oregon, we welcome you to this state. I know that I express the welcome of each member of both houses of our legislative assembly, irrespective of political creed. We welcome you as president and chief executive of the greatest people and greatest country in the civilized world. We welcome you also because we believe you stand for the highest ideals of American citizenship.

"We welcome you because we believe that in your personality you represent more strongly than any other public character in America the energy, the pushing and progressive spirit of all Americans.

"We welcome you because we believe that you represent and stand for the high and legitimate claims of labor and capital to unite without repression from either in the upbuilding and development of the material resources of this republic.

"We welcome you because we feel that we can see in you that same spirit that has been illustrated so many times by our fathers in this, that wherever we go as a people, wherever we stand, we stand for the right and a higher civilization; and 'wherever our flag is put, there it shall stay put. "We welcome you because we believe that you stand for the idea that a nation or a people can never stand still, that they must go forward and upward or else the race will retrograde.

"We welcome you because we believe that whatever problems we as a people have to meet, whether they be in the coal fields of Pennsylvania or on the Pacific sea or in the Orient, that you will meet them as the chief magistrate of this country in a spirit of high liberal statesmanship, all the time governed with the idea that what is right for us to have, that we shall have.

"And again, I assume the responsibility here of welcoming you in behalf of the Second Oregon Regiment of Volunteers who served eight thousand miles across the sea in the Philippine Islands to uphold the same flag that was so upheld by you and those under you on that July day on San Juan Hill."

On the 28th of September, 1876, at Rockland, Massachusetts. Mr. Brownell was united in marriage to Miss Alma C. Lan. Two sons have been born to them, Howard and Ambrose. Mrs. Brownell is a member of the Presbyterian church, and Mr. Brownell is connected with a number of fraternal organizations, among them the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Improved Order of Red Men, the Knights of the Maccabees, the Woodmen of the World and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. As is to be clearly seen by even a cursory glance at the salient points in the career of Mr. Brownell, he is a man of determined character. He is also the happy possessor of great resources within himself, which he can marshal when occasion offers. He is a live factor in the community and whatever his hands find to do he does with all his might. As a lawyer he has proven to be a safe counsellor, an able pleader and in the courtroom an opponent who gains the respect even of his bitterest adversary. He is a clear and forcible speaker, and has a mind well stored not only with lore gathered from law books, but with facts gleaned from the great fields of literature which have been his recreation and