The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-03-09
Dlaine's Tribute to Garfield.

SentatlyeS. PrOr to lO O'Clock A. NJ admlS-
sion to the capitol was refused to all save
members of the two Houses of Congress and
their employees, but at that hour the doors were
thrown open to persons fortunate enough to
hold tickets to the memorial services to
the late President Garfield, and before
half an hour had passed the galleries of the
House were filled to their utmost capacity. The
large majority of the spectators were ladies,
who, out of respect to the occasion, had for the
most part discarded bright colo,s, and somber
black was the prevailing hue of their costumes.
There we're no signs of mourning in the hall.
The full-length portrait of the late President
was hung just back of the chairs Of the presid-
ing officers, being itself undraped.
The three front rows of desks in the cham
Der had been removed and their places occu-
pied by large number of chairs to accom-
modate the invited guests. The Representa-
tives were early in attendance, all being ar
rayed in black, and a few appearing in full
evening dress. In the lobby, back of the
speakers desk, the marine band was sta
toned and from 10 o'clock until noon it
whiled away the tedium of the passing hours
by bursts of solemn music.
At 1130 A. NJ Generals Sherman, Sheridan,
Hancock, Howard and Meigs, and Admiras
Ammen, Rogers and Rodgers entered at the
north door of the chamber and were assigned
to seats to the left of the speakers desk and few
moments later the members of the dip, omatic
corps in full regalia were ushered in headed by
the Hawaiian minister, as dean of the corps
Their brilliant costume only served to throw
into stronger relief the dark attire of the
members of Congress who sat Immediately be-
hind them. The supreme court of the district,
headed by Marshal Henry, were the next ar
rivals. DR.. Bliss was also in attendance. Mrs.
Blaine occupied a front seat in the gallery re-
served for the friends of the President.
At precisely IL o'clock the House was called
to order by Speaker Kefer and prayer was
offered by the chaplain of the House. The
+l,o,, n. ,iu 1oxyh hoo dali
Gated by the action of the two houses of Con-
gress to services in commemoratiOn of the life
and death Of James Abram Garfield, late
President of tho United States. This house
| is now assembled and ready to perform its
part"
The resolutions setting apart the day for the
memorial services were next read by Clerk Nc
| Pherson.
At 1910 the Senate was announced, and all
rose respectfully as the Senators, headed by the
officers of that body, entered and took their as
signed seats. They were followed by the chief
justice and the associate justices of the supreme
court, dressed in their robes of office. Again
| the assembled multitude arose as the Pref
dent of the United States and his cabinet were
announced. They were accompanied by Sena-
tor Sherman and Representative Mckinley,
chairman OF the committee OF arrangements.
The President took the front seat on the right
of the presiding officers chair, next to that oc-
cupied by Cyrus w. Field.
At 1890 the orator of tho day, James G.
| Blaine, was announced, and his advent was the
| signal for round of applause The cere-
| monies were then opened by short prayer by
! which President Davis said: "This day is
| dedicated by Congress for memorial services
ou the late President of the United States,
James A. Garfield present to you the Hon.
| James G. Blaine, who has been fifty chosen as
| the orator for this historical OCCASION"
| at ba
clerks desk, Immediately in front of the two
| presiding officers, proceeded with impressive
ness of manner and clearness of tone to deliver
his eulogy from manuscript. The eulogy was
C included at 1.50 P. NJ, having taken just an
| hour and a half in it delivery. AS Mr.. Blaine
gave utterance 10 the last solemn words, the
| spectators broke into a storm of ap-
| pause, which was not hushed for some
moments. Mr.. Blaine began his Grafton
| by giving sketch of Garfield's ancestry; then
adyerted to the struggles of his early Ii e; tn n
| to his career as soldier, making special refer
ence to his honors won at Oh camauga; then
told how he left the army for Con-
| gress; sketched his career as a legis-
ator, alluding to his skill in de-
| bate, and comparing him with other great pc =
litical l. aders, sa ing he perhaps more near
| ly resembed Mr.. Seward in his supreme faith
in the all-conquering power of a princip e;"
next the orator spoke OF the dead Pre-ident's
nomination and of his candidacy and election;
th,n referring to his life as President the
orator made mention of his assiduous and
conscientious discharge of his duties while
in the presidential chair, and of his ambition
for the success OF his administration; after
speaking of the political events which dis
tnrbed the dead Presidents serenity the ora
tor referred to his religious views, saying
1.-THE religious element in Garfelds character
was deep and earnest" Finally. after paying
a tribute to Garfed's liberality charity an
tolerance, Mr. Blaine concluded as follows:
"Gi eat i'll life, he WAS SUI passingly great il
death. For no cause in the very frenzy Ut
wantonness and wickedness, by the red hant
of murder, he was thrust from the full tide o
this worlds interest, from its hopes, its aspir
atoms, its victories. into the visible pres
ence of death-and he did not quail. No
alone for the one short moment il
which, stunned and dazed, he coulC
give up life hardly aware of its re
lnquishment, but through days of deadly Ian
guor, through weeks of agony, that was no
less agony because silently borne, with clea
sight and calm courage, he looked into hi
open grave. What blight and ruin met hi
anguished eyes, whose lips may tell-wha
brilliant, broken plans! what baffled high am
biUionsl what sunderin2 of strong, warm, man
hoods friendships what bitter rending o
sweet household ties! Behind him proud, ex
pectant nation, great host tofsustaining friends
a cherished and happy mother, wearing tn
full, rich honors of her early toll and tears tn
wife of his youth, whose whole life lay in his
the little boys, not yet emerged from child
hoods day of frolic the fair, young daughter
the sturdy sons, just springing into closes
companionship, claiming every day and ever
day rewarding a fathers love and care
and in his heart the eager, rejoicing powe
to meet all demand Before him desolatio
and great darkness! And his soul wa
not shaken. His countrymen were thrille
with instant, profound and universal syn
pathy. Masterful in his mortal weakness, b
became the center Of a nations love, enshrine
in the prayers of a world. But all the love an
all the sympathy could not share with him HI
suffering He trod the wine-press alone. Wit
unfatering front he faced death. With unfai
J ing tenderness he took leave of life. Above til
demoniac hiss of the assassin's bullet he hear
, the voice of God. With simple resignation i
: bowed to the Divine decree. AS the end Dire
near his early craving for the sea returne
The stately mansion of power had been to hi
| the wearisome hospital of pain, and he beggt
. to be taken from its prison walls, from its o.
pressive, sitting air, from its homelessne
, and its hopelessness. Gently, silently, h
1 love of great people bore the pale suffer
. to the longed-for healing of the sea,
q live or to die, as God should wi
! within sight of its heaving pillows, with
: sound of its manifold voices. With wa
tevered face, teuderly lifted to the coolil
o breeze, he looked out wistfully upon ii
s oceans changing wonders; on its far sail
a whitening in the morning light; on its restle
4 waves, rolling shoreward to break and die b
meath the MONDAY sun; on the red clouds
d evening, arching low to the horizon; on I
s serene and shining pathway of the stars.
" us think that his dying eyes read mys
= meaning which only the rapt and parting &c
may know. Let us believe that in the slen
> of the receding world he heard the great way
a f,r4 md "a ais