The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-03-09
POST MoRTEM PRAISE.

stricken down, watched his painful
lingering, wept at his dying bed,
| supported the widow in her imme-
date bereavement, and finally re-
tired from place and power himself
before the advent of his friends an
| tagonists? Mr.. Blaine seemed to
feel the Importance of the honor
conferred on him, and which he &C.
copied only after some deliberation.
But from the moment that he con-
sented to become Garfield's panegy-
rist, he has abjured those social
delights he enjoys 80 much, and
shut himself up to prepare his
speech. He gave it the greatest
care, realizing that it would be one
OF the most significant efforts of his
life. Every one has been on the tip
toe of expectation regarding it, and
there has been noticeable keen ap-
probation of the dramatic signifi-
canoe of the orators position, chosen
as he was, to eulogize his murdered
chief in the presence of the distin-
guished enemies of that chief-and
of himself no less and there was
much sensational reference to a
certain famous, almost hackneyed,
scene from the bard of Avon, which
every schoolboy knows. and in con-
nection with it people were calling
him Marc Antony Blaine weeks ago.
Others who pretended to know him
best, prophesied that there would
be great deal more Blaine than
Garfield in that eulogy. They were
mistaken, though; even those who
believe that Mr.. Blaine's first, last
and only idol is himself, his sole am
bition the white house, acknowledge
that his speech was a rare monu-
ment of delicacy, tact truth and
power. And what a
SPLENDID AUDIENCE
it was gathered to hear him | The
most noted men in official, military,
diplomatic and social life of Amer
lea. The brilliant daylight flooded
the green and oak chamber of the
house of representatives, sitting like
gold dust through the printed roof
of glass, and lighted the orator
standing the center of thousand
intent eyes, the galleries rich with
splendidly attlred women, while on
the floor of the house semicircular
rows of seats, converging towards
the speakers desk, were filled with
crow like throng of distinguished
statesmen in black broadcloth, save
alone where the group of military
officers made glittering spot of
blue and gold, and where again, a
little break in the second row
showed out strongly all the queer
brilliant costumes of the nations of
the world on the persons of the
diplomatic corps.
The president, who came in
amidst
LITTLE BURST OF APPLAUSE,
"a very little one-sat in the front
row attIred in black, a Grape band
on his hal, black gloves on his hands.
He was just the same admixture of
Manhattan nobbiness and official
dignity that he always is. He looked
just solemn enough-not too solemn,
as the little boys say. Mr.. Blaine's
successor in the state department,
Mr.. Frelinghuysen, sat best the
president, looking in spite of his
handsome presence, somewhat me-
diOcre in comparison with his dis
tinguished predecessor. Attorney
| General Brewster was conspicuous
figure among the cabinet dignitaries,
with his painfully Scared face,
point lace rufiles falling over his
hands, his elaborate shirt front, his
coat of queer cut-a regular gentle
man of the old-very, very old
school. Near him was Bob" Lin
coin, the very peaceful secretary of
war, lounging ungracefully in his
chair, amid the erect and gallant as
sembly about him, very deteriOr-
ated representative of his colossal
father, whose fate and name were in
every mind there. Not far away
sat rare group of famous battle
SCARED veterans, whose names
are already historic-Sherman,
Sheridan, Hancock, Meigs and sew
eral others. Grant, among the SOL
diers, and Conkling, among the
statesmen, were only wanting to
give to the picture the necessary
element of artistic discord. The
senators and members of congress
completed the audience on the floor.
In the galleries sat their wives and
friends. In the gallery, directly
facing Mr.. Blaine, as he stood at the
speakers desk, sat Mrs. Blaine, with
Gail Hamilton beside her, and look
ed prouder and less aggressively
arrogant than ever before in her
life. She enjoyed her husbands
conspicuous honor even more than
he himself possibly could, and when
he entered the hall, leaning on Sena-
tor Sherman and Representative
Mckinley, and
THUNDERs OF APPLAUSE
greeted him, q dozen times louder
than that which greeted the presi-
dent, her eyes smiled though her
lips did not. She listened during
the hour and o half that he spoke,
with bated breath and proud APP
probation, as though she had not
been treated to ahundred rehearsals
of it before that moment, And
when it was over, and people
came up to her with praise
and congratulations on their lips,
as she went through the corridors
of the capitol to her carriage, she
smiled and said Eyes, it was beauti-
full speech 70
There was a natural. and in some
cases, perhaps, little
APPREHENSIvE CURIOSITY
to know how Mr.. Blaine was going
to treat the events of painful an
tagonism which preceded the as
sassination, and which had touched
himself quite as nearly as the pres
ident. You know already through
the press dispatches how delicately,
yet how treuchantly, he handled
that matter. But no one who was
| not present can imagine the strange
effect it had on his hearers. There
was sudden leaning forward, a
batting of breath, q whisper here and
there, a painful tension of expect
ancy, and when he dismissed the
subject concisely, and yet carefully,
the whole throng seemed to give
vent to simultaneous sigh of relief
audible and remarkable, while the
orator himself stopped deliberately,
wiping his mouth slowly, as if to
him, too, it had been something OF
an effort.
When the Grafton came to an end
il received such a burst of applause
as has seldom resounded in the hal
of representatives, and Mr.. Blaine
retired covered with glory and to
i q A n. II l.