The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1882-03-10
Blaine on Garfield.

of the late President Garfield were held
in the hall Of the House of Repre-
esntAtiveB. Prior to 10 O'Clock A. NJ. adinis-
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 we're
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 filed 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 culora and somber
black was the prevailing hu6 of their costumes.
There were no signs of mourning IN the hall.
The full-length portraits OF the iato PRESIDENT
was hung just back of the chairs Of the presid-
ing officers being itself undrapeds
The three front rows Of desks ID the CHAM
Der had been removed and their places 1ccu-
pied BY large number Of chairs to accom-
fiodate the invited guests. The Representa-
lives were early in attendance, all being ar
rayed in black, and 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 1880 A. IL Generals Sherman, Sheridan,
Hancock, Howard and Mcigs, and Admirals
Ammen, Rogers und Rodgers entered at the
north door Of the chamber and were assigned
moments later the members Of the dip omatie
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 o. 1, tne olssrlc1,
headed by Marshal Henry were the next ar
rivals. DR.. Bliss was also in attendance. Mrs.
Blaine occupied 6 front seat in the gallery re-
served for the friends ofthe President
At precisely IL O'Clock the House was called
| to order by Speaker Keller and prayer was
| offered by the chaplain Of the House. Inc
sneaker then said: This day has been dedi-
Gated by the action of the two houses Of Con-
Qress to services in commemoration OF the life
| and death Of James Abram Garfield, late
| President of the 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 Presl-
| dent of the United States and his cabinet were
| announced. They we're 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 the day, James G..
Blaine, was announced, and his advent was the
| signal for round of applause. The cere-
monies wore then opened by a short prayer by
Chaplain F. d. Power, of the House, after
which President Davis said* sThis day is
dedicated by Congress for memorial services
on the late President of the United States,
| James A. Garfield. Ipresent to you the Hon.
| James G. Blaine, who has been fifty chosen as
the orator for this historical OCCASION
Mr.. Blaine then rose and standing at the
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
| G included Of ]. so r. H. having taksn Just an
hour and half in it delivery. AS Mr.. Blaine
gave utt6rance to the last solemn words, the
spectators broke into storm of APP
plause. which was not hushed for some
moments. Mr.. Blaine began his Grafton
by giving sketch of Garfeld's ancestry; then
adverted to the struggles of his early life; then
to his career as soldier, making special refer
ence to his honors won at Chicamauga; then
told how he left tho army for Con-
gress; sketched his career as legis-
4 lator, abiding to his skill in de-
| bate ,apd comparing him with other great po-
litieal leaders, wing he ssperhaps more near
ly resembled Mr.. Seward in his supreme faith
in the all-conquefing power ofSa princip az
next the orator spoke OF the dead Presidents
nomination and of his candidacy and election;
then referring to his life as President the
orator made mention of his assiduoas 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
IL ,1A.1 Ill
tsr referred to his religious views, saying
The religious element in Garheld's character
was deep and ealnest.' Finally after paying
| q tribute to Garfeld's lberality, charity and
| toicrance, Mr.. Blaine concluded as follows:
Great in life, he was surprisingly great in
| death. For no cause, IN the very frenzy of
wantcnness and wiekelness, by tie red hand
| of murder, he was thrust from the full tide of
| this worlds interest, from its hopes, its aspir-
atoms, its victories, into the visible pres
| ence of death-and he did not quail. Not
alone for the one short moment in
which, stunned and dazed, he could
| give up life, hardly aware of its re-
| linquishment, but through days Of deadly lam
guor, through weeks of agony, that was not
less agony because silently borne, with clear
sight and calm courage, he looked into his
open grave. What blight and ruin met his
anguished eyes, whose lips may tell-What
brilliant, broken plansi what baffled high am
hoods friendsh PSI what bitter rending of
sweet household tiesl Behind him a proud, ex-
pectantnaton great host Of sustaining friends,
cherished and happy mother, wearing the
full rich honors of her early toll and tears the
wife OF his youth, whose whole life lay in his ;
the little boys not yet emerged from child
hood day of frolic; the fair, young daughter !;
the sturdy sons just springing into closest
companionship, claiming every day and every
day rewarding a fathers love and care !;
and in his heart the eager, rejoicing power
to meet all demand. Before him desolation
and great darkness And his soul was
not shaken. His countrymen were thrilled
with instant, profound and universal SYM
pathy. Masterful in his mortal weakness, he
became the center of anati0ns love, enshrined
in the prayers of world. But all the love and
all the sympathy could not share with him his
suffering. He trod the wine press alone. With
unfaltering front be faced death. With unfail-
ing tenderness he took leave of life. Above the
demoniac hiss of the assassn's bullet he heard
the voice Of God. With simple resignation he
bowed to the Divine decree. As the end drew
near his early craving for the sea returned.
The stately mansion of power had been TO him
the wearisome hospital of pain, and he begged
to be taken from its prison walls, from its OPP
pressive, sitting air, from it's homelessness
and its horelessness. Gently. silently, the
love of q great people bore the pale sufferer
to the louged-for healing of the sea, to
live or to die, as God should viii,
within sight Of its heaying pillows, within
sound of its manifold voices With wan,
fevered face, tenderly lifted to the cooling
breeze, he looked out wistfully upon the
oceans changing wonders; on its far sails
whitening in the morning light; on its restless
waves, rolling shoreward to break and die be-
meath the MONDAY sun; on the red clouds Of
evening arching low to the horizon; on the
serene and shining pathway of the stsrs Let
MS think that his dying eyes read a mystic
meaning which only the rapt and parting soul
may know. Let Us believe that in the Silence
of the receding world he heard the great waves
breaking on further shore, and felt already
upon his wasted brow the breath Of the eternal
morning.
After the Grafton benedietion was offered by
the Rev. DR.. Bullock. chaplain of the Senate.
The marine band played the Garfield dead
march as the invited guests fled out Of the
chaTnhef in the sa1lla nrlet. in which theR had