Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1882-03-02
IN MEMORIAM.
James Abram Garfield,
THE MARTYR PRESIDENT, HON
y ORED BY CONGRESS.
Impressive Memorial Service-A
Magnificent Grafton by Ex-
Secretary Blaine.


Garfield to- day in the ball of the House
of Representatives, with its attendant
scenes, formed one of the grandest events
in the history of America. Never before
had so distinguished gathering wit
messed such an event. No more distin-
guished gathering could have been
lnere In that historic place in which
mingle the echoes of now remote past
were assembled the representative brain
and chiyalry of grand ana glorious
Nation. That grand array of intellect
and craftsmanship of the fashion of tin
sci and lace was there to honor the
memory of one the poverty of whose
early wears the lowliest of those present
would not deigned to have noticed, and
by the power of his own individuality
rose to be a chief, ruler among men.
What a scenel What a lessoni How
much of the dead past was revised by
that wonderful viewi There in all the
vigor of physical health and manly Dig
niJy was the handsome form of the
President of the United States, There
were the master minds which made up
his Cabinet; the majesty of the supreme
Court; the giant intellects of the Senate
of the United States and the House of
Representatives, that exponent of the
will of fifty millions of people. There,
too, crowned with years and the honors
of a brilliant career of letters, was Ban
croft the Nations great historian, who
on a similar occasion, seventeen years
ago. pronounced the words OF eu-
logy over the memory of the sainted
Lincoln. whose son was one of the chief
mourners of the lamented Garfield.
There, too, was Washington's great phi
fanthropist, Corcoran, whom love OF
God had blest, and whose works among
his fellow men entitled him to that affec-
tion which they lay at his feet.
Cyrus Field, who, by an electric girdle,
had indissulubly united two worlds
sherman, the sound of whose foot
steps in that great march to the Sea will
never die in the glory of a Nation 1t did
so much to cement; Sheridan, who swept
the Valley of the Shenandoah with the
terror of fire and sword; Howard, whose
armless sleeve, silently, but sadly. told
the story of a wicked war; Hancock, the
fearless leader on many CORY field /;
Porter, who, with his fotilla of iron,
electrified the world by sweeping trium-
phantly past Vicksburg, the Gibralter
of the Lower Mississippi; Warden, COM
inander of the famous monitor, which
compelled the. naughty Merrimac to
strike its colors; in the grandeur of gold
lace and bright uniforms the Diplomatic
Corps, representative of all the proud
nations of the earth, were conspicuous
among those seated in front of the
Speakers desk. Thronged were the lob
bies, the galleries and the many ap-
proaches to the hall. Distinguished
guests, wives of Cabinet officers, of
members of Congress, of diplomats and
others were there. In keeping with the
mournfulness of the occasion, everyone
was attired in garments of a Sombre
hue, and throughout that rather long,
but never tedious service, there was the
strictest observance of that solemnity
and decorum which impressed itself
upon every visitor. Over the Speakers
desk and between the pictures of Wash
ington and Jefferson was hung portrait
of Garfield. The painting shows the
President standing, outlined against a
very dark background. s..-.
Seemingly from behind this picture
there WAS waited through the open
doors of the members retiring room the
music of the Marine band. As the soft
ened and subdued cadence of Nearer,
my God. to Thee" died away the grand
Strains of the victorious Christians
hymn, "Safe in the arms of Jesus" fell
upon the charmed ears, falling with a
wonderful meaning. ~, .r,ssl-.,t r.. s.
The arrangements for the occasion
were made with excellent taste and
were complete in their details. Senator
sherman and Representative Mckinley,
chairman respectively OF. the Senate
and House Joint Committees. aided
by the efficient services of Ser
yeant-at-Arms Hooker, left nothing
undone that called for their attention.
Promptly at 10 o'clock those holding
tickets were admitted to the rotnnda,
the column in waiting at the time stretch
ing down the long series of marble steps
and far out upon the plaza in front.
Members and officers of Congress were
admitted by the lower door of the house
wing. In twinkling, it would seem,
the galaries were filled to overtiowing,
and AN hour before the exercises were
to begiu every ticketholder put in an
appearance. Then ensued long period
of waiting broken only by the music of
the Marine band and the arrival of the
distinguished guests. Fred Douglass,
Cyrus, W. Field, w. w. Corcoran, George
Bancroft and George William Curtis
were among the earlier arrivals. Mar
shall Henry, at the head of the Justice
Of the District Court of the District of
Columbia, came soon after. i Then DIR.
Bliss, Generals Sherman, Sheridan. Han
cock, Howard, Meigs; Admirals Porter,
Warden, Rodgers. After the formal
opening of the House by Speaker Keifer,
exactly at IL o'clock, and prayer by,
Chaplain Power, and the reading of the
resolutions calling for the memorial ex--
ereises by Clerk Mcpherson, the assis-
tant deorkeeper at the door leading to
the Senate wing announced !: Mr.. Speak
er, the Senate of the United States
Headed by the President pro tempore
Davis and acting clerk Shaber they filed
in, ex-Senators Boutwell,, Bruce, VIII
liams, Cresswell and others following in
their wake, Then came the Justices of
the Supreme Court in their blue silken
gowns, and in few minutes afterward
President Arthur and his Cabinet, the
President tianked on his right by Sena-
tor Sherman and on his left by Repre-
sentative Mckinley. There was some
applause as this little procession enter
ed, the audience rising to its feet as on
each of the previous announcements of
guests. Lastly was announced: Honor
able Janus q. Blaine, the orator of the
day Again the. audience rose to its
feet, President Arthur with them, to
salute the distinguished orator. The
applause was marked. The President
satiOn the front seat adjuining the CEN
tral aisle, his Cabinet ON the front row
of seats across the aisle. Next to him
was Cyrus We Field, with whom he
conversation i.cd ni '-r'I
The program was simple. President
pro tempore Davis called the assem-
blage to order. The audience upon the
floor of the hall remained standing while
Chaplain Power offered PRAYER. The