The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-03-01
a Svnopsis of Blaine's Speech.

The Galveston News Washington special
gives the following synopsis of Blaine's speech:
Washington, February 27.-The hall of the
house of representatives was densely crowded
to-day, the occasion being memorial services
of the late President Garfield, with Secretary
Blame as orator of the day. The address was
disappointment to those who expected that
the occasion would be used for the purpose of
outlining the speakers views upon political
questions and replying to attacks made upon
him by his enemies.
Blaine confined himself almost strictly to the
life and character of Garfield, and only men,
toned political topics incidentally in connec-
ton with his subject. He began by saying it
was the second time the senate and house had
met together to mourn the loss Of president
struck down by the hand of an assassin.
Guiteau he described as decorous, smooth
faced, bloodless demon; not so much an ex-
ample of human nature in its depravity and
paroxysms of crime as an Internal being-a
iend in the ordinary display and development
of his character. Then followed mastery
sketch of Garfield's life, evidently the work Of
one who loved him we'll His early struggle,
military career, political services, oratorical
powers and early advance to leadership were
graphically and eloquently portrayed. The
most striking feature Of this portion of the adj
dress was Blaine's comparison of Gar
field with Clay, Douglass and Thaddeus
Stevens, of whom he said the greatest was
Clay. Garfield could not do what they did,
but could do what they could not, and in
breadth of congressional work he left behind
what would longer exert political influence
among men, and which, measured by the Sc
we're test of posthumous criticism. would Sc
cure more enduring and more enviable fame.
The presidential life, he said, did not yield
Garfield pleasure or satisfaction. Its duties
were distasteful to him and unfavorably con-
trasted with his legislative work. He was,
however, assiduous and conscientious in their
discharge, and at the very outset exhibited ad.
ministrative talent Of high order. He was
ambitious of inaugurating policy that would
harmonic the sections, and as means to ef-
feet this he was anxious to visit the south and
speak to the people. He was disappointed in
this, being compelled to give up his proposed
trip to Nashville and the Cowpens centennial
celebration by press of public duties. He had
arranged, however, the Atlanta Cotton Expo
sition and Army of the Cumberland reunion in
the fall, and even as early as June he was
turning over in his mind what he should say
on those occasions to promote his object. At
Yorktown he would have alluded to the asso-
cations of hundred years that bound the
two sections together. AT Atlanta his pur-
pose was to encourage material development
in the south as means to further strengthen
the inter-dependent interest of the sections,
while at Chattanooga he would have alluded
to the war only as binding stronger together
the bonds of the Union; but the fatal bullet of
Tuly second prevented him from realizing his
patriotic purposes.
As an incidental allusion to the Monroe
doctrine, Blaine said Garfield was a man of
strong convictions, mingled with caution, and
was in no danger of being led astray by EN-
pirical projects, but that he was true Ameri-
can and would not have concealed the fact
in his foreign policy, where he Beloved that
closer attention should be given to questions
affecting the material interests and CONNER
cal prospects of 5000. 600 people.
The political event that preceded the presi-
dents death were sparingly alluded to by Mr..
Blaine. He declined to use the language of
the controversy, but said this much must be
said in behalf of him whose own tongue was
sienced forever. From the beginning to the
end of the controversy he so much deplored,
the president was never, for one moment, ac-
tuated by any motive of gain for himself or of
losses to others. He did not harbor revenge, |
rarely showed resentment, and malice was not |
in his nature. There was not a moment from :!
the time that controversy sprung up until the |
fatal shot was fired, that the president would !
not have retraced any steps he had taken if /
such action had involved consequences perso-
nal only to himself, but after the most anxious
deliberation and coolest survey of all the cir
curnstances, he solemnly believed that the
time -honored prerogatives of the executive
were involved in the issue which had been
raised and thafhe would be unfathful to his su-