The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1882-03-02
LAST CURTAIN DROPS.
President Garfield Officially Bu-
> ried in Congress.
Memorial Services Held in Washing
ton-Ex-Secretary James G..
Blaine's Eulogy.

WASHINGTON, February 27.-The cur
tain fell to-day on the last act of the
great tragedy. James G. Blaine per-
formed the last office for the dead Pres
ident. His speech is universally COM
mended, although, of course, points OF
criticism are made against it. Those
who expected one of the characteristic
theatrical performances of Blaine were
disappointed, but the sober sense of the
audience pronounced the eulOgy fit
ting and proper one. He rounded the
really difficult point, that of the cOntrO-
Versy between COnkling and Garfield, in
happy manner, giving Offense to no
one, and even eliciting the praise of the
StalWaTts who feared he might take Oc-
casiOn to animadVert upon them. His
eulOgy lacked pathOs, and the only man
in the vast audience who appeared at
all moved was President Arthur, who
occupied very embarrassing position,
as he has ever since the assassination.
The most affecting spectacle of the
day, however, was the whilOm bounced
Collector of Customs of New York, now
President of the United States, leaning
on the arm of John Sherman, late Sec
retary of the Treasury, who Joined
Hayes in demanding the removal of
Arthur in order that the affairs of the
office might be honestly administered.
When the two marched down the main
aisle of the House in loving embrace, as
it were, it excited more feeling than the
whole of Mr.. Blaine's rhetorical effort in
behalf of the late administration, of
which he claims to be the legatee. Gar
field was buried to-day. COnkllng. Will
be confirmed tomorrow, and Gulteau
may be hanged on the Both of June.
PROCEEDINGS IN DETAIL.
WASHINGTON, February 27.-PriOr to
10 O'Clock this morning, admission 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 hold
ing tickets to the memorial service OF
the late James A. Garfield, and soon the
galleries of the House were filled to
their utmost capacity.
At precisely II O'Clock the House was
called to order by Speaker Keifer, and
prayer was offered by the Chaplain. The
Speaker then said:
"This day has been dedicated, by the
action of the two Houses of Congress,
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 it's part"
At IL o'clock the Senate was an
nOuneed and all rose as the Senators,
headed by the officers of that body, en-
GbEbu anu bOOh bll6lI dSSlSu6u oOdJbs
They were followed by the Chief Justice
and Associate Justices of the Supreme
Court, dressed in their robes of office.
Again the assembled multitude arose as
the President of the United States and
his Cabinet were announced.
At 1870 the orator of the day, James
G.. Blaine, was announced. The cere-
monies were then opened by short
prayer by Chaplain Power, of the House,
after which President Davis said: This
day is dedicated by Congress to memo
rial services of the late President of the
United States, James A. Garfield. l pre-
sent to you the Hon. James G. Blaine,
who has been fitly chosen as orator for
this historical occasion"
The grafton is too long to appear in
full in our columns. We make two eX-
tracts, one cautiously referring to the
dissensiOns in the Republican party
consequent on the appointment of Col
lectOr Robertson, and the other to the
Presidents wOunding and death.-Ed.
DEMOCRAT.
DISTURBING ELEMENTS.
"The political events which disturbed
the Presidents serenity for many weeks
before that fatal day in July, form an
important chapter in his career, and, in
his own Judgment, involved questions
of principle and of right which ara vi
tally essential to the constitutional ad-
ministratiOn of the Federal Govern
ment. 1t would be out of place here
and now to speak the language of con-
trOversy; but the events referred to,
however they may continue to be
source of contention with others, have
become, so far as Garfield is concerned,
as much matter of history as his hero
ism at Chickamauga or his illustriOus
service in the House. Detail is not
needful, and personal antagOnism shall
not be rekindled by any word uttered
to-day. The motives of those opposing
him are not to be here adversely inter
rupted nor their course harshly charac-
teriZed. But of the dead President this
is to be said, and said because his own
speech is forever silenced, and he can
be no more heard except through the
fidelity and the love of surviving
friends. From the beginning to the end
of the controversy he so much deplOred,
the President was never for one nom ent
actuated by any motive of gain to him
self or of loss to others. Least of all
men did he harbOr revenge, rarely did
he even show resentment, and malice
was not in his nature. He was con-
genially employed only in the exchange
of good offices and the doing of kindly
deeds.
PRERoGATIvES OF THE EXECUTIVE.
"There was not an hour from the be-
ginning of the trouble till the fatal
shot entered his body, when the Presi-
dent would not gladly, for the sake of
restoring harmony, have retraced any
step he had taken if such retracing had
merely involved consequences personal
to himself. The pride of consistency, or
any supposed sense of humiliation that
might result from surrendering his pO-
sitiOn, had not feathers weight with
him. No man was ever less subject to
such influences from within or from
without. But after most anxious de-
Liberation and the coolest survey of all
the circumstances, he sOlemnly believed
that the true prerOgatives of the Exec
utive were involved in the issue which
had been raised, and that he would be
unfaithful to his supreme obligations
if he failed to maintain, in all their
vigOr, the constitutional rights and dig
mites of his great office. He believed
H.. -..k.-