The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1882-03-08
MR.. BLAINE's GRAFTON,
IN. O. states.l

Az VI SAASCSsj
The morning papers present in full
the eloquent grafton delivered yester-
day in the Hall of the House of Repre-,
sentatives by ex.Secretary Blaine or
the life of the late President. The
Grafton is truly eloquent and Indicate.
that the days of genuine oratory are
not yet wholly past. 1t was intima.
ted in some quarters that Mr.. Blaine
would have the bad taste to avail Linn.
self of this occasion to ventilate his
own wrongs and assail his Republican
toes. He did no such thing however
Indeed on hasty reading of the ora.
ton it appears to be singularly free Of
political bias and personal acrimony
This is what We at least expected, 70,
whatever else may be said of Blaine
it must he conceded that he is fight
or, and, therefore, it is not likely that
he would take advantage of such an
occasion to strike a foul blow which
his opponent could not return.
The opening and closing passages
of the speech illustrate it's tone. We
herewith append them
Mr.. President-For the second time
in this generation the great depart
ments of the government Of the United
States are assembled iu tue hall of re-
representatives. to do honor to the men,
DRY of murdered President. Lincoln
fell at the close of mighty struggle
in which the passions of men had
been deeply stirred. The tragical ter
mination of his great life added but
another to the heightened succession
of horrors which had marked so many
lintels with the blood of the first born.
Garfield was slain in a day of peace,
when brother had been reconciied to
brother, and when anger and hate had
been banished from the land. Who.
ever shall hereafter draw the portrait
of murder, if he will show it as it has
been exhibited where such example was
last to have been looked for, let him
not give it the grim visage of Molock,
the brow knitted by revenge, the face
black with settled hate. Let him draw,
rather a decorous smooth faced, blood
less demon, not 80 much an example
of human nature in its depravity and
in it's paroxysms of crime, as an infer
nal being, fend in the ordinary dis.
play of and development of his char
acter.
: I.
Great in life, he was surprisingly
great in death. For no cause, in the
very frenzy of wantonness and wick
edness, by the red hand of murder, he
was thrust from the full tide of this
worlds interest, from it's hopes, it's as
pirations, its victories, into the visible
presence 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 REIMBURSEMENT, but through DAYS
of deadly languor, through weeks of
agony, that was not less agony because
silently borne, with clear sight and
calm courage, lie looked into lis open
grave. What blight and ruin met his
eyes, whose lips may tell
what brilliant, broken plans, what
baffled, high ambitions, what snnder.
ing of strong, warm, manlood's friend.
ships, what bitter r,ndiDg of sweet
household ties! Behind him proud,
expectant nation, great host of sus-
tanning friends, cherished and happy
mother, wearing the full, rich ,ohors
Of her early toll and tears; the wife OF
his youth, whose early life lay in lis;
the little boys not yet emerged from
ehildhood's day of frolic; the fair young
daughter; the sturdy sons just SPRING.
ing into closest companiOnsllip, claim. |
ing every day and every dag reward
ing fathers love and care; and in lis
heart the eager, rejoicing power to
meet all demand. Before him, DESC
alton and great darkness. And his
soul was not shaken. His country men
we're thrilled with Instant, profound
md universal sympathy. Masterful in
lis mortal weakness, he became the
centre of nations love, ensl,rined in
he prayers Of world. But all the
owe and all the sympathy conld not
hare with him his suffering. He trod
he wine press alone. With unfalter-
ng front he faced death. With M.
ailing tenderness he took leave of
life. Above the demoniac hiss of the
ssassin's bullet he heard the voice of
Tod. With simple resignation he bow
d to the Divine decree.
As the end drew near. his earlv era.
ing for the sea returned. The state
mansion of power had been to him
he wearisome hospital of pain, and he
legged to be taken from it's prison
Vafls, from its oppressive, sitting air.
rom it's homelessness and it's helpless
ess. Gently, silently, the love of a
reat people bore the pale sufferer to
le longed-for healing of the sea, to
We or die, as God should will, within
ght of its heaving pillows, within
,und of its manifold voices. With
an, fevered face tenderly lifted to the
boiling breeze, he looked out wistfulfy
pom the oceans changing wonders;
. its far sails, whitening in the NOR
ing light; on the restless waves, roll
g shoreward to break and die be-
cath the MONDAY sun; on the red I
ouds OF evening. archlng low to the t
orlzOn; on the serene and shining $
athway of the stars. Let US think :
lat his dying eyes read mystic ,
Gaming which only the rapt and part
g soul may know. Let us believe )
lat in the silence of the recding world L
10 great waves breaking on further \
'ore, and felt already upon his was :
d brow the breath of the eternalIs
orDing. u
Consumption Cured.
An old physician, retired from ac- g