Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-03-01
ma. BLA1NEs MASTERPIECE.

much as 1t is an almost perfect example OF
what should be comprised, and what avoid
ed, IN such circumstances. And as it is in
these degenerate days very unusual tc meet
with so faultless composition, we propose
to examine it in some detail, to point out
wherein its beauties consist, the skill
which marks its limitations, and the ad-
mirable taste which eleyates and ennobles
the whole of it.
We may preface our critical observations
by remarking that there seemed reason to
fear a different outcome on this occasion.
Mr. Blaine has won reputation for politi-
cal oratory which was rot calculated to
help him here, for the traditions and
precedeuts of that school of eloquence
tend toward meretricious ornament and
ford and tawdry sentiment, and therefore
are more apt to hinder than help the
speaker who desires TO do a great and grave
subject full justice. Mr.. Blaine, too, has
vivid and warm Imagination, and natu.
rally leans towards the Oriental in his in
teilectual expression. Moreover there
has been such flood of cheap and fimsy
emotionalism poured cut over the death of
President Garfield that it had really be-
come very hard to discern and keep to the
lines Of true art and pure taste in prepar
ing this eulogy. But Mr.. Blaine has sue
ceeded in the most thorough and satisfac-
tory manner, and in achieving this triumph
he has shown once more how true it is that
the completest simplicity constitutes the
most moving form Of expression, and also
the highest.
His Grafton is plain, direct, modest,
natural. His applications of the lessons of
Garfeld's lifs are noble and edifying. His
characteriz 2tion Of the man is sufficiently
discriminating to avoid the suspicion OF
fulsomeness, and sufficiently just to win
the approval of the intelligent for the
praise it contains. In following the course
of Garfield course which, however re-
markab!e it would have been in Europe,
cannot be so regarded in this land of
rapid mutations, democratic independ-
ence, and justifable ambition-he has cen.
trivei to indicate not coarsely, but subtly
the particular qualities which stood his
hero in stead at each new crisis
Of his life. For the most part he has
we think judged correctly as to these in
| q A. L
grasped the spirit of Garfeld's character
with accuracy. That Garfield possessed
very high executive ability his brief
military career shows; and it is quite
possible that the feeling which led him
to wish to remain in the army was
safer guide than the advice of his friends
which determined him to resign it for
seat in Congress. 1t may also be pre-
sumed that his special ability for admin
istration would have shown itself in his
Presidential career had he been permitted
to live, though of this of course it is i'm
possible to say anything which is more
than conjecture.
Mr.. Blaine has, however, handled his
theme most skillfully. He has not fallen
into the dangerous temptation held out to
al eulogists, of establishing what every
one perceives to be mere fanciful resem.
blances between his subject and other
great men. He, has, it is true, made some
references to a few considerable Ameri-
cans, but merely to illustrate the versa
tiIity of General Garfields genius The
fact, well brought out at the beginning,
that Garfield carried French and English
Protestant blood III his veins, is almost
insensibly made to appear as an exponent
of many of the leading circumstances in
his life. We are enabled to perceive that
if ever success and good report could be
predicated Of human being, they might
have been predicated of the boy who, thus
sponsored by so honorable an ancestry on
both sides, faced the world untrammeled
by the restraints of property, and unvexed
by the still crueller laws OF Caste. He
was, and Mr.. Blaine has most admirably
demonstrated that he was, the very type
and epitome of American Youth, in its
most idealized state. And in the beautiful
simplicity and compressor of the narrative
| which follows we are led into the secret of
that world sympathy which leaned, sor
rowfu, over his h.bed, and followed
him with real tears to the grave. For we
see here that his life appealed not merely
to American mankind, but to mankind
everywhere; that it was a type, not for
one nation alone, but for all the sons Of
men, far and near. And in the spon-
taneous outpourings of grief which "the
deep damnation of his taking ca" engen-
| dered, we may realize how, in less sophis-
ticated times, men made to themselves
Deities out of the memories of the great
and good.
And this story of Garield's life, so
graphically told, so richly illustrated, is
marred by no partisan passion. Yet the
temptation to such lapse must have been
almost as great with Mr.. BlaiEe as it was
with Mark Antony when he came TO de.
| liver the funeral Grafton over the body OF
his friend Cesar 1t would have surprised
none had he yielded had he flung back
upon his enemies some of the scorn and
anger with which they have assaulted him.
But he conquered his natural disposition
this way, and the result is that his Grafton
is as nearly perfect as possible. His refer
ence to Garfelds strength of conviction is
perfectly justified, and it would have been
a mistake to omit it. And this is all that
he has said which bears even indirectly ON
the fierce party schism which still RACES
so holly. The conclusion is extremely
good. There is no anti-climax, no bathos.
The high tone of the composition is stead.
lily maintained to the very end, and that is
so terse and pathetic as to be quite Roman
in its effect. It is as if the orator, having
conducted his friend into the presence Of
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