Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-03-03

Exercises in memory of President r. ""
as appointed by CnSn wsa. q mach" Garfield,
House ~ 9au them eepyt or ~ were held in the
&C. ! MY "a Representatives at Washington on
Monday, when Hon. James G. Blaine deliv-
cred an Grafton, in every way worthy the &C.
casion, before an audience comprising the en-
tire legislative and judicial branches of the
government the President and cabinet and
other prominent officers of the executive de-
partments officers of the army and the navy,
the diplomatic corps and remarkable array
of distinguished visitors from all parts of the
country.
The hall of the House was densely crowded,
and the scene was an impressive one. The
ladies were generally dressed in black, and SO
were the members of the House. There
were no draperies in the hall, not even on
the portrait of Mr. Garfield hanging on the
wall behind the presiding officer. The Presi-
dent and cabinet arrived a little after noon,
the whole audience rising to their feet. The
representatives of the other departments
came in as usual on great occasions. Among
the military men present were Gems. Sher-
man, Hancock, Sheridan, Howard and Meigs.
Admirals Ammen, Rodgers and Worden were
also present. No representative of President
Garfelds family was present. The COM
mittee sent Mrs. Garfield special invitation
with a suitable supply of tickets; but she
pleaded her dislike to occasions of ceremony
and sent the tickets to Gen Swain, that de-
voted friend to whom her husbands last
words were addressed, for distribution among
personal friends in Washington. A delega-
ton from the society Of the Army of the
Cumberland acted as ushers at the main en-
trance to the rotunda and in the various cor
ridors leading to the galleries. Speaker
Keifer called the audience to order at noon,
and prayer was offered by the chaplain of
the House, after which the resolutions setting
| apart the day for the memorial exercises
were read. David Davis, president of the
Senate, then introduced Mr.. Blaine. An
hour and a half was consumed in the delivery
of the eulogy. At its close Chaplain Bullock
of the Senate pronounced the benediction,
and the marine band played the Garfield
dead march. After the audience had dis
persed the House passed a resolution of
thanks to Mr.. Blaine and adjourned as a
mark of respect to the memory of the late
| President.
| Mr.. Blaine receives warm and universal
praise for the admirable manner in which he
performed his tender and delicate duty. He
sunk himself in his subject and while speak
ing with all the warmth of devoted friend
ship he resisted the temptation, strong upon
such an occasion, of seeking oratorieal effect.
| A large part of his address is sketch, rapid
yet detailed, of the leading events in Gar
fields life. The sturdy, liberty loving anoes-
try from which he sprang; the independent
poverty into which he was born and through
which he made his way the educational in
fuences which trained his mind and fitted
him for his work. the brilliant achievements
of his military career; his long, laborious
and faithful service in the House; the love Of
his constituents, the trust of his country, the
breadth, variety and value of his contributions
to debate and his influence in shaping the
laws; the circumstances of his elevation tc
the Presidency, the few months Of his ad
ministration, and his tragic death-all these
are touched upon by Mr.. Blaine with excel
lent discrimination. The strongest passag,
in his address is that in which he describe
Garfeld's power as a debater, and his limita
tions as parliamentary leader, and eompare
him with Clay, Douglas and Stevens, Seward
} Adams and Webster among Americans, an
Peel, Burke and Gladstone among English
men. The tenderest and most eloquent pas
sages are those in which he speaks of tn
religious element in his character, and de
seribes his last days