Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-07-24
WASHINGTON MOuRNS
The Loss OF Americas Truest Patriot
Proclamation by the President.

WASHINGTON, July %.
i Shortly after s o'clock. THURSDAY morn
. ,ng, President Cleveland was informed OF the
Sdealh of Gen. Grant. He Immediately Or
y (dervd the flags on the White House to be
placed at half mast. The lowering of the
flag was the first intimstlon that the citizens
OF Washington had of the death of the distin-
1suished man, although they had been sntici-
apating 1t throughout the evening A few
minutes after the White House flag was
placed At half mast the flags on the public
buildings and ON many private ones were
placed in like position.
s. The bells of the city were tolled and the
4citizens who heard them recognized their
ameaning. Business men immediately COM
menced draping their houses with mourning
and their residences in a similar manner
While the bells tolled President Cleveland
sent the following despatch to Mrs. Grant at
Mt McGregor;
Accept this expression of my heartfelt
sympathy in this hour of your great affection.
. rhe people of the nation mourn with you,
and would reach, if they could, with kindly
comfort, the depths OF sorrow which is yours
alone and which only the pity of God can
heal"
> The Thursday meeting of the Cabinet was
called for at II A. NJ, instead of II, the
usual hour, to take action on the death of
the ex-Pre,ident.
) The following proclamation has been issued
: BY the President:
The President of the United States has
Just received sad tidirgs of the death of that
0liustrious citizen and ex-president of the
United States, Gen. L. s. Grant at Mt Me-
0Gregor. in the State of New York, to which
dplace he had lately been removed in the en-
ieavor To Hrolong his life. In making this
"A nnn nsn a m n. th. Nf
H>iates, the President is impressed with the
0nagnitude of the public loss of the great mil.
Hilary leader. who was in the hour of victory
ymagnanlmous, amid disaster serene and self
ksnstained, who in every station, whether as
dsoidier or clit magistrate, twice called to
power by his countrymen, trod unswervingv
&the pathway of duty, undeterred by doubts
Rsinele-minded and straightforward The en-
> tire country has witnessed with deep emotion
his prolonged and patient struggle with the
Apainful disease, and has watched bv his couch
3ot suffering with fearful sympathy. The
destined end has come at last, aud his spirit
1has returned to the Creator who sent il forth.
8 The great heart of the nation that follow ed
thim when living, with love and pride bows
3now in sorrow above him. dead, tender,y
imindful of his virtues, his great patriotic
1,ervices, and of the loss occasioned by his
|ieath.
In testimony of respect to the memory of
sGen. Grant 1t is ordered that the Executive
Mansion and the several departments at
Washington, be draped in mourning for a
period of thirty days, and that all public
business, shall on the day of the funeral. be
suspended, and the secretaries of war and of
Ithe navy will cause orders to be issued for
appropriate military and naval honors to be
Irend.red on that day.
1 In witness, whereof. | have heteunto set
lmy hand and caused the seal Of the United
States to be affixed, &c., &c. By the Presi.
dent. 4. +. BAYARp,
Secretary of State.
| The President has elso issued orders Ii
recting that all executive departments Of
the government be closed at o'clock this
afternoon
Upon receipt of the news of the death Of
Ten. Grant, the following telegram was sent
to Col. f. ID. Grant, by Gen S. s. Burdett,
|commander-in-cmefo of the G. A. r.:
Expressing the profound grief of the
Grand army OF the Republic upon the death
|of the greatest Of our comrades. on behalf of
its three hundred thousand members, | tender
to your honored mother and all the afflicted
family their heartfelt sympathy"