The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-02-04
and above all to his dev o.

Hendricks, and above all to his dev o.
ton to the principles of his party.
Mr.. Spooner being the new Senator
from Wisconsin, this funeral Grafton
was his maiden effort in the Senate.
He said Mr.. Hendricks was heart and
eoul a Democrat, who believed thor
oughly in his party and in its princi-
Piles. He was no trimmer in poll
! ties" continued he, land indeed 1
think if he might give direction to our
words today he would bid us to say of
him that he was partisan Demo-
crat." He rightly thought that poll
tics should be a matter of conviction,
and that every man of firm political
faith owed it to himself and to his
country to be partisan to the extent
of laboring earnestly in all honest
ways to. promote the principles in
which he believes.
| Senator Voorhees, mentioned that
elOquence in the forumiand in the sa-
cred desk had paid its richest tributes
to the exalted abilities and stainless
character of the deceased. The tolling
bell, the mournful dirge, the solemn
minute gun, the mighty multitude OF
mourners. had all attended the funeral
of Thomas A. Hendricks, and had
borne witness to the deep love and
grief with which he was lowered tC
his last resting place. All the honors
due to the dead had been paid by the
Chief Magistrate of the Government
| by the authority of States and by the
unrestrained affection of the people
"In the Senate, however," said he,
"we may not be silent, even though
! the cup of honor TO his memory be
| overtiowiug. Here, on this brilliantly
lighted stage, he fulfilled his last Off
cial engagement, snd closed his com
manding public career."
| Vest. Ransom, Hampton aud Sanls=
bury were the other Democratic Sen
ators who paid tributes to Mr. Hen
! bricks.
| On Tuesday of next week the House
| of Representatives will devote itseli
to similar eulogiss in his memory.
! The House adjourned immediately
upon the formal announcement oi
Representative Rankins' death. This
was, OF course, the proper thing to d0
| in the absence of any rule requiring
different action. 1t could not have
| made an invidious distinction. Rnt
/ the country is indignant that Congress
| should waste time under every posi-
| BILE pretext, and it is high time 10: the
/ adoption of some plan whereby respect
may be shown for the memories al
| deceased Congressman without inter
rnpting public business. Announce
close of y daily session, and either
! Sunday or evening sessions should be
| held for enlogies. A reform of this
! kind has been presented in the House
and will come up soon for discussion.
Representative Rankin came to
| Washington in dying condition He
had an intense desire to take his seat
in Congress again and be sworn ia
with the rest of the members, saying
he must accomplish this if he died the
next minute. On the opening day OF
the session, by supernatural effort OF
the will, he dressed and went to the
Capitol, took the oath, and drew his
seat, making while he did so, some
reckless remarks about his approach
ing death. 1t was too severe u tax
upon his strength, however, and he
was taken to his home, which he new
er left again. He occupied rooms in a
house adjoining the residsnce of POST
master General Villas. When nego-
tiating ior his winter quarters here,
the landlady asked him if he wanted
the rooms for the winter. Yes," he
replied, deliberately, will agree to
keep them for the winter, or as long
as live but rent stops the day I am
buried"