The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-10-30
The Brave DeIkuap.

Gen. III. Y. Boynton paid the following trib-
nte to tho memory Of tho late ox-Secretary OF
War W. w. Balkhap, In the Cincinnati CONNER
ciai Gasefte:
There has never been an official funeral in
Washington that meant as much in every ele-
ment that moves meu's hearts To pay tribute
to the memory of the dead as that of Gen
Belknap. IL that brave. selrcontained but
ever-suHering man could have been certain
that at his death the hags over the White
House and over the War Department would
have Heated at half mast that the War De-.
partment would have been draped for him.
that the funeral salutes would have followed
tho sun across the continent for him, that
Cabinet officers Senator'S Representatives the
Army. the Navy, tho Grand Army. the Loyal
Legion, and veterans and civilians from every
rank in life, would have followed his coffin
aud stood uncovered Mt his hurial--if all this
could have been known in advance 10 Gen.
Belkuap 1t would have lifted the load OF many
years from his heart. aud he would have lived
the rest OF bis days in content which is only
born Of perfect happiness.
" There could have been no more complete
manifestation of the real belief Of all circles
here, official. veteran, and civilian. ia the
npri ghtness aud nobleness Of Gen. Belknap's
life, than the gathering at his funeral afforded.
He died here alone. His family had passed
out of tho view of those who thTouged to his
did not participate in public affairs. There
was nothing except bis past, and his close com.
radeship with his former field friends, To draw
all ranks TO his funeral.
Therefore there was deep meaning In the
prompt lowering of tho flHgseover the Execu-
tive Mansion and the War Department. The
same was true Of tho fine tribute paid by Gen
Grant tho Acting Secretary of War; in his OIL
cial order announcing the death, and of Gen.
Sch0telds order for Il funeral salute from
every military post For these reasons II meant
everything ia the way OF expressing confidence
in tho official aud personal integrity of this
knightly man. who for so many years had
barred his breast 10 storms which he would not
suffer To beat upon others dear 10 him, when
such "A company, great in numbers, veterans of
every grade influential men in civil and mill
tary positions aud noted on the great fields of
the war, crowded the church and tho streets
about IL at his funeral, and gathered at Arliug-
ton at hs burial.
There has never before been SO great OFF,
cial honoTs rendered in this country to one in
ordinary civil life. It meant that Washington
In all its ranks rallied spontaneously to express
its final aud firm belief IN the Official and per-
sonal integrity of Gen. Belknap.
"Of all the touching things at his funeral, at
the house. at the church, during the long
march to Arlington and at the service at the
grave nothing was more affecting than the at
tendance of tho Washington representatives of
the famous Crocker Brigade, and tho brief re-
marks Of Capt. w. ii. Michael. as he laid OH
the flag covering tho coffin "a wreath of oak
leaves this leaf being the badge of the brigade.
'The friends of Gen. Belknap, who havo
| stood by him unGnchingly through long dark
| years, see ia this demonstration all that Wash
ngton through its various ranks could do to
! express its confidence. His many friends in
Iowa, and for that matter, all over the coun-
try will rejoice aud belthankful for this final
and coneIusive verdict