The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-05-03
BLAINE EULOGlZED BY FRYE
Eloquent Tribute to the Deceased States
man by the Senator from Maine.
His Effort to Inducs the "Plumed knight" to
Permit His Name to BE Used as Candidate
for the Presidential Nomination.

Boston, May 2.-Musio Hall was CON-
fortably filled tonight upon the occasion
of the eulogy on the late James G. Blaine.
which was delivered by Hon. William p.
Frye, United States Senator from Maine.
and the meeting was under the auspices of
the city. Mr. Frye reviewed In detail the
life and achievements of the great states
man. OF the late Republican convention,
the speaker said:
"Mr. Blaines name was presented to the
convention, whether with his assent or not
Is not for me- to say; ] do not know. l do
know that two months before that con-
vention. on Sunday afternoon, l spent
pleasant and agreeable two hours at his
bedside. They were hours which l now
recall with delight; his mind had its full
vigor; his eye was undimmed; his talk de-
lightful. l told him that he was TO be q
listener for O while. and allow me to be the
taiker; that had come as on envoy from
the people; that was profoundly satisfied
OF two things: first, that he could be nomi-
mated by scclamation In the approaching
elected. / told him that then he could
withdraw bis letter of Feb. honorably;
that month later he could not; that
thought his friends who bad stood by him
through all these years were entitled to
take advantage Of this splendid 0pp0r-
tunity and realize their hopes.
He replied that he had given the subject
probably more consideration than any or
all of his friends: that he knew himself and
his physical condition better than they;
tnat any participation on his part in a po-
litical campaign would kill him before the
contest was over; that If. as L suggested, he
should remove himself from its excite
ments he could not live and perform the
three months He said that his course W as
marked out, and that nothing on earth
could lead him tc devIase from it; that
when the weather became warm enough
for residence at Bar Harbor he should re-
sign his Office as Secretary of State, go to
that summer home ana nevermore have
anything whatever 10 DO with political
Office; that he would devote the remainder
OF his life to his family and 60 himself, and
try to experience little OF the rest so beau
tifully described In Cicero's DE Scnec-
tute.'
THAT such was his deliberate purpose
have not a shadow OF doubt. Ii Is possible,
indeed probable-because in that conven-
Blaine who had been SO for years. who
would not otherwise have been there ad-
vocating his nomination-that. overcome
by the persistence of those seeking to Sc
cure the use of his name in the convention
by appeals to his duty to his panty and his
country, q reluctant consent or assent may
have been obtained. l do, however. know
this. that he never expected TO receive the
nOmlnattOn. and tnaC ne Ola not Dlm6elf
personally desire it,"
In conclusion Mr.. Frye SAID: "The
Plumed knight is dead. Is he forever
losts No; Thousand times. no, Is he de-
stroyedf The black monster death could
no more destroy this great soul than he
could stretch his ICY hand upward and
snatch shining stars from the sky. / think
&c was Mirsbeau who said In referring to
the death of distinguished French states
man: He is gone, he is forgotten, and
will not be missed. Men. whether small or
great. dying, disappear forever. and tho
world moves on unconcerned. 1t Is as the
islands of the sea sink In mId-ocean.
whether small and bare. or large and
fertile. leaving only Tor q moment a
few bubbles behind Is our dead chief
forgottenP Will he not be mIssed7 Thank
God! the victory of the grim reaper was
not so complete as that. PraxIteles. the
great sculptor sought to perpetuate the
smile of his beloved on marble lips, be-
lieving that art could do what love de-
are needed here. We shall indeed never
again feel the warm hand-Grasp of our
noble dead, nor be glad in his sunny smile,
nor drink the deep delights of his dis
course. but sweet memories of his generous
nature, of his chivalrous bearing. of his de-
vOtion to principle. of his boundless love
for his country, OF his fidelity to home will
survive. He was his own blogrnpher. his
own sculptor; for he made his life a part
of the undying history Of of his country
and engraved his image on the hearts of
his countrymen."