Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1893-02-09
From our regular Correspondent
Washington Letter.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., Jan. 80, 1898.
The solemn tolling of the big bell in the
tower which surmounts the Church of the
Covenant tells the sympathizing thousands
who crowd the streets adjacent thereto
that the remains Of Americas greatest
statesman-James Gillespie Blaine-have
left the house in which he made such 8
brave fight against death Slowly, slowly
the funeral cortege moves through the
vast sea of faces. every head uncovered
and reverently bowed and every heart
throbbing with the same sympathy that is
felt by every patriotic American. At the
door of the church the transformations
black casket-an almost exact duplicate of
the one in which Mrs. Harrison was so
lately carried to her last resting place-was
carried within by loving hands and care
fully deposited on the velvet covered dais.
In the congregation which filed every inch
of available space were the most promi
nent representatives Of every profession
and calling conspicuous among them being
President Harrison and his entire Cabinet,
and the legations of every foreign govern
ment represented at Washington. The
services were of the simplest. no singing.
no music, except dirge upon the organ.
played by Mr. Walter Damrosch, Mr..
Blaine's son-in-law, and no sermon; moth
ing but the reading of the Presbyterian
burial ritual. and prayer by DR.. Hamlln.
the pastor of the church.
1t was proposed to give the dead states
man a grand public funeral in the Capitol
building, but at the request Of the family,
the idea was abandoned. Mrs. Blaine also
requested that no further fticial notice of
the death be taken by the National Govern
ment than was absolutely necessary, and
that the mourning now on the State De
partment on account of the death Of Ex-
President HAYES should be removed at the
expiration of thirty days, just as would
have been done had Mr.. Blaine not died
and her wishes will be respected in that as
they were regarding the funeral.
From the Church Of the Covenant to Oak
Hin cemetery where the iuterment was
made, beside the grave Of mis- favorite son,
Walker, from the effects of whose death
MI Blaine never entirely recovered, is
something more than mile, but the
crowd which followed the procession, on
foot, cared nothing for that; they We're
to DO honor to the man they loved. and
haI h.,-
followed that casket to its final resting
place. And who doubts that In after wears,
when the United States shall have reached
the grandeur which was 80 plainly visible
to the prophetic eyes Of Mr. Blaine 1t VIII
be considered great honor in thousands
of families TO be able to say My father,
or my grandfather, or my grest-grand-
father, saw Mr., Blaine buried?" Not l.
Already there i much talk of a move
ment for the erection OF a grand monu-
ment at the Capital of the Nation he did so
much for, in honor of Mr. Blaine, and
there is little doubt that 10 due course of
time such memorial in bronze or stone.
or both, will be erected. But Mr. Blaine
will have monument In the history Of
his country that will last a. long a. the
world itself His great work In behalf Of
his country is already well recognized
by his political opponents by his
followers, as was shown by the following
telegram 10 his widow, from Mr. Cleve-
land His brilliant statesmauship will
always be an inspiration to the nation he
has served so long aud so well. Permit
me to extend my sympathy on the death
of your distinguished husband "
1t is expected that the President viii
this week send the nomination Of a sue
cessor to the late Justice Lamar ofthe
Supreme Court, to the Senate. And two
things may be put down a. certain, reports
to the contrary notwithstanding, he Will
be Republican, ami he will be confirmed
by the Senate.
Within few wteks-spmetime in March
the patents on the principal parts of the
Bell telephone will expire. This will be
a very important event to the renters Of
telephones who have been comp .lled to
pay extortlonate prices to the owners and
controllers of these patents, which may
soon be used by anybody.
Whether intended or not Senator
Chambers resolution providing for the in-
vestigation of the whiskey trust, had
stimulating effect on the House committee
on rules and Representative Burrows
resolution WAS reported to the House and
adopted. Al the same time resolution
providing for an investigation of the
money spent by the Panama Canal Co. in
this country, and the relations Of the
Panama Railroad with the Pacific Mail S.
S. Co. and other transportation lines was
adopted.
The President aud members of Congress
are much interested in the application of
Hawaii for annexation to the United
States, but the matter Is too important to
be decided off handed, and will probably
ba laf, fn Ia, Iyit