Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-01-19
HIS DEATH A SHOCK
Hayse' Passing,a Great Surprise
to Washington.
HARRlS0N'S PROCLAMATION
Both Houses of Congress Adjourn ss q
Mark OF Respect and the Govern
mcnt Mourns.


soon after the sudden death Of General
Butler and the sad ending Of Senator
kenna, tho demise Of ex-Presldent
Hayes created something OF shock TO
people in official life here Flags are
flying at half mast today on all public
buildings in Washington.
President HARRISON received the news
OF his predecessors death this morn
curry to Webb Hayes concerning the
condition of his father and about 10
O'Clock the answer came that the ex-
president was resting easily. When
the president learned of the death of
Mr.. Hayes, he was much surprised in
view Of the encouraging information
which he received last night.
President HARRISON will not attend
the funeral of Mr.. Hayes, bu: he will
probably send representative to FIRE.
mont. A special meeting of the cab
met was held this afternoon, at which
which the following executive order was
drafted and adopted:
To the people of the United States:
The death of Rutherford b. Hayes,
who was president of the United States
from March 4, 1877, to March 4, 1881,
at his home in Fremont, Ohio, at ii D.
M. yesterday, Is an event the an
nouncement Of which will be received
W ith very general and very sincere sor-
row. His public service extended over
I'M MT
official duty. He was patriotic citi-
zen, lover of the flag and of our free
institutions, an industrious and con-
daunIless courage, a loyal cOmrade
and friend, q sympathetic and helpful
nelghbor and the hOnored head of a
happy christian home. He has etead-
lly grown IN the public esteem and the
impartial historian will not fail to rec
ognize the consclentlousness, the
manliness and the courage that SO
strongly characterized his whole public
career. As an expression OF public
sorrow, j. is ordered that the executive
mansion and the several executive de-
partments at Washington be draped in
mourning and the flags thereon placed
at half staff for period of thirty days,
public business In departments be sus-
pended, and that suitable military and
naval honors, under the orders Of the
secretaries of war and navy, be rem
dered on that day.
BENJAMIN HARRISON.
Executive manson. Washington, jan
uary IS, 1898.
By the President, j. w. FOSTER,
Secretary of State.
Represent the President
The president expressed his regret
that he would not be able to attend
the funeral in person, but expressed q
wish that he should be represented by
some of his Official associates. 1t was
thereupon determined that Secretary
Charles Foster of the treasury, Secre-
tary Noble, Secretary Rusk and Post
master General Wanamaker should
proceed to Fremont as the representa-
tives of the president. The navy de,
partment has designated Captain Powell
aud Commanders Dickens and Hous'
ton TO represent it at the funeral of
Mr.. Hayes. They left for Fremont to-
night.
The attorney general called the at
tentlon of the Supreme court to the
death, and the court adjourned. The
senators who came early to the capitol
this morning conferred together, and
looking up precedeuts-the last being
the death of ex-President Monroe-de-
clded that the senate should adjourn
Immediately after reading the journal
as token OF respect for the deceased.
The decision was carried out.
Senator Sherman was perhaps more
Intimately associated with ex- President
Hayes than any other senator. He
was deeply moved, and after the senate
had adjourned at his own motion he
saId: ii knew hIm as well, perhaps, as
anyone. lie was always fair and just
to friend and foe. and sometimes
waited 10 say mo" when it would have
been better for him TO have done so,
because of MS disposition to oblige
everyone. the south should feel pro-
foundly grateful, for with infinite
courage he extended to the white men
of that section an opportunity to re-
organize their states at a time when
they had been bitterly unjust to him.
The death of ex- President Hayes comes
to me ike a sudden blow. expected
him to become my guest at the inaugu-
ration of the incoming president. He
certainly had no expectation of death
and n ade arrangements for the future
with confidence and Cheerfulness. But
| believe that he was as we'll prepared
for death as human nature will permit
any of US to be-"
Brice's Tribute.
Senator Brice spoke very feelingly
of MIR. Hayes. whom he knew we'll.
81 will at the proper time" SAID be.
pay my tribute to the worth of Mr..
/ Hayes as a man. a citizen ami public
/ official. As democrat, | criticised
with much hate and great feeling the
/ conduct and course of affairs by which.
/ ~ 1876 and 1877 he became president,
and have ever since fell a deep sense of
/ wrong at the outcome; bat the warmth
/ ana kindness, the fairness and tender.
ness of the ex-president were such that
| was never able TO feel any resent
/ ment against INN individually. | was,
with hrs other OHIO friends. proud OF
1 nis record. his bravery aud his ability
"a a soldier. hi. nosle and faithful ser.
vice az a member OF congress. hs dig
Fnified. iudicious and satisfactory band
+ hng Of AFFAIRS a. governor of onto, and
/ OF bis temperate management of hi.
I administration "a president. An adj.
mlnlstrstlon which can see softened
TIE ssseraties growing out OF the civii
var and led 30 thst perfect uniOn, ths
blessings of winch we sre nov enjoy.
Ing."
The death Of ex-President Hayes
sas received quietly by members Of ths
house. Time had meiiowed tne pas
slons growing sut of the fierce poiti-
cal contest wnlch ended n Nr. Hayes