The Green Forest tribune., 1893-02-02
DEATH OF JAMES G. BLAINE.
THE PLUMED KNIGHT AT LAST HEEDS TIE
SUMMONS OF DEATH.
The WHOLE NATION DRApED IN MOURNING.
His Funeral an Impressive Public DEM
OnstratiOn of Honor to the Dead.
An Outline Of the Career of the Most Distinguished
American Statesman.

Friday morning, Jan. 27. The announcement
oil his death, although long expected, has carri-
ed sorrow to every part of the Nation. 7 he
cause oil death was the exhaustion of the heart
caused by chronic disease Of the kidneys. He
was conscious until a short time before death,
but had been unable to convarse for several
days. The members of his family were warned
two hours before that death was near and they
were all at his bed side when the end came.
The physicians, acting under Mrs Blaine's
dlrectlons, declined to give the cause and nature
OF his ailment until since his death. Mr.. Blaine
has been in critical condition since eaaly last
1all, ana during the past month the people have
anxiously watched the changes in his condition.
For many days he has been hourly in danger Of
dying, and no one was better aware of this fact
than Mr.. Blaine himself Realizing that he
would never be we'll man again he talked over
his private affairs with the members OF his fam
lily and prepared for the end. His malady was
intensified by his domestic sorrows and his po-
ltlcal dlsappolntments and the effects of these
have been to bend his frame and shorten his life
Upon the announcement of Blaine'S death
Congress adjourned. The President and his
Cabinet fastened to the house to express their
sorrow kilograms OF sympathy poured in from
| all over the world. The President issued the
following proclamation:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, d. C :,
January y. 1t is my painful duty to announce
| to the people Of the United states the death Of
James Gillespie Blaine, which occurred in this
| city today al II o'clock
AS suitable expression of the national ap-
probation Of his great public services and OF the
general sorrow caused by his death, l direct that
on the day Of his funeral all the departments OF
the Executive branch Of the Government at
Washington be closed and that on all public
buildings throughout the United States the
Natiohai flag shall be displayed at hall mast,
aud that for the period OF thirty days the Depart
| ment OF State be draped in mourning.
BENJAMIN HARRISON.
By the President
JOHN w. FOSTER, Secretary of State.
The following State General Assembleys ad-
journed out of respect to the memory OF ames G.
Blaine: Arkansas, Oregon, Maine, w Washing
ton [ diara,, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Massachu-
sets, North Carolina, Illinois, Colorado, Min,
nesota, Texas, Kansas, California, Ohio, and
Oklahoma.
BLAINE S FUNERAL.
All that remained earthly OF the distinguished
Statesman was laid to rest in Oak Hill cemetry
in Washington City Jan. 3Gth. Despite his re-
quest and the wishes of the family the funeral
could not be made private The surgihg waves
Of public interest swept over the barriers npos-
ed aud made il a most impressive public demon
stration OF honor to the dead
All business at the capital was suspended and
the most prominent men of the nation gathered
arouad his bier, the President, Cabinet officials,
Sunrpmn n njynO off nF
hundreds of other eminent Americans being pres
ent.
We published, recently, an epitome OF
his public life. Following is more extended
account OF some of the principal events.
RLA1NE's CAREER.
He was born in Brownsville, Washington
County, Penn, Jan. 81, ls;V aud was, there
fore, nearly 63 years old when he died.
His mother was devout Catholic, while his
father, tphiram Blaine, cleft religion to the
wimen foiks.'' James and his bl others and
sisters were baptized and brought up in the
Catholic faith
James paid little attention to religion and
when about 27 years old, on going to Maine and
into politics, he Joined the Congregational
Church.
Blaine edited the Portland Advertiser and later
the Kennebec Journal. From 1o5s- 1867 he was
III the Maine Legislature. Then he served six
terms IN the Uuited States CongIess, being
Speaker for three successive terms. lie was re-
elected to serve a seventh term, but when Lot
Nj. Merrill resigned his senatorship to become
Secretary of the Treasury, Blaine succeeded him
aud was reelected for the ensuing term.
The rebellion broke out while Blaine was il
Congress Blaine voted for lscri.stion Law
" hich Congress passed Blaine himself was
one Of the first persons whose names We're drawn
from the wheel by the Nj aine consarptors. Blaine
decided that he could serve Ills country more adj
vantageously with his head thaa with his arms
ano he sent substitute. Blaine has never be, IL
a soldier.
Next he became Secretary of State under Pres
ident Garfield. When Garfield was shot IL the
depot at W Washington, by Giteau, Blaine was
walking armii arm with him. From this time
Blaae's career was checkered, the evil fortu..e
filling by far the greater part OF it.
Blaine was a fatalist; he had a FIRMLY ground
ed conviction that he would never reach the high
est place i'll the nations gift. On four occasions
he tried for it and on each occasion some event
apparently trivial frustrated his wishes. In ls1G
in the Cincinnati convention he began Il lder the
most benefcent auspccies. The nominating
speech of Robert Ingersoll was a master effort.
sLike an armed warrior. like plumed knight,
James G. Blaine marched down the halls OF the
American Cong! ess and threw his shining lance