The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-02-08
NEWS FROM THE EAST
Our Regular Letter From the National
Capitol.
HOW BLAINE WAS BURIED
One tho Simplest OF Funeral Ceremo.
nies, at the Earnest Request of His
Widow.
washington. January 30. 1893.

Washington, January 30, 1893.
The solemn tolling of the big bell in the
tower which surmounts the Church of
the Covenant tells the sympathizing thou
sands who crowd the streets adjacent
thereto that the remains of America
greatest statesman-James Gillespie
Blaine-have left the house in which he |
made such brave fight against death. |
Slowly. slowfy the funeral cortege moves
through the vast sea of sympathetic |
faces, every head uncovered and rever-
emily bowed and every heart throbbingl
with the same sympathy that is felt byI
every patriotic American. At the doorI
of the church the unostentatious black
casket-an almost exact duplicate of theI
one in which Mrs. Harrison was carried
to her last resting place-was carried
within by loving hands and carefully
deposited on the velvet covered dais.
In the congregation which filled every
inch of available space were the most
prominent representatives Of every pro-
fession and calling, conspicuous among
them being President Harrison and his
entire cabinet, and the legations of every
foreign government represented at Wash
ington. The services were of the simplest,
no singing, no music, except dirge upon
the organ, played by Mr.. Walter Dam
rosch, Mr.. Blaine's son-in-law, and no
sermon; nothing but the reading of the
Presbyterian burial ritual, and a prayer
by DR.. Hamlin, pastor Of the church.
It 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 t4at no further official
notice of the death be taken by the
National government than was absolutely
necessary, and that the mourning now
on the State Department 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 re-
garding the funeral.
From the Church of the Covenant to
Oak Hill cemetery where the interment
was made, beside the grave of his favor
lite son. Walker, from the effects OF whose
death Mr.. Blaine never entirely recov-
cred, Is something more than mile, but
the crowd which followed the procession
on foot cared nothing for that; they were
there to do honor to the man they loved,
and had it been twenty miles they would
have followed that casket to its final
resting place. And who doubts that in
the after years, when the United States
shall have reached the grandeur which
was so plainly visible to the prophetic
eyes of Mr.. Blaine, it will be considered
a great honor in thousands of families
to be able to say: my father or my
grandfather, or my great-grandfather,
saw Mr.. Blaine buried?" Not one.
Already there is much talk of a move
ment for the erection Of grand monu-
ment at the Capitol of the Nation he did
so much fer, in honor of Mr.. Blaine, and
there is little doubt that in due course
of time such a memorial in bronze OF
stone, or both, will be erected; but Mr.
Blaine will have a monument in the his
tory of his country that will last as Ions
as the world itself His great work II
behalf of his country is already as wei
recognized by his political opponents al
by his followers, as was shown py TN
following telegram to his widow, from Mr.
Cleveland. His brilliant statesmanshil
will always be on inspiration to the ma
ton he has served so long and we'll Per
init me to extend my sympathy on tn
deathgo of your distinguished husband.
within a few weeks-sometime IL
March-the patents on the Bell telephon
will expire. This will be very import
ant event to the renters of telephone
who have been compelled to pay extor
tionate prices to the owners and controi
lors of these patents, which may 500
be used by anybody.
Whether intended or not Senator Chan
d,ers resolution providing for the investi
cation of the whiskey trust, had stimu
lating effect on the House Committee
Rules. and Representative Burrows resc
luton was reported to the House an
adonted. At the same time resoiutio
nroviding for an investigation OF u
amount of money spent by the Panan'
Canal Co. In this country, and the ren
t,ons Of the Panama Railroad with u
Pacific Mail Steamship Co. and otn'
TRANSPORTATION lines was adopted
The President and members OF Conere'
are much interested in the application
rIowaii for annexation to the Unite
states. but the matter Is too importa
- he decided off-handed. and Will pro
ab,v be left for Mr.. Cleveland to wres'
with. ~ ON AsTORIAN