Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-01-28

H., ure not ON TO his own country, DuJ
on policies an, subjects that affected other
great nations. lie belonged, Mr.. Presi-
dent, not to amy one state, but to all the
country; and Pennsylvania, which gave
him birthplace ami nurtured him, and
Name, where he made his home and where
he became her first citizen, and which filled
his lap with all the honors which she could
bestow, mourn him no more today than do
the dwellers by the shores of the great gulf
and in the cabins of the tar sierras. This
is no time or place for me to speak in detail
of his distin gJiished public life.
Proposes New Precedent.
He was for years distinguished mem
Der on the floor of the house of representa-
tives of the nation, and for six years presided
there as its speaker. His services in this
char. Der covered years. He was twice
secretary of state and was until of late a
member OF the present administration. |
90 not think there Is one senator here who
will not deem it fitting, in view of these
facts and OF the fact that he died where his
last peaceful look from his chamber
window might embrace this Capitol. where
his voice had been so many times heard,
that we make precedent at this time, and
that although Mr.. Blaine was at the til
of his death a private citizen, this body
take immediate adjournment"
CockreI Moves Adjournment
Cockrell said: ain view of the announce
ment by the senator from Maine of the sad
event which has just occurred under tha
very shadow of the national Capitol and as
further respect to the memory of the IL
lustrious deed, move that the senate do
now adjourn"
The vice president put the motion ar1
at 1tl..Q declared tho Car,at.a al io1,,1,aJ for
the day.
The House ChapIain's Prayer.
In the house the chaplain said in his
opening prayer:
40. eternal God: We stand before Thee
profoundly moved as the news comes to the
Capitol and flies through the land that a
great man and prince among the people
has ended his earthly career Rich in the
manifold gifts with which Thou hadst en-
dOwed him, tireless in energy, devoting
himself for a generation to the service of
the land, holding men to him by bonds
stronger than steel, winning for himself
the hearty affection and confidence Of MI
Ions of his fellow citizens, such a place AS
has rarely been held by any man, he passes
from us, incurred, honored, loved-his
memory a fragrance in this house and
throughout the capital and throughout the
nation"
MilliEen Announces the Event.
Some roUt'"e business followed and then
amid profound silence Milliken rose and
said:
"MR. SPEAKER: 1t becomes nv sad duty
to announce to this house the death of
James q. Blaine. Mr.. Blaine was for four
teen years prominent and leading mem
Der of this house. For six years he vas
the distinguished speaker OF the hoas"
Every position he has filed ne has gilded
with the light of genus, and he has given
to the public service for generation such
devotion, and such industry ana >Ica labor
as has brought him 10 his death today. l
doub: not that every member of this house
will be glad to pay him tribute of re-
spect by an adjournment"
Re marks by Holman.
Holman said: "MR. SPEAKER: The
deaths which have been announced so re-
Gently of i.luStrious citizens may well
bring to our minds the words of the He
brew king, How are the mighty fallen
The death of James G. Blaine will pro-
foundly impress the sensibilities of the
country. A great man is dead. He laid
the foundation of his fame in this CITY.
Here were his great and early triumsphS.
How often have we heard in this hall the
statesmanship-kn not only to orr
country but to the statesmen of the civil
lized world. And not only great in states
manship, not only one of the illustrious
characters which have illustrated the value
of free institutions, but beyond that be
was great in he field of literature.
Blaine a Historian.
"As the historian of the grandest epoch
in the history of the world he did his work
well. His history, covering a period of
years, will go down to posterity as one of
the brightest illustrations of the period N
which he lived and of the grandest events
of which be was a part. 1t would seem,
Mr.. Speaker, to be eminently proper and
fitting that with the announcement of his
death here, in this the theatre of his great
achievements, this house out of respect to
his memory should adjourn. therefore
move that the house do now adjourn"
The motion was agreed to, and accord
ingly at 1892 p. m. the house adjourned.