The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-01-31
At AUGUSTA.
The City in Mourning Over Its Dis
tinguished Dead.
MEMORIAL ADDRESS BY THE VEN.
ERABLE EX-SENATOR
BRADBURY.

Scenes at the Church-The Capital wrapt
in Gloom-Legislature Meets and I'M
mediately Adjourns-Augusta Asks
That the Ashes of Mr.. Blaine May
! Repose Within Her Borders.
| AUGUSTA, January 26.-A meeting of
citizens during the hours of Mr.. Blaine's
funeral, was held at the Congregational
church in this city. The church was
| filled, over thousand being present. Ga
the front altar, which was draped with
the national colors, was portrait of Mr..
Blaine, with black. mourning back
ground. and hangings relieved by smilax
entwined about the portrait Mr..
Blaine's family pew was hung with floral
emblems, evergreens and white roses.
The latter part of the service consisted
ofremarks by Hon. James W. Bradbury,
Hon. Orville D. Baker and Hon. H. NJ.
Heath.
The remarks of ex-senator Bradbury
were doubly impressive. He is now 81
years of age, and when he spoke of the
ways of Providence that man of Mr..
Blaine's age, when at the zenith of his
possibilities, should be taken and those
of advanced age, nearly past their use
fulness, should be left, it was very af-
fecting.
Remarks of Ex-senator Bradbury.
Fellow Citizens: Last Friday morning
brought to us the sad intelligence of the
death of our distinguished fellow citizen,
Mr.. Blaine.
Such an event could not fail to make
profound impression of sorrow in the
hearts of his old friends and neighbors,
who had a personal regard for him such
as few men can inspire.
While others knew him as public
man and his brilliant political career was
familiar to every one throughout the
country, we know his extraordinary social
powers, his cordial manners and his
magnetic qualities that attached to him
hosts of friends, who loved him as man
and were proud of him as citizen. His
death left pail of sorrow over the entire
city. Augusta is in mourning. His death
deprives us of our most prominent citi-
zen.
Its government and citizens unite in
rendering their tribute of deep affection
and respect; our church and society feel
ingly join in this tribute. 1t was in this
house he was accustomed to worship.
By his generous contributions he helped
to build it. He united with the church
in 1858 and for a third of century
whether living in this city or out OF ii,
he has given it his generous support.
He was always a liberal contributor to
sustain public worship, and his benefac-
tions were not confined to one denom-
nation. Almost his last business act be-
fore leaving the state tor the last time
was to send to us his subscription for
CT 000 tnyUar6 tho erection Of a D11hir Ii
brary.
1t is singular and almost startling Coz
incidence that that the peerless head of
the church in intellectual and moral
power, and the most brilliant, popular
leader have passed away the same week
and that the solemn procession of thous-
ands that returned from the interment of
the former were met by the announce
ment of the death of the other, both fall
ing almost in the prime of life, in the full
vigor of manhood, at an age when years
of usefulness, distinction and power
might have been anticipated. While
they so relatively young are taken from
us in in the strength of their power, the
aged. who, in their feebleness can do SO
little for the world are sometimes spared.
The ways of Providence are mysterious.
We cannot comprehend them.
Our Heavenly Father knows. He is
infinite in wisdom, as we'll as goodness.
He knows when life's work here is done
and what would befall us should we re-
main here longer.
1t is for others to give you the life and
distinguished career of Mr.. Blaine, and
/ retain you with brief reminiscence of
him.
I first met him on my return from
Washington, soon after he came to
Augusta. He was an active, intelligent,
self-reliant young man, whose resources
were within himself. He found the way
to become an editor and soon showed SO
much ability as a writer, and such tact
in making friends, that Augusta started
him in his political career by electing
him one of her representatives to the
state legislature in 1858. He here began
to develop his ability as legislator with
so much success that he was three times
selected and was made Speaker of the
House. In 1862 he was elected by this
congressional district their representa-
tive to Congress.
He was now in position to call forth
and develop his great abilities and to ac-
quire permanent national reputation. He
soon made himself known and felt as
political power throughout the country:
and his political friends were so proud of
him that they reelected him until he
went into the Senate. For several years
he was Speaker of the House, and he
filled the chair once filled by Henry Clay.
From the Senate, he next filed the first
place in the cabinet as Secretary of State.
Continued on Second Page.