St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-01-31
EULOGIES OF BLAINE.
Minnesota's House and SEN
ate Hear Them in Joint
Session.
Senator Donnelly Delivers a
Splendid Panegyrie on the
Dead Man.
Senator'S Stevens, TaWney
and J. D. Smith Also Pay
Tribute.
Representative Winston Joins
His Need Of Praise to
the Others.

The house was called to order
promptly at 4 o'clock by that most
prompt of presiding officers, Speaker
Lee a packed gallery evinced the fact
that the news OF a possible feast Of
oratory had spread. There was no
standing room left, and on the floor of
the house scores Of visitors had place.
After roll call had showed that a
quorum was present, message from
the senate was read asking for joint
session of the two bodies at 4:l5 TO hear
the report of the joint committee ap-
pointed to draft resolutions on the death
of James &. Blaine.
On the motion of Mr.. Jacobson, sec
ondcd by Mr.. FurIong, the house con-
Cured, and in a few moments the SEN
ators filed into the house chamber and
took seats. Roll call of the joint bodies
showed very few absentees.
Senator John Day Smith arose imme-
diately and said that on behalf OF the
joint committee to draft appropriate
resolutions on the death of Hon. James
g. Blaine he had the honor to present
the following:
Whereas. We have learned, with pro-
round SorroW.U the death of Hon. James
@. Blaine; and,
Whereas, 1t seems eminently BETTING
that the state OF Minnesota, through its
legislative body. should voice the uni
VerSal feeling of sincere regret and SOr-
row felt 10y its people in the presence OF
this great national bereavement; there
fore he 1t
Resolved, By the Legislature of the
state Of Minnesota that we gratefully
recognize the eminent public services
which Mr. Blaine has rendered the peO-
pie of thus country for thirty years in
congress and cabinet Beginning his
publlc life in an era of extraordinary
activity and of great national embar-
IasSment, he has left deep and lasting
impress on his time. Naturally cOur-
age us and aggressive. he was always
foul on he skirmish line Of advanced
thought. " hatever else he might have
been. he has ALWAYS been diSGimctivelY an
American. AS an orator he possessed
gifts of a high order. In the intellectual
grasp of great national problems and
international issues he displayed won
derfu power. AS a parliamentary
leader he is the peer OF the. best and
most honored of the national dead.
Weared with the toll of years, his
heart bleeding from the loss of his idol
lied children, the great commoner OF
the American people, crowned with
hOnOrS well earned, has laid down his
burdens, entered the shadows sand the
gates have been closed behind him.
"He needs no epitaph but his name"
Resolved, That to the bcreaved family
of the illust ious dead the people of the
state of Minnesota offer their sincere
sympathy in their great sorrow and af-
Fiction.
Resolved, That these resolutions be
spread upon the journals OF the two
houses of The legislature, and that an
engrossed copy, signed by the governor
of the state, be forwarded to the family
of the deceased.
Resolved, That us a further mark Of
respect to the memory Of the deceased,
the Joint convention do now arise, and
that the respective houses upon reaS-
Sembling do forthwith adjourn.
Tribute OF the Sage.
At the conclusion Of the reading Sen
ator Donnelly was on his feet, we'll up
towards the front. An eXpectant hush
fell on the aSsemblage, there was a
crowding forward i'm the galleries, every
face in the house was at once turned to-
wards the position of the noted orator,
who perhaps, shows best on such Oc-
caSOns. The man on whom he was TO
speak had many traits In common with
his eulogist Both combative, eloquent
energetic, learned, ambitious, in many
things disappointed, but always per
sistent, attractive even to enemies when
assaiIing them hardest, educated in
many directions, and of great capability
in nearly every walk Of life, every one
familiar with the lives of the two men
expected something more than common.
And they were not disappointed. Mr.
DOnnelly's address is here given:
1t was my privilege TO serve, in the
congress of the United States, for SiH
years, with Mr.. Blaine. | knew hin
well. In the beginning Of that service
he attracted little attention. He gave
no promise of his future prominence
Bnt ne had the faculty of growth. Eact
year found him greater than the last
lie possessed vast energy, vast act
ivity, vast ambition. He was de
termined. Casar-like, to be first or moth
ing. He boldly attacked the leader OF
the houSe-that splendid controversial
ist and orator, Roscoe COnkling. 1t was
like a battle royal of lions; the conflict
was fierce. but neither could claim a de
cisive victory. l saw Mr.. Blaine alsC
when he was fighting for political life
and personal honor against innumerablt
assailants. He defended himself by at
tacking the Gordon of his enemies. He
charged upon them like wild boar
plunging, with white tusks and foamine
mouth, into the ranks of the hunters
and scattering them right and left.
He was great man, and greatest in
his desperation. The basis Of his mint
was the combative instinct, and he was
at his best in the heat of conflict. He
was. alas. but a shred and remnant o
himself in these latter years -illustriou
amid the
Debris of His Great Powers.
shall never forget that scene in TIT
house which was fortunate enough t
when, at a critical pOlitca
iuncture. he aroused the wrath of TIT
Southern leader and provoked him int,
Incorporate expressions, which consOli
dated for time popular feeling in TIT
North. 1t may not be called statesman
ship to reopen the wounds of a nation
but it was political strategy Of higl
order. Although carefully studied ant
prepared, it appeared as the spontan
eous and passionate Outburst of TIT
occasion. | can remember him as h
charged up and down the central aisle
of that great hall, his prominent eye!
blazing, his voice ringing like battle
cry. every nerve and muscle wrough
up to intense tension, while bis scintil
lent thoughts flashed and smote like Thu
whirling sWord-blades of squadron O
cavalry. The dazed leaders Of the
South we're overwhelmed, paralyzed b!
his splendid genius and sublime audac
ity, and when they recovered Speecl
they burst into Just such utterances a