Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-05-04
Touching Tribute Paid BY Congressman Mill
kan

! When the House had under consider
alton the resolution respecting the late
Hon. William Henry Grain. representa-
tive from Texas. one of the most
eloquent and sincere tributes paid was
that of Hon. Seth l.. Milliken, who
spoke extemporaneously as follows:
Mr.. Speaker: I was not apprised
until a few moments before | entered
the hall that there would be eulogies
this afternoon upon our departed col
league. William Henry Grain, and
therefore l have not prepared myself
to say anything formally, but still l
can not forego this opportunity of pay
ing my tribute of respect to the
memory of a man who, during more
than ten years in this Congress, COM
manded my admiration anu affection.
My early acquaintance with Mr.. Grain,
upon his entering Congress. sprang
from a very peculiar coincidence. Be-
fore he was born, and when l had been
born but little while, my father.
William Milliken. of Montville. Me-.
went to Texas. He built number of
houses at Port Lavaca. During his
first year there the Comanche Indians,
who were then very strong and very
hostile to the whites. raided the town,
scalped the men. violated the women.
and set the town on fire. Those who
could do so took to boats and vessels
to secure their safety.
On the same boat with my father
was a very beautiful and accomplished
girl. Eight years afterwards, having
been married, there was born to her a
boy; and in the Forty ninth Congress.
that boy, having grown to manhood. l
met as colleague in the Hall of the
House of Representatives. 1t was Will
liam II. Grain. our departed colleague
and friend. His mother. very charm
ing lady. was in Washington several
years ago. and recollected the Indian
raid upon Port Lavaca and all its ter
rible details, which. of course. were
most interesting history to me. The
coincidence to which l have referred
attracted me to Mr.. Grain, gave me a
personal interest in him, feeling of
warm friendship for him. and became
more intimate with him on that
account than l should otherwise have
been 1t was an intimacy that was
always most gratifying to myself, for |
found him to be one of the most lovable
characters tndt 1 Ildu csSl Iitu tHS
good fortune to know.
William II. Grain was a brave.
honest. earnest man. His handsome
face. his fine physique, his manly bear
ing, his uniform courtesy and Kindness.
and his generous nature could not ran
to make him attractive to every one
who had heart and mind to admire
that which is good and beautiful.
Even if l were ever so we'll prepared.
am sure, Mr.. Speaker that l could
not say anything that would be salts
| factory to myself on this occasion.
There are times in human life when the
| feelings which we'll up in the heart can
not find adequate expression in words.
| When the devout Christian stands by
| the altar and partakes of the bread
and wine which to him. if to no one
else, is the blood and body of the Saw
| Jour whom he worships. and in whose
pure life and painful, tragic death he
thinks he sees his only hope of happy
| Ire beyond the grave, he does 1t in
subdued tones or in silence. When the
! Mohamlnedan. at the setting of the
sum- kneels down and makes his orr
sons, he does it in language inaudible;
and when man stands by the death
bed Of friend, or thinks of him as
We 60 today of having gone over the
| dark and shadowy river tears alone
iare his natural language. So. while l
| would gladly pay to our deceased and
| lamente1 colleague tribute such as l
feel and such as he deserves. it is not
possible for me to do so.
| He has gone to return to us no more
| upon the shores of time. We shall see
his mornings and outgoings no longer.
| His eloquent voice has been hushed.
The charm of his material presence we
shall feel here not again. But l feel
that the influence of his noble quail
| tiles of mind and heart will ever lin
ger With us as fingers the perfume of a
sweet flower even when we have long
parted from it,
| We will cherish his memory as a pos
session most dear to us. Let us hope
and believe that his eyes have opened
to the morning light of a never ending
day. Let us have faith that he dwells
beneath the smile of that Divine power
who created life. not to be swallowed
up in death but to be renewed. puri-
fed. and enlarged in a realm of clearer
light and broader vision. where the no.
blest aspirations and grandest dreams
of our lives here shall become our as
| Sured and beautiful realities