Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1899-06-22
SILVER DICK"
Richard Parks Bland,
The Great Conmoner,

Lebanon Mo- June l5.-Richard Parks Bland died at
i 'H'S hoInhS after an almost continuous sleep of
thty-two hours. His end easv natural and naness
steep OF thls life passed uncohsciousy smoothly
into sleep of eternity.
he went to sleep at 035 o'clock night and since had
e" ""aheneo only at intervals to take medicine and
nourlshment Immediately dropping off to sleep again
messenger from the sick man room at 9o last NIGHT
reported him sleeping with pulse considerably slower
and somewhat weaker than Yesterday His f7n,iI and
lenoS grew alarmed and his physicians ,ctjcent His
Fespatons were slow deep and labored 5u lie manifest
ed little evidence of conscious pain
He had been i'll for some time: in fact had NOT b b
self since the last campaign The part of this month
ne suddenly grew worse His condition ucuated and as
late as Monday afternoon he was decidedly better On
uesudy h%h however he fell asleep continued in
that condition until death The funeral will take place at
Saturday afternoon The remains lie in sta te in the
opera house tomorrow
hichard FarkS Bland was born Hartford. Kv Au.
gust ~ 1863 and was therefore in his 9th year re-
celVed good academic education his youth In 1855 he
removed TO Missouri Shortly after he got the western fe
yer and went to the Pacific Coast He finally located in
virginia City and pracsed law and at the same time
Interested III mining operations, In 1860 he county
treasurer OF Carson County. Utah. continued in that
o"ce unt It's organization part of Nevada In 1865
he returned to Missouri and up the practice of law at
ola with his brother c. C. Bland In 1869 he moved to
eodhoh ana continued his law business. In 1873 the
Democrats of the eight district honored him with con-
seSSonal nomination and he elected This was the
orty-tourth, his puraltes gn from 500 TO 1000 in
d ostrlct normally close In December 1875 he was an
pointed Chairman of the committee on mines and minr
anu ever aterward his prominent among the ad
Vocates OF enlarged silver coinage.
Bland was the leading candidate for the Democratic
presidential nomination when the of 1896 met
Out bryans landslide swept him off field In the last
congress he was the first Democrat on the committee on
coinage weights and measures He might have been his
party leader mad he wished it, but lie preferred to pass the
nonor TO his young friend Bailey, of Texas.
Bland was of the people-the great commouer He
was simple and homey in his tastes life and was new
er on dress parade. He frlls and was honest
ana earnest IN his convictions His domestic life was most
happy and his residence Lebanon was famous for IFS
old fashion hospi tality.
Lebanon, June IL The funeral services took place
TINS afternoon Throngs of citizens friends of the
tamly viewed the body which in the coffin rested on L
udnosoe catataque in front of the stage EN-
oleulS OF mourning all sides and business in
ohon was almost suspended of respect the memo
ry OF the great comnoner The ceremonies were sn,pe
IN accordance with the wishes of the widow and family
AFTER appropriate music by the church choir scripture
lesson was read by Rev j. W. Wilkinson rector of Trinity
Episcopal church. Rev. W. K Collins of the Madison Ave
nue. NJ E. Church. delivered the funeral discourse After
TINS came the Masonic ceremonies Rev j. Anderson cf
ne M h. Church South, offered the closing PRAYER Prom
hent men from all parties and all sections the countrv
attended the funeral ceremonies and many were the te
grams and of condoeuce that poured upon the
family. -"