Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-04-17
The Unmarked Grave of Blaine.


A Washington correspondent of u
western paper, in describing the
beauties of the National Capital,
speaks of Oak Hill cemetery in the
northwestern suburbs, and dwells with
surprise and regret upon the fact that
the grave of James G. Blaine is still
practically unmarked. Save for a lit
tie white slab, two or three feet high,
bearing the name and the dates of
birth and death, there is nothing to
mark the spot where there was laid to
rest, decade ago, the greatest Ameri-
can statesman of his time, the prince
of parliamentarians, the superb and
magnetic party leader who won the
hearts of the people as few public men
have ever won them. What a SEQUEL
whose closing years We're so filled with
the anguish of personal sorrow and the
bitterness of defeat. What an example
Of the world forgetting. by the world
forgot What an illustration of the
ingratitude of a republic!
The grave where crumbles the NOR
tai dust Of James G. Blaine should
long since have been marked by Il
majestic monument Of enduring marble
erection of a fitting memorial to such
q man, whose whole life was given to
his party ana his country should not
have been left, and should not now be
left, to the immediate family. 1t is
not enough to say that his name will
ever be honored in the annals of our
country; to say that the historian OF
| the future will record that he was law
fully elected President by the Ameri-
can people in 1854; to point to the inn
posing surerstructure of reciprocity
which his far-seeing mind conceived
dwell upon his long and splendid SER
vice in the House, in the Senate and in
| two cabinets. His name will live with
out the aid of marble or brass, and his
achievements are an imperishabll
monument to his memory, but it is tC
! the shame of the Republican party and
to the shame of the whole American
people that no massive mausoleum OF
| towering shaft, stands, as tribute OF
| 1nt-a 7, in nj naI
Hill cemetery.
There was. and will continue to be
regret that he who was known the
world over as "Blainc OF Maine" was
not laid at rest under the sod of his
own State. He loved il well; it hon
ored him with every gift. and was ever
loyal to him. Perhaps it is better that
he sleeps in Washington, the center OF
| Americas activity and the scene of his
many great battles and victories. But
what pity, what a national reproach
that in that beautiful city where
stately monuments and heroic statues
4 greet onc-On every hand there has beer
nothing done to commemorate the fame
| and distinguish the grave of this great
statesman. Why was nothing done q
decade ago? Why is nothing done
now? Who is at fault? 1t is one OF
those cases where fate has ordered
things strangely, when one is chosen
and another left. When Blaine died
he was not in public office: his death
occurred after weeks and months OF
illness and lacked the dramatic ele-
ments which often stir a people to dc
great honor to its heroes. No one man
| or body or section arose to guide and
stimulate Il popular movement for q
memorial. Such things are not done
without 4 directing head and a thor
ough organization. as we have seen in
the case of the Mckinley Memorial
fund. And 50 the people have neg
| lected the grave of the man they loved
well. Is the neglect to continue?