Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-28
NATION PAYSTRTBUTE
United States, Through Representatives,
Honor Late President Mckinley.
SECRETARY HAYS tlooUENT ADDRESS
1mpresSively Life and LabOrS Of
the Ma. M 'stesman'
sEcRtTAMY HAYS LloOUENT ApORtss
MEMORIAL IN HALL Or ~ sN1ATNEs
Attended by President RoOsevb. at
met and Other High 0fiCiai.
PRINCE HENRY OF PRUSSIA IS PRESENT
Fourth Memorial Service for Dead
Presidents Held in Hall where
Mckinley Achieved Great
A.. Fame.

Mckinley Achieved Great
Asir Fame
WASHINGTON Feb. 27.-At noon today
an the great hall Of Representatives, in the
presence OF President Roosevelt. Prince
Henry OF Prussia. brother Of the German
emperor; the members Of the cabinet, the
justices Of the supreme court, the general
of the army and officers Of the army and
navy who have received the thanks of con-
gress, the ambassadors and other diplo-
matte Representatives Of foreign countries,
the senators and representatives in con-
gress and large number Of distinguished
guests, Hon. John Hay, McKinley's seore-
tary OF state, pronounced a eulogy upon
his dead chief -Four times before national
memorial services. for presidents who have
died in ONCE have been held In this hall,
two Of them, like this, in commemoration
of chief magistrates who have fallen by
the hand OF assassins. George Bancroft,
the historian, pronounced the eulogy on
Lincoln, and Blaine was Garheld's orator.
It was eminently fitting that the last pub
lie ceremonial OF sorrow for the lamented
Mckinley should take place In the forum
which had echoed his voice, in the arena
where he won his spurs.
BY strange coincidence today
was the twentieth anniversary Of
that on which the peerless Blaine,
in the same hail. delivered his
sulogy upon the martyred Garfield, and
stranger still. the subject of today's me-
mortal service was the chairman of the
committee that had charge OF the arrange
ments on that occasion. Who then could
have dreamed that the man who escorted
the then president Of the United States and
the orator Of the day to their places was
destined to be honored, like Garfield, with
the highest place in the gift Of his country,
was to meet his sad fate and was himself
70 be the next martyred president above
whose open grave the nation would bow it's
head?
Changes of a Year.
Only one year ago, less Eve days, at the
head OF an imposing civic and military
procession, Mckinley passed triumphantly
along Pennsylvania avenue for his second
Inauguration. Six months later the
tragedy occurred at Buffalo and another
but different, soFtssek procession tenderiy
bore his body through the streets TO the
rotunda Of the capitol. where the brief
funeral oratiou was delivered over his
conn and the tributes of the ma
lions of earth about his bier be-
spoke the universal sorrow. Today once
more. with uncovered head, the nation paid
1ts last tribute OF respect and publicly
oppressed It's living grief.
Again the broad avenue was filled with
vast crowds, as they were year ago. Then
the streets were q sea OF glittering
bayonets and waving plumes and the air
was filled with the hundred-tongued
Tesplendent banda Today all was changed
The procession .Ns unorganized. No
martial music nSsSened the feet OF the
Ihrong. No cheers were heard.
Procession Quiet and solemn.
The only pageant was the gathering
troop OF cavalry escorting Prince Henry
and his party to the capitol and carriages
here and there conveying officers In uni
form or diplomats In court costume TO the
place where the eulogy was to be delivered.
That was the extent Of the outward spec
tacie. To the people the event was one OF
the mind and heart rather than for the
eye and esr. But Notwithstanding the fact
proclaimed In advance that admission to
the hall OF representatives and even to
the capitol itself. was to be restricted to
those holding cards, the people oongre-
gated In unnumbered thousands about the
great marble pile upon the hill. The ticket
uOauyhu boaAG8N0 w - ooS otOiAo dOCao ~
the entrance Of the rotunda and overhowed
the portico and steps leading to 1t, the
crowds, kept back by lines Of blue-ooated
police, walled in the three sides Of the
broad plaza In front of the capitol II
they could not gain admittance they were
content 10 Be near the place where the
ceremony was to be held and TO catch a
glimpse OF the president. whose accession
was made possible By the death OF him
who the representative people were assem-
bling TO commemorate, or 70 see Prince
Henry and the bespangled diplomats and
other dignitarieS The only emblem Of
mourning at the capitol was the nags iut-
tering at balf-mast above the two wings
and great arching dome.
ROnovvs Closely GarneId Exercises.
Before the doors were opened for ticket
holders the corridors Of the capitol were
unocenpied save for the guards. Within
the hall OF representatives all was in readi-
mesa Tha congressional committee which
had charge OF the arrangements was tortu-
nate. not only in the selection OF the person
to whom the honor Of pronouncing the
eulogy was committed. but also in the minor
details. The precedent In the case OF the
GARFIELD memorial exercises was followed
closely. The hall was without decoration OF
any character. The relocated Marine band
sixty strong, was stationed In the corridor
which separates the hall from the rear
lobby OF the house
At 10 o'clock the doors were opened and
In ave minutes the spacious galleries sur
rounding the chamber were dense with
black rows OF people. Even the aisles were
nlled. but the erowding and jamming which
have marred so many state occasions today
was avoided, as the tickets issued were
limited strictly to the number Of seats pro-
yided. Only one was given to each senator
and representative and the gathering in the
galleries was a most distinguished one
The fact that few Of the women wore bright
gowns was especially noticeable. They had
attired themselves In dark costumes. be-
htting the occasion. and their white faces
were rendered distinct by the sombernesi
Of their apparel.
The doorkeeper announced the gen
ersl Of the army. The speaker tapped thre,
times. the members Of the house and tn,
diplomatic body arose and General Miles
resplendent in gold lace. gold epAuletts an,
broad yellow sash across his breast. an,
EContinuea On seveath PaSe.l