Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-06-30
ALEXANDRIA, VA.
THURSDAY EVENING, JUNE 30
DEATH OF SENATOR DANIEL.

silent reaper which has been in prog
ress since last October. He passed
away peacefully at a sanltarlum IN
Lvnchburg last night He has now
taken his place in the galaxy OF the
talented sons OF the Old Dominion who
have since colonial days played their
parts and made their exits from the
stage Of life.
Virginia is thus called again to MN
ole her tears with the sorrowng family
Of another of her honored sons The
angel OF death had been lowering over
the death bed Of Senator Daniel for
several months and anxious ones who
had performed the last vigils finally
watched the vital spark take ITS leave oil
this earthly tabernacle.
The fame of John w. Daniel was by
no means confined to Virginia. lie
enioyed a national reputation, and
while the state in which he was born
and reared is justly proud in number
ing him with her illustrious sons, the
country at large will ever claim HIM as
a great American.
John w. Daniel had been a prom-
nent figure in his native state from the
time he entered the portals OF man
hood. His career was not meteorlc'
but for third of century he had
been fixed star Of the first magnitude.
The synopsis of his career, published
elsewhere in the Gazette, portrayS the
most important chapters in his history
II would require a large volume to en-
ter into all the details, which, how
ever, would prove interesting reading.
Although descended from repre-
sentative stock, some OF his ancestors
being prominent as far back as reyolu-
tionary days, the man who for quar-
Ter of a century had been Virginia 5
senior senator began to fight lies bat
ties at the lowest rung Of the ladder.
He kept climbing and few years ago
was made chairman of a national dem
ocratic convention at which time the
nomination of vice president was
brought to him, fgurately-speakIng,o on
a silver waiter. He, however, declined
the honor for reasons given at the time
He had followed Stoncwall Jackson,
and had ne entered the race it was
known that his political enemies would
have Haunted the bloody shirt from
Dan to Beersheba
Passing over the many parts he
played in Virginia S history, which are
printed in today's Gazette, special rel
erence should be made to one of the |
most important acts in his career.
Twenty-Five years ago, when Virginia
was smarting under modification, rea-
LIKING as she did that while the old
commonwealth had freed herself in
1869 from the loathsome embrace OF
carpetbaggers, adventurcrs and negroes,
the state was being dominated by an
organization ALMOST As repulslve. John |
w. Daniel. then in the yig0r OF man
hood. took the stump in the interests
of the party to which he ever proved !
true. He spoke at nearly all the cross
roads of the commonwealth, and while |
John 5. Barbour, chairman OF the state |
democratic committee, was exercising /
his great executive ability, John W.
Daniel was the mouthpiece OF democ-
racy as was Patrick Henry of freedom
in revolutionary days. His services
for the party were recognized, and a
few months later he was elected to the
United States Senate where he has since
remained, having but recently been re-
elected to succeed himself.
When he took his seat among the
Solons of that body he was justly re-
earded as a DemostheneS, and when he
arose to speak he always commanded
the attention of the floor rs well as of
the galleries.
He was selected to deliver the address
at the dedication of the Washington
Monument on the 22d Of February. |
1885. and people from all sections OF
the country as well as representatives
of every civilized nation OF the world
composed his audience. He was at ms
best. and his conception and delivery !
made his address on that occasion one
al bis masterpieces, aud 1t was listened
40 by thousands and read by millions |
The Good Shepherd has at last closed
the eyes and sealed the lips OF Nir-
ginia's Silyer-tougued orator, but the
echoes of bis eloquence wJl ring long
in the ears of the presen; generation
Pleasant toward all with whom he |
had intercourse and easy Of approach,
all felt at ease in his presence. Nhie
conscious of his abilities and at times
realizing his superiority, there was no
trace of hauteur in his nature as Is SO