Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-06-30
ALEXANDRIA,, VA.
THURSDAY EVENING, JUNE 50
DEATH OF SENATOR DANIEL.

debt Of nature after struggle with the
silent reaper which has been in prog
ress since last October. He passed
away peacefully at = sanltarlum IN
Lynchburg 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 min
ole her tears with the sorrowIng fanny
of another OF her honored sons. Inc
angel OF death had been towering over
the death bed Of Senator Daniel Tor
several months and anxious ones VINO
had performed the last viglls finally
watched the vital spark take It's leave oi
this earthly tabernacle.
The fame of John w. Daniel wls by
no means confined to Virginia. lie
enioyed national reputation, ana
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 us
great American.
John w. Daniel had been a prom-
nent figure in his native state from the
time he entered the portals oil man
hood. His career was not mcteoric,
but for third OF 4 century he had
been a fixed star OF the first magnitude.
The synopsis Of his career, published
elsewhere in the Gazette, portrayS the
most important chapters in his history
Tt would require a large volume to en-
fer 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 revolu-
tionary days, the man who for a quar-
fer 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 a few years ago
was made chairman OF 4 national dem
ocratic convention ut which time the
nomination Of vice president was
brought to him, Misunderstanding on
a silver waiter. He, however. declined
the honor for reasons given at the time
He had followed Stoncwall jackson,
and had nc entered the race 1t was
known that his political enemies would
have Haunted the bloody shirt from
Dan to Beersheba.
Passing over the many parts ne
PLAYED in Virginia's history, which are
printed in today's Gazette, special ref
erence should be made to one of the
most important acts in his career.
Twenty-Five years ago. when Virginia
was smarting under modification. rca-
lizing as she did that while the old
commonwealth had freed herself in
1869 from the loathSome embrace OF
carpetbaggers, adventures and negroes.
the state was being dominated by an
organization ALMOST Is repulSlve. john
w. Daniel, then in the yigor OF man
hood, took the stump in the interests
of the party to which he ever proved
true. He spoke ut nearly all the cross
roads of the commonwealth, and while
John S. Barbour, chairman OF the state
democratic committee. was exercising
his great executive ability. John W.
Daniel was the mouthpicce OF dcmoc-
racy as was Patrick Henry of freedom
in revolutionary days. His services
for the party were recognized, and u
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
So1onS of that body he was Justly re-
sarded as a DemosthcneS, and when he
arose to speak he always commanded
the attention of the floor as 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 rs representatives
of every civilized nation OF the world
composed his audience. He was ut his
best. and his conception and delivery
made his address on that occasion one
OF bis masterpieces, aud II was listened
10 by thousands and read 10y millions.
The Good Shepherd has ut last closed
the eyes and sealed the lips OF \ir-
sinia's silver-tougued orator, but the
echoes of bis eloquence MIL ring long
in the ears of the present generation.
Pleasant toward all with whom he
had intercourse and easy OF approach
all felt at ease in his presence. Nhlie
conscious of his abilities and at times
realizing his superiority, there was nc
trace of hauteur in his nature. rs IS SC
often manifest in prominent men he
was the same whole-Souled John