The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1910-07-28

stances that dropped from the mere
chances concerning the early career of
this now famous man. While mighty
outpouring of visitors was leaving
Washington the day following the cere-
monies relating to the monument in
that city to Washington, this writer, on
one of the crowded trains, met. lady
who informed him that she had had a
reserved seat in an eligible section of
National House of Representatives in
the gallery, from which she listened to
the Grafton of the chief orator of that
occasion. At the close of the address,
tired Of sitting for hours, she rose to
leave; but just as she rose a clap of
hands and stamp of feet caused her
to look over the sea of heads.on the
floor below and catch a view of a form
on crutches shutting through the throng
to the rostrum. Asking the name of
the stranger she was told that he was
John Daniel of Virginia. Curious to
hear what could be added to so much
that had been so well said, she stood a
minute to hear the opening which she
repeated, about as follows: Washing
ton is alone in history; solitary and
alone, like some great peak that has no
fellow in the mountain range of great
ness" The charm of such an opening
held her a willing captive to the utter
ance Of the last word in the closing SEN
tence.
Again on train, delegate from the
National Convention nominating Gen.
Hancock for the presidency, stated
that Maj. Daniel rose to second the
nomination. The Western crowd did
not know HIM, and for a while it was
feared that the jeers and cat-calls
would force him from the platform.
But remaining firm, in clear, bugle
| tones, abiding to the gallant chief,
when the war had ended, as 1.-THE first
to salute with his stainless sword the
majesty of the civil law" the conven-
ton fell under the spell of his powers
and was borne upon the waves OF his
eloquence in whatever direction he de-
sired
In Virginia he was among his own
without peer. AS Frightening lum-
mary he was just rising to view above
the Virginia horizon when Malone
sought power under the hideous de-
formity of State Reputation of large
part Of her assumed debt. Maj. Daniel
saw this unhallowed resort as a blot
upon the fair fame of his state, ard
championed its opposition in every quar-
ter of the Commonwealth with a pa
triotlc devotion and imprisoned elo-
| quence never surpassed upon that
ancient hustings. In that issue he met
| defeat from an element in electorate
! too recent from servitude to respond to
the nobler impulses and too ignorant
for public safety with the ballot Maj.
Daniel was a Democrat from deep con-
Victions but not a political vassal. He
was statesman of lofty conceptions
and his arguments broadened out high
and wide above the fog clouding the
lower grounds of party passion. While
witheringly scathing in assaults upon
the policies and theories of opponents
he did not descend to personalities nor
enter the arena of abuse with the little
men of little minds.
He was one who was masterful in
discussions but
Whose humor, as gay as the fly lights
Play'd over every subject, and shone as it
| played;
Whose wit, in the combat, as gentle as bright
Ne'er carried a heart stain away on its
blade"
Virginia esteemed him an honor to
every gift possible from her hands, and
for more than two decades kept him