The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-06-30
ELOQUENT LYRIC ORATOR
DESPITE TRIBULATIONS
Senator Daniel Gifted With Peerless Forensic PowersExcers
from Ad dresses

Few men have suffered the physical
pangs and mental agony and anguish
that was Senator Daniels. yet with
all Ills pains and worries he was one
of the most philosophical Of men, and
his point OF view was ever optimistic,
Frightening and CHEEKY. To the world
he was a man apparently without a
care or vicissitude. and on the plat
form he possessed the rarest powers
to charm and enthrall with the power
OF his words and the beauty OF his
SMILES.
AS an orator, Senator Daniels peer
was difficult to find. HIS splendid
forai.sics have gone down into history
and been written into the literature OF
the nation I4is Grafton on the life
of Jefferson Davis, delivered before the
Gei.e, al Assembly OF Virginia on Jann-
airy Is. 1890. and his forensic at the
a, dication of~-the Washington Menu
J a.. on February 81. 1885, were epic,
AID the country read them with geau-
Inc relish and rare appreciation
Il Senator Daniel delivered scorts of
lectures and addresses, historical and
cllerwise. and by reason Of physioa!
impossibility to comply with therl. WAS
kept constantly busy declinlaS Invita-
lions to speak,
Life of General Lee.
In his Grafton on the life of General
Robert E. Lee, delivered at Lexington.
June IS, 1888, Senator Daniel said, In
part;
There was no happier or lovelier
bcrne than that OF Colonel Robert Ed :
ward Lee In the spring of 1861, when
for the frst time its threshold was
I darxened with the omens Of civil war.
Growing the green slopes OF the
| Virginia hills that overlook the Po-
tomac. and empowered In stately
trees, stood the venerable mansion OF
Arlington, facing a prospect of va
ried and imposing beauty Its broad
porch and widespread wings held out
! open arms, as II were. to welcome
the coming guest. Its simple Doric
columns graced domestic comfort
with a classic air. Its halls and
chambers were adorned with the por-
traits of patriots and heroes and with
illustrations and relics Of the great
revolution. and of the Father of his
Country. And within and without,
history and tradition seemed to
| breathe their legends upon a canvas
as sof. as a dream of peace.
The noble. which in its history
as we'll as in its name. carries US
back to the days when the red man
trod its backs, sweeps in fun and
even flows along the forefront of the
landscape; while beyond its waters
stretch the splendid avenues and rise
the cleaning spires of Washington;
and over all. the great white dome
! OF the national capital looms up
| against the eastern sky. like glory
| In the air.
Southwark and westward. toward
tho rim Of the Alleghanies, roll away
the pine and oak-clad hills. and the
fields OF the old Dominion dotted
here and there with the homes of the
| people Of simple tastes and uprigh,
minds. renowned for their devotion
to their native land. and for thei,
fierce love OF liberty; people who
have drunk into their souls with
their mothers' milk, that man Is OF
right, and ought to be. free.
"On the one hand there was i'm.
pressed upon the most casual eye tina,
contemplated the pleasing prospect
the munifcencc and grandeur soi
American progress, the arts OF indus
try and commerce. and the symbols
OF power. On the other hand. nature
seemed to WOO the heart back to hef
sacred haunts, with vistas OF spark
ling waters, with verdant pastures
/ aUO many W1lOWoou eS1hcs Ahu
you penetrate it, deepest recesses
| with the halycon charm that ever
linger about the thought OF home"
Senator Daniel then addressed him.
self to the host OF Arlington. the ante
| cedents of General Lee. told OF the lat
ter's entrance into the theater Of wal
and his brilliant achievements on the
field Of strife. and. in conclusion. said
"sanctify Our Memoriss."
"Come we then to-day in loyal love
to sanctify our memories. to purify oul
hopes, to make strong all good intent
by communion with the spirit Of him
who. being dead, yet speaketh. Come
child in thy spotiess Innocence; come
woman. in thy purity: come. youth. In
thy prime: come. manhood. in thy
strength: come. are, In thy right wis
dom; come, citizen, come. soldier
strcw the roses sand lilies Of june
around the tomb for he, like them
exhaied in his life Natures benencence
and the grave has consecrated that iifs
| and given II to W al: let US crown h.s
| tomb with the oak. the emblem OF hii
str. 9Th. and with laurel. the emblem
OF his glory. and let thGoA whose voicei
he knew Of old. Awnko the echoes Of
the mountains that tlm<l1rs herself ma,
Join n IN eol1mn f4Qx