Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1912-11-08
A NOTEWORTHY rRIUMvIRATE
"reminiscences Of Vice Presidents Who
Have Died in Harness.

dent have died in harness George
Clinton, ths first Governor of New
York and Elbridge Gerry. of Massa-
chusetts lone of the 81 gners," hold
conspicuous place.
Just one hundred years ago Clin-
ton died in Washington whde holding
that Office and thirty months later
his immediate successor as Vice-Pres-
ident also died st he post of duty.
With them, as with James Sherman
died in harness is more than a figure
of speech, il is reality in the case
Of the faithful triumvirate, completed
in the passing of our last Vice-Pres-
ident
Of the interest and endeavor of
the latter in the affairs of his country
there is no need 10 comment. the
memory is too recent and too pathetic,
but of the two who a hundred years
ago closed their earthly career it is
pleasant 10 speak, for examples of
patriotism that are rememberd for
a century prove it is not always true
that the good men do is inferred
with their bones.
Practically every visitor to the
Federal city sees the famous Con-
gressional cemetery which is unique
among the homes of the dead as be-
ing dedicated in the honor of politi-
clans. Graveyards for the brave of
the land, the soldiers and sailors are,
Of course. often seen, England has a
corner for her literary children after
death, but at the Capital of these
States is Gods Acre" for those who
after iife's fitful fever in the political
arena of Congress, sleep well. /"
Among the most striking examples
of a sermon in stone is the great
monument of Vice-President Gerry,
for there three generations of Amer
icads have read the motto of his life
deep cut in the marble. The oft-ex-
pressd sentiment of Elbridge Gerry
who died suddenly in his carriage on
the way to preside over the Senate
of the United States was: "lt is
the duty of every citizen, though he
have but one day TO live, to devote
that day to the service of his coun
try" Surely it can b. said of this
great "signer, he being dead, yet
speaketh. {"
To Major also Governor
and Vice-President-G George Clinton
belongs the distinction of having
two splendid military funeral servi-
ces at the Capital city nearly a CEN
tury apart-the last occasion was
four years ago last spring. when the
body was brought north after ninety
six years at the old cemetery and in
tered at Kingston-on- Hudson, with
in fifty feet from the spot where the
first governor of New York State was
insugurated.
Many columns were wired of the
\ curious story of the removal from
/ the grave, and the honor paid the long
dead soldier and statesman at the
time, and nothing better illustrates
/ the changes not in sentiment, but in
manner of expression, than a COM
parison between the press comments
at the time of the first and second
hurials. In looking at the record of
the death of Clinton, one is impressed
with the simplicity of the times FOR
though he was i'll with lung fever for
| thirty days, save for the bare an
II
side over the Senate on account of
indisposition, there was not one line
/ printed until his death was announced.
But though the method of showing
| interest now differs in kind, there was
a demonstration of honor and affec-
tion in the miles of funeral process
sion such as has not been rivalled in
modern times. But no word picture
of today can better illustrate the
goods and manners of the infancy of
the Republic than the newspaper ver-
81 on of that ceremony:
1.-The mortal remains of the illus
| trious Vice-President George Clinton
were inferred in the burying-ground
near the navy yard, in the presence of
a concourse greater than ever seen in
the Nations Capital. Shops were all
shut and a general air of gloom per-
vaded all ranks of society.
1.-THE scene was awful and impress
sive. The martial parade, the glis-
| tening arms and nodding plumes of
military corps who preceded the
| hearse, the solemn melody of mar
| tial music which attuned d all hearts to
melancholy, the sable hearse, attend
ed by eight venerable pallbearers,
who partook of the tolls of the Revo.
luton; the well-known carriage of
the deceased the Chief Magistrate
of the nation mourning the loss of
one of its noblest sons-the Senate
deploring the loss of a revered Pres
identl But why particularly seek to
describe the lengthening train?
Sufficient to say that the assem-
blage, mourners and interesting OBJ
jects, inspired feelings suited to the
/ occasion. When a Clinton descends
to the tomb of his ancestors, it is fit
that the whole nation bewail his loss
and history immortalize his name.
Hallowed be the ashes of the honored
dead. National lntelligencer, April
%, 1912.
Surely the last pious wish was full
filed in the second funeral so long
after. May the life and death of
these splendid sons of the splendid
States long be recalled.-Jean Cabell