Evening journal., 1913-12-08
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
Blaine'S Heartfelt Tribute
to Garfield
By Holland.

James G. Blaine retired from the
cabinet OF President Arthur in De-
cember 1881, and Immediately began
the preparation Of the memorial
eulogy of President James A. Gar
held Mr. Blaine had been invited by
Congress to deliver memorial ad
dress in the hall of the House of Rep
resentatives and if convenient, to
him. upon Washingtons birthday in
1882.
Upon the appointed day in Febru-
airy a very great company was gath
cred in the hall of the House of Rep
resentatives. The weather was espe-
cially. propitious. The early flowers
were blossomin., upon the lawns in
front of the Capitol, the sky was tint
ed with the perfect deep blue, unre-
leved by any clouds. of an ideal day
in June.
There were seated in conspicuous
places in specially arranged chairs in
front Of the clerks desk several men
who had gained distinction even be-
fore Mr.. Blaine's name was familiar
one. President Arthur had the place
Of honor, and his manner was that of
man who possessed great dignity
without any hint of self-conscious-
ness.
But, after all, the two invited guests
upon whom the eyes of those who
were in the galleries and Of many of
the members Of Congress were most
steadily fixed were General Hancock,
who had been defeated for the presi-
dency by General Garfield in the No
vember of the preceding year. and
General Sheridan General HEncock's
manner, the perfect serenity and sol
dierly composure which characterized
him, his splendidly poised head, his
erect carriage and the courtesy with
which he steadfastly regarded Mr..
Blaine all tended to justify that in
spiration of Daniel Dougherty when
he called him Hancock the Superb"
This was at the time that Mr. Dough-
erty placed General Hancock's name
before the Democratic national con-
yention of 1880.
II was almost the last appearance
In public of General Hancock Ger
tainly he was little seen in Washing
ton after his ceremonial visit in
which he, as the guest of distin-
guished honor. paid his tribute to the
memory of Garfield.
1t was observed from the gallery
that Mr.. Blaine placed a thick manu-
script before him on the speakers
desk and that each sheet of heavy
paper was black bordered. II was
the first time that Mr.. Blaine had
rfT of huf L. ufrt h.o .Inr 4bnrt
his service as Speaker Of the House of
Representatives ended. Those who
were colleagues of Mr.. Blaine in the
House of Representatives and who
were that day among those who were
gathered to hear the eulogy spoke
afterward of the unaccustomed quail
ity of the voice with which Mr.. Blaine
read his manuscript. Furthermore.
they could not recall an instance in
his entire career when he had read
any speech from manuscript.
His voice. accustomed as he had
been to the acoustic peculiarities OF
the House. was under perfect con-
troll. But il was as gentle, almost as
soothing, as lullaby. He had learned
the art of sending his voice careering
over a great space with perfect in
tonation and articulation The fiery
and impassioned Blaine who had so
often startled or thrilled the members
of the House of Representatives was
statesman of the past and this man of
noble presence and of impressive sol
emnity of manner was a new Blaine,
not till that moment discovered by
any of his old associates.
The closing paragraph of the eulogy
has become an American classic. So
thoroughly is the thought, solemn pa
thetic, tragic, yet breathing the hope
Of Immortality, infused into the verbal
expression that the whole utterance is
now regarded by the ablest critics az
partaking of some of the sublimer as
poets of poetry.
Mr.. Blaine himself was greatly in
terested and even somewhat aston
ished that his peroration should
have commanded such universal rec
ognition in the English speaking
world. He was quoted afterward by
one Of his friends as having said
"The closing sentences Of my Garfield
address are exactly in the form in
whicL they were first written They
came directly from my heart and
mind to the pape-. I wrote those pas
sages having in mind my recollection
T.r~o Ia. no mharn