THE GRAVE OF FRANKLIN PIERCE. After three months sickness Franklin Pierce closed his eyes on terrestrial scenes and passed within the vail to the realm hid from mortal sight. His body was laid in state for two days, in Doric hall, in the capitol. It was borne in funereal procession to Minot cemetery, where was sung over it his favorite hymn: While thee, I seek, protecting Power, Be my vain wishes stilled, And may this consecrated hour With better hopes be filled. The Minot enclosure adjoins the old town cemetery and is fenced with a neat iron paling six feet high; is traversed with concrete paths and smoothly sodded. The Pierce lot is in the northwestern corner. The monument over the grave of the president is of Italian marble, elaborately wrought. The base is of granite, three feet and three inches square. The plinth, die and cap are in artistic proportions. The word PIERCE, is on the plinth in large raised letters; and on the panel of the die is the inscription: Francis Pierce, Born November 23, 1804. Died October 8, 1869. Why Francis, instead of Franklin, does not appear in any public record, but it is presumed that Francis was the name originally given him. Everything is neat and in order about the grave and lot. On the south side of the president's grave is that of Mrs. Pierce. It is marked with a neat marble spire, with a heavenpointing hand, indicating the faith in the home above, in which she lived and died. Over the hand, in an arc of a circle, are inscribed the words: "OTHER REFUGE I HAVE NONE." On the north side of the president's grave are the graves of their two sons, Robert and Franklin. The whole family are gone together; only their history left. So pass away the families of earth. And so are being monumented the graves of our republican presidents in the cemeteries of the people all over the land. State after state holds the grave of a president. Some of the states already have several. The people, in this people's country, make the rulers from among themselves, and then reverently and tenderly lay their bodies away among the bodies of those over whom they ruled; ruler and ruled, alike in the feebleness of their beginning, and in the impotency of death. There is a dignity and consistency in this form of government which reflects honor upon our nature and our kind. When the people honor the rulers of their choice, chosen from among themselves, on account of their ability and worth, and then bury them in their own family burying grounds, monument their graves, and keep them green with hallowed memories, it indicates the true meaning and use of government. This is as it should be. "Honor to whom honor is due." In honoring their noble dead, the people honor themselves. By the side of President Pierce sleep many of the most honored of New Hampshire's citizens, those with whom he lived and labored, who bore with him the cares of government and the burdens of our popular institutions. Death is republican. |