GENERAL ORDERS, No. 84.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE,
_Washington, November 18, 1886_.
I. The following proclamation [order] has been received from the
President:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, _Washington, D.C., November 18, 1886_.
_To the People of the United States_:
It is my painful duty to announce the death of Chester Alan Arthur,
lately the President of the United States, which occurred, after an
illness of long duration, at an early hour this morning at his residence
in the city of New York.
Mr. Arthur was called to the chair of the Chief Magistracy of the nation
by a tragedy which cast its shadow over the entire Government.
His assumption of the grave duties was marked by an evident and
conscientious sense of his responsibilities and an earnest desire to
meet them in a patriotic and benevolent spirit.
With dignity and ability he sustained the important duties of his
station, and the reputation of his personal worth, conspicuous
graciousness, and patriotic fidelity will long be cherished by his
fellow-countrymen.
In token of respect to the memory of the deceased it is ordered that the
Executive Mansion and the several departmental buildings be draped in
mourning for a period of thirty days and that on the day of the funeral
all public business in the departments be suspended.
The Secretaries of War and of the Navy will cause orders to be issued
for appropriate military and naval honors to be rendered on that day.
Done at the city of Washington this 18th day of November, A.D. 1886, and
of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and
eleventh.
[SEAL.]