The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-04-30


dered Duvsl to Take His Troops Up a
Creek, Which DuvaI Did, and After
Fighting Calamity Routed the Enemy
-Afterward Sheridan Told Mckinley II
WAS All Right Because 1t was Right,
But If it had Been Wrong it Would
Have Been Damned Wrong.
New York, April 29.-The Herald
prints the following from Canton, Ohio:
Mckinley, despite his Scotch-Irish an
cestry, his hard-headed practically,
has sentiment. You can safely measure
a man by his rhetoric, and Mckinley S
rhetoric is invariably warm and full of
color. In speaking or writing he deals
in adjectives as freely as when making
tariff schedules he uses figures and
fractions on the ascending side Of the
scale. 1t is a favorite theory of his
worshipers that he has taken Blaine's
place in the in1aginations and affections
Of the people. Certain it is that he has
Blaine's gift, or trick, whatever you
choose 10 call it, of striking fire on
the sentiment of the masses. He has a
personality which pleases. His family
life is ideal. His face inspires conf
dence- He is stronger than Blaine ever
was in the hearts Of the people, because
Blaine never made tariff bill which
was put out in good times and was fol-
lowed by another tariff bill which be-
came operative in bad times.
Mckinley was a follower of Blaine.
In many ways Blaine has been his
ideal. The first chance he ever had TO
attract the attention of the country TO
himself was in Blaine's service. In the
Republican national convention of 1884
Mckinley was a Blaine delegate, de-
spite the fact that John Sherman was
candidate from Ohio. AT a critical
moment in that convention, when
Blaine's nomination seemed impending.
the opposition made an effort to ad-
Journ. 1t was Mckinley who threw
himself into the breach. With a few
clear cut words, in that tense, high
pitched voice Of his, a voice which tells
the earnestness of the man, he instant
ly commanded every ear and every eye
IN the convention. In a dozen words
he made himself marked man. In
Vulnerable predictions were at that mo-
ment made that some day he should be
president, and Mckinley has been rum
ming away from or running toward the
presidency every since.
William McKinley's inheritance from
his Scotch-Irish ancestry was strength
or character. stub bornness, straight
driving. No weak man could have en-
tered the Union army a boy of II and
IN three years have attracted the at
tention of such generals as Hayes,
Crook and Sheridan, to say nothing of
successive promotions. He was a gen
tie boy, as he is a gentle man. His
methods are those of peace and good
feeling. He has the gentleman's aver
sion to harshness. to hurts. to rebuffs.
But when occasion demands he can be
as bold as Murat. While yet beard
less boy Mckinley was an aide on Gem
eraI Sheridan's staff. He was given
oral orders TO General Duval to advance
his command. But Duval was not ac-
quainted with the topography Of the
country and wished to know whether
he was TO move by the creek bottom or
over the hills. The orderly did not
know, but thought Sheridan had in
tended the advance to be made by the
creek.
Il refuse to move without definite or
ders," said Duval
Young Mckinley hesitated onlv
second. He realized the Importance of
having DuvaPs men at the designated
place at the appointed moment He ac-
cepted responsibility beyond his years
and the articles of war.
General Duval," said he, "I order
you, in General Sheridan's name. 10
move your command by the creek bot
TOM
Duval obeyed and met the enemy and
rought them well. After it was over
Sheridan is said to have remarked:
MCKINLEY, it was all right because
II was all right. But if it had been all
wrong it would have been damned
wrong"
IN other words, there might have been
a court martial and a great change in
the history Of the quarter century as it
Is now being written.
Inc boy who could do that had not in
MIN the making Of weak man. Nor
was there ever any evidence of a
weakness in his career in congress.
FROM the first, young and unknown as
he was, he attracted the attention OF
the leaders in the house. They were
impressed by ms earnestness of pur-
pose. 1ney at once admitted him TO
the inner council There never was a
time during McKinley's service in the
house that he was not among the fore
most dozen on the Republican side.
Luck does not play these pranks. In
the keen competition and incessant
struggle of the floor merit. judgment.
soEdity. purpose. character are the
factors which bring advancement. In
fine. Mckinley had that within him
which lifted him to level where but a
small number stood. Then fate as we
have seen, singled him out and led him
step by step, with imminent danger of
a slip and a mighty fall at every one.
TO the very top.
1t Kills the Bugs.
And stops itching of the scalp in one