The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-05-28
M,KINLEY AND HIS LIFE.
The interesting Career of the Apos-
tie of Protection.

attention concentrated more bril-
liantly to-day than upon William
Mckinley of Ohio.
His career is Of more than usual
interest. He is a native of Ohio
and is SO years old. He inherited
from his parents who were Pennsly-
vanians, and especially form his
father, who was a foundryman, a
sturdy constitution. His early edu-
cation was such as the country
school afforded, but even while he
was a lad of II he heard the call
of loyal men to arms, and in May,
1861, enlisted as a private IN the
Twenty-third Ohio Volunteers.
Mr.. McKinley's war record was
excellent and when the war closed
was breved a major for gallant and
efficient services.
1t was in 1867 that Maj. McKin-
ley went to live in Canton, the city
which has since been his home. He
had studied law for two years in
Warren, one of the prettiest little
towns in the Western Reserve, had
determined to follow the legal pro-
fession. An opportunity to run for
the position of prosecuting attorney
of Stark county was accepted as
affording him political experience,
while at the same time it was in
line with his career. He was elected
and served two years. Then he
went back to law. The virus of
public life, however, was not eradi-
Gated from his system. For five
years he remained at his profession
and then there came tc HIM an OPP
portunity which changed the whole
course of his life. He was nomi-
mated for Congress, was elected, land
in December, 1877, took his seat in
the House. From that day to this
he has been more or less in public
view. He has achieved fame through
devotion to one principle-the doc
trine of the protection of American
industries.
A recent writer speaking of Mr..
Mckinley, has called attention to
the fact that his career teaches the
value of the one-ldea man. This is
absolutely true. lie has become
famous IN politics just as a physi-
clan who devotes himself exclusively
to a single specially reaches the top
most round of the ladder of success.
He is the great tariff expounder of
the present generation. Early in
his career he indicated his ability
to grasp the great subject and those
who knew him best predicted for
him brilliant future.
New responsibilities brought out
new traits IN Mr.. McKinley's char
acter. He developed remarkable
ability for gathering and assimilat-
ing details. Above all things, he
gave evidence of a remarkably even
temperament. Its equilibrium was
never disturbed. In the midst of
exhaustlng inquiries, despite the
importunate appeals of his collea-
CUES to regard their personal inter-
ests and Notwithstanding the tur-
moils of debate, he was always good
natured, always kind. Indeed, his
very love of peace led him at times
to make concessions which men of
sterner mold would not have enter
tanned.
In the convention which met at
Minneapolis Mr. Mckinley was
pledged to no man and he could of
have received the nomination with
out qualm of conscience. To HIM
turned the men who were plotting
for the defeat of President Har-
rison and who found that at the
last minute that the name Of
James G.. Blaine had lost its mag
ical power. For two days Mr. Nc
Kinley stood on the brink of a po-
lltical chasm. He would not au-
thorize his name to be used and
he did not raise protesting hand
when sitting as the presiding officer
of the convention, he saw the anti
Harrison clement led by the Ohio
delegation endeavor to rally hope
less cause around him. The Won
derful self control which Mr.. Nc
Kinley exercised over himself in
those exciting times was never bet
ter illustrated than when one of the
orators in seconding Harrison's
nomination turned to Mckinley
exclaimed, with something of dram
attic force "Your turn, sir Will come
four years hence" A burst of ap-
plause rang through the great con-
vention hall. Mr.. McKinley's pale
face showed not the slightest trace
of color, and around his mobile lips
was hardly the faintest suggestion
of smile.
Personally Mr.. Mckinley is a
lovab!e man. Although cast in u
oorionc r,O11 bo o,onrooiotog n roO1