The Republican journal., 1896-10-08
A Sketch of William Mckinley
BY REV. FRANK S. FORBES.

On recent Sunday evening Rev. Frank
5. Forbes, pastor of the Congregationalist
church at Santa Barbara, California,
gave ten minutes prelude devoted to a
summary of one of the illustrious men of
the day, William Mckinley. The audi
torium was filled and Mr.. Forbes had the
close attention Of his audience. The
Santa Barbara Daily News gives the fol
lowing notes from the address:
WILLIAM MCKINLEY.
No man in this country is born in the
purple no man inherits a coronation of
political diadems.
The glory of our institutions is in the
fact that the humblest may rise to the
highest position in the gift of the people,
and after ministering to his fellow men,
quietly take his place again in the ranks
of the plain people.
That which makes our nation great is
not the grandeur of its mountains, nor
the vastness of its plains, nor the fertility
of its valleys, nor the wealth of its I'M
limited resources; not our institutions
with all their equipments, nor our cities
with all their throbbing life That which
ihdhCo d HdtlOu SIedl Is lis Hel anu WO-
men-strong men-noble women. We
cannot boast of the arts of Egypt, the
literature OF Greece, nor the military
achievements of Rome. Our pride is in
our men and women. The nations of the
earth in all their histories have produced
no such characters as have been develop
ed on American soil in the century since
our Independence.
VIM. Mckinley is no ordinary type of
American character. His greatness is
due partly to Inheritance, partly to natural
endowment, and partly to the institute
tions of a Republican government.
MI. Mckinley is Of Scotch Irish descent
on his fathers side, that sturdy solid
race which has added SO much to the
character of our people From his mother
| he is said to inherit many good qualities
OF mind and heart. He is also favored by
| nature, a magnificent body sound mind,
sympathetic heart.
Not as brilliant as was Blaine, not as
witty as Reed not as eloquent as Garfield
i'll his day, but withal a sound, logical,
conservative mind which impresses its
! candor and its solidity upon all who come
within the circle of its influence. When
Mckinley speaks every word is weishty,
and you feel the sincerity of the man.
.
loyalty to his country When young
man in his teens he heard the call of pa
triotism, and entered the army of the
Union His war record is honorable.
His public record is clean. His private
life is above reproach. His country has
done much to develop him. and he has
done much to aid his country At the
age of SO he was elected to represent his
district in Congress, and was a candidate
Tor seven successive terms. In Congress
Mr. Mckinley's record was made on the
| tariff question. He did not push himself
to the front at first, but waited, watched
and studied. When the occasion came he
arose to meet it, and thus made his first
speech on the tariff in 1878, two wears
after he entered Congress. He made an
other great speech in 1883 on the mills
BILL But the act which has crowned
his name with fame was the presentation,
in April 1890, of the tariff bill which
bears his name, and he defended it by the
most profound and logical speech ever
made in the American Congress in de
tense OF protective tariff.
The reaction Of public sentiment from
the high tariff of this bill caused McKin-
leys defeat in the next election. And
not only his personal defeat, but the loss
- AANsoS
Republican party by the largest majority
in its history. Here we have another ex-
ample of Mckinley's greatness-his pa
tient confidence in the final triumph of
his principles. Quietly he waited in his
home at Canton--assured within himself
that the people would in time repudiate
their hasty judgment. Within two years
he saw the change come which gave the
Lower House again to the party of his
principles; which made him Governor
of Ohio and which has this year made
him the inevitable choice of his party for
the highest trust within the gift of his
cOuutrymen.
In debate Mr.. Mckinley is adroit, can
did, logical.
In personality he is genial, warm and
sympathetic.
In religion he is believer Sin the fine
practical faith of the Nazarene, and reg
ular worshipper at church.
This is a campaign of education. Patriot
ism is rising above partyism. The voter
who will not endeavor to inform himself
on the issues of the day is unworthy the
citizenship of this free country. 1t is the
hour to study men and principles, and
vote according to the voice of conscience.