Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-06-25
OUR NEXT PRESIDENT.
REVIEW OF M'KlNLEY'S CAREER AND
A GLANCE At HIS HOME,
The Enth usiasm of His Townspeople-Th
story of His Hfe- His Devotion TO His
Invalid wifs-His Public Services
and National Popularity.


McIlinley's nomination for the presiden-
cy as a champion of sound money and
protection has brought out every man,
woman and child in Canton and the tl,ree
great counties of northeastern Ohio to
cheer their idol and wish him Godspeed
on his way to the White House, says the
Chicago Times-IIerald, which con-
tinues: Enthusiasm of this char
acter and hero worship of this
nature are impossible in these last
years of the nineteenth century, save
where the man so honored by his own
life has compelled those among whom he
has lived to render him homage more
sincere than any ever given n Caesar or
tcndered Slavic car. True hero wor
ship In these days Is love for the native
good In q man, for his virtues as son,
IL father, citizen and statesman. He
has shown himself to them under all
trials and through all successes to be
tender, loving and true. The testimony of
his own towns-people, from the black
faced miner to the Judge on the bench,
is to this effect
McKlney's life belongs in the same his
torical category of lives as Lincon's,
Grants, Garfleld's and Logan's Born in
obscurty, raised in poverty, fighting as
private soldier in the civil war before he
had attained his majority, leaving the
army to study and practice law, attaining
marked political positions among his own
people, elected to Congress, made govern
or of his native State. experiencing crush
ing financial reverses. uphoding his man
hood and his honor at all times and under
all circumstances-this has been Ills life,
and this is American life. His ances-
tors gave him Scotch-Irish blood of the
best quality, and they were American cit
liens before the revolution came.
Niles, in 1s43 was one of the smallest
nf N1n hnr far
came to trade and where there was an
iron furnace. McKinley's father was
managing this furnace, and the boy, from
his family's intimate relation with the
iron business, gained In early life part of
that knowledge of industrial life and work
which since has stood him in such good
need in public life. The house in which
Mckinley was born at Niles was of frame.
combination of country store and
dwelling. Niles had poor school advant-
ages for the many children in the Nc
Kinley family. Father and mother saw
this. They were ambitious for the future
of their children, and schooling they must
have. So they moved to Poland. in Ma
honinR county where there was an Acad-
envy. one of the old time institutions of
learning of which there are few counter
parts in these days, Here Mckinley not
quite 16 studied In the academy, pursued
a law course. led the village debating So
ciety, performed many of the duties of the
postmaster taught school, found work for
hi1 hands to do at all times, and became
easily the most promising young man of
the community. 1t was at this time-in
1SjS-that he became member of the
Methodist Episcopal church of Poland,
a religious organization with which he
has been connected ever since. There are
many who remember his characteristics
In those days when he was first forming
his character They tell of him that he
was genial. happy. buoyant and always
thoughtful of the happiness of others,
with whom he came in contact. His 10y
atty and devotion to his mother was
marked from the first day he was able
to lisp her name. This fidelity to her has
continued to the present day. finding no
division save the love he bestows upon
his wife His mother was an Allison be-
fore her marriage and is of English de-
scent. She was married In 1927 to William
Mckinley, Sr. She was born in 1909 near
New Lisbon. Ohio.
Young Mckinley left Ohio when he was
II, to pursue course of study at Allie
gheny college, but a sudden illness COM
PEELED him to return home and he took up
school teaching. lie went from the school,
masters desk into the army to fight for
the Union. There is an old tavern in
Poland known az the Sparrow House,
which was built in 1904 The rafters are
tumbling down now, and time has almost
1851, the old place was one of common re-
sort for the villagers, and most of the
town meetings were held there. Lincoln,
at that time had Just issued his call for
troops, and Poland was to send a company
to the front. A meeting had been called
to be held in the Sparrow House. The
place was packed. Mckinley had come
from his school to hear the speeches.
When one speaker said, pointing to an
American flag which had been displayed:
who will be the first to defend it?" Me-
Kinley stepped forward, and with him the
first young men of Poland. OF private Nc
Kinley, afterward to become Mai McKin-
ley, ex-President Hayes wrote before his
death: Young as he was, we soon found
that In business, In executive ability,
young Mckinley was a man of rare capac-
ity, of unusual and unsurpassed capacity,
especially for boy of his age. When
battles were fought or service was to be
performed In warlike things. he always
took his place. Tho night was never too
dark; the weather was never too cold; ;
there was no sleet, no storm, or hail or
snow or rain that was in tho way of his
prompt and efficient performance Of every
duty" They tell In Canton and at Poland
(men who fought beside him) that he al
ways had his face fronted toward the
quarter whence he expected trouble He
was at the engagement of Carnifex Ferry
Then he came to South Mountain and the
DIoOuy Helu Oh Antletam lie was IN mo
engagement at Kernstown, near Win
chester, and at Opequan
Gen, Hayes loved Mckinley as though
he were his own son, and when he had
sent him at the battle of Kernstown on a
dangerous mission, which seemed to
promise certain death for the young soldier
his emotion at being compelled to do 1t
was visible to the stan. On McKinley's
safe return Hayes said to him: II never
expected to see you in life again" At
Opequan McKinleys good judgment and
quick apprehension of what should or
what should not be done stood him in
good need. The battle was fought by
Sheridan. but Mckinley played a strong
part In bringing about the final success.
They tell In Poland that Maj. Mckinley
was loath to leave the army when the
war was at an end. Be that as 1t may
his father, whose iron furnace interests
had grown TO considerable proportions
was extremely DESTROYS that he should
enter civil life, and so his son decided to
do. Stark county was so democratic in
those early days that a republican nomi-
nation for any county office was looked on
as an empty honor. Nevertheless, two
years after taking up his residence i'm Can
ton Mckinley was nominated for county
prosecutor on the republican ticket He
accepted the nomination. stumped the
county from one end to the other, made
himself acquainted with every voter in
NSseSessSSseS SsSseSSN