The age-herald., 1898-03-26
WILLIAM M'KiNLEY'S
 GREAT RESPONSIBILITY
BY NED BRACE


 Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown" can well be applied to William Me- Kinley today Though he wears no crown. yet the responsibility which is upon him | is more weghty than that which has been l imposed upon any president of this country for many years. hear that he is suffering | fearfully from the strain. hear that he Is vascillating. It is said that he sends for Secretaries Long and Gage repeatedly every day that he may consult with them. Upon his shoulders rests the responsibility of war or peace.
 I have known President Mckinley for many years He is a quiet, peaceful af- fable gentleman. My first personal com munication with him was some seven years ago. when I visited him to extend to him an invitation to speak on the tariff ques- tion at the Chautauqua, then in session at Atlanta called at his apartments at the Ebbett house in Washington, and extended him the invitation. He replied by speak ing generally Of Atlanta and the south He spoke of what pleasure it would give him to visit the south and talk to the peo- pie. Then, turning to me, he said:
 T want you to tell fine frankly, my friend, what you think of my visiting Att ianta for the purpose of making a tariff speech. You know that my views are contrary to the views of the democratic party, and particularly to that party as it Is composed in the south generally and in the state of Georgia particularly. am republican and a protectionist If go to Atlanta, I must argue this tariff question as republican and as a protectionist. Will I be given the credit of honesty of pur- pose?'
 responded that the people of Georgia were made of the same bone and sinew as the people of other sections of the country. I told him that 1t was not time of political excitement, but that the peo- pie wanted to hear him, and would accord a reception equally as hosptable as he could receive in his own state of Ohio
 T will accept the invitaion,'' he respond- ed. "I shall be delighted to speak to a southern audience and argue this question with your people from a purely economic point of view"
 Mckinley went. He made a good strong speech. When he returned I met him on the floor of the house one day. He walked up to me and said:
 NduL IO lHtIlk you TOT that nVlldtlOn to go to Atlanta. I was never more court eously treated. and I have been convinced that the people of the north and the peo- pie of the south are alike. They are one people,"
 Several years thereafter, when Atlanta asked for a government appropriation for southern exposition, Maj. Mckinley was one of the strongest advocates of that ap- propriation. He is one Ohio republican who has been broad-minded and who has not indulged in bloody-shirtism against the south.
 President Mckinley Is a man of refine- ment and acute sensibilities. The load of responsibility upon him at present must cause him acute suffering. I believe him to be a man who would hold the honor of the nation above the success of his own party or himself. He is undoubtedly striv- ing to do all that which Is for the best interests of his country. He makes no se- cret of the fact that he would avert war if such. were possible. He would do any-j thing honorable to prevent hostilities. At the same time he Is frank in his state- ment to his friends that war is more than probable.
 The lives of thousands of true and brave Americans are in his hands. A word from him would mean the opening of hostilities. He would prevent it if possible, but the power of doing so would seem to have passed without his hands.