Union gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1899-1900, 1899-09-15
LEST WE FORGET.

ana While the motives OF that exec
utive are being impunged by {
quantity of barren spectators be-
cause he does not unravel himsel
in explanation of all they fail to un
derstand; and while politicians with
fish to fry accuse him of weakness
because he does not reply to thei
incessant calumny, it may be wei
to again call attention to the meth
DDS by which VIM. Mckinley has
climbed to his present eminence ano
the small part 'luck" has played
in accomplishing the task. Manli-
ness and strength of character
haye ever been his distinguishing
traits, and integrity and fidelity
have been the criterion of his ad.
ministration. Emulating the ex-
ample of Washington, he has let
silence and perseverance in his duty
be the bestF answer to calumny.
The following editorial sketch ot
Mckinley appeared in the Oregon
ian shortly after his nomination for
the presidency, and nothing better
deserved has ever appeared in the
columns of the great daily:
William Mckinley, jr., was born
at Niles, O., February 26, 1874, and
is, therefore, just past So years of
age. His education was limitel to
the public schools OF Ohio and to a
brief academic course in Allegheny
college. He taught school in the
country and accumulated the small
means necessary to defray the ex-
penses Of that sort of education.
He entered the Union army in
June, 1851, enlisting in the 23d
Ohio infantry when a little more
than II years of age. He served
during the entire war, rising from
the position of a private to the rank
Of major. He was soldier on the
front line, served in battles, cam
paigns, marches and bivouacs, and
received the official commendation
of his superior officers on very
many occasions. T. -
He returned to Ohio with rec
ord of which any young man might
well be proud and to which the old
soldiers Of the country will point
with great enthusiasm. His mill
tary career, while he was not in
high command, was full of heroic
incidents which are proven not only
by contemporaneous publications in
the newspapers but by the official
reports of his superior officers. He
was not only gallant and
splendid soldier, full of endurance
and personal energy, but he was
the calm, judicous staff officer who
won the commendations of his SUI
periors by exhibition of good judg-
ment and wise administrative ca
pacity.
Returning from the war he enter
ed earnestly upon the study of law
in the Office of Judge Poland, and
was a.careful, faithful, industrious
and competent student. He enter
ed the Albany law school and grad
uated from that institution with
high honors. He then began the
practice OF law in Canton with the
same enthusiasm and devotion to
duty which he had always mani
tested. AS a practitioner at the bar
he at once exhibited superior quail
ties, careful, studious and faithful.
He was elected prosecuting attorney
of his county and distinguished
himself by his learning, fidelity
and efficiency in the discharge of
his duties to the public and his
clients.
AS member of congress he was
attentive. industrious and untiring,
working. his way gradually until he
reached. the post of leader of the
republican majority of the 51st
congress.
He did not attain this position by
accident or by any fortuitous Cir
cumstance,. but by constant atten-
tion 20 his duties and a careful
study of the public measures of i'm
portance. He was a candidate for
speaker of theshouse of representa-
tives of thez51 congress. Mr.. Reid,
the successful candidate, appointed
him as chairman of the ways and
means committee, and he entered
upon the duties incident to that po-
sition with great energy aid intelli-
gence.
Speaking of the part played by
the Mckinley act in the election of
1892, and McKinley's attitude in
the matter, it says:
1t was the misfortune of the Nc
Kinley act that it took effect at the
opening of a presidential contest,
and when 'labor troubles" excited
the public mind. The election of
1892 fell with demoralizing and al
most crushing weight upon the re-
publican party of the country.
At that time Major Mckinley not
only did not seek to evade the re-
sponsibility of his position, but /
frankly and openly admitted it, {
and he counseled courage and forti- {
tude, and gave assurance of his i
strong faith in the ultimate triumph ,
of the republican party upon the
very principle which then seemed
to be repudiated by the people.
After the passage Of the tariff act
nf 1870 the country rano with tho