Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-15
PRESIDENT MrKINLEY.
His Tribute to the Father OF His
Country.

President Mckinley, after acknowledge
ing the introduction. spoke as follows:
1--WE have just participated in service
commemorative of the Tooth anniversary
Of the death of George Washington. Here
at his old home. which ne loved so well,
and which the patriotic women Of the
country have guarded with loving hands,
exercises are conducted under the auspl-
ces Of the great fraternity OF Masons,
which a century ago planned and exc
cuted the solemn ceremonial which at
tended the Father of His Country 20 his
tomb.
''The lodge I'm which he was initiated,
and the one over which he afterwards
presided as worshipful master accorded
positions OF honor at his obsequies, are
to-day represented here In token or pro-
found respect to the memory or their
most ilustrious member and beloved
brother. CO.,
"NIasons throughout the United States
testify anew their reverence Tor the
name of Washington ana the inspiring
example of his life. Distinguished repre-,
sentatives are here from all the Siahu
LODGES If the country 10 render the cere-
monies as dignihed and Impressive a.
possible. and most cordial greetings nay
come from across our borders anu -
vOnd the seas Not alone IN TINS covh-
frv but throughout the world nave Nh
sons taken especial interest IN lhe W
servance OF this centennial anuNeI sdt >
The fraternity Justly claims the Immortal
patriot as one Of its members, inc WIZ
human family acknowledges MN - AZ -
of its greatest benefactOrs Pubic bOules'
natriOtic societies and other 0rgalllHd-
lions. our citizens everywhere nave -
teemed It a privilege to-day 70 pay - ~.
tribute TO his memory ana 10 tle Spiel.,o :
of his achievements in the auNdhS0u'0''1
OF Justice and liberty among men,
"sHis fair fame secure In its MINOR
talitv. shall shine through countless ages
and with undiminished lustre.
THE REPUBLIC HE FOUNDED.
"The struggling republic for which
washington was willing 10 give ms ne,
and for which he ever freely spent his
fortune and which at all times WIS Sne
object of his most earnest solicltu9e, n'9
steadily and wonderfully deNelopsn atolls
the lines which his agaclty ana foresight
carefully planned. 1t has stood every
trial and at the dawn of a new century
is stronger than ever 10 carry ior"a'u
its mission Of liberty. -
During all the intervening years II mas
been true forever true. TO the precepts OF
the Constitution which he and his Illus
triOus colleagues framed Tor us suluahce
and government He was the nauonal
architect saws Bancroft. the historian,
and but for him the nation could not
have achieved its Independence coulh not
have formed its union; could not nave put
the Federal Government into operation.
IL had neither precedent nor predeceS-
-
tive. and has successfully stood the Sc
yeTest tests.
s'He selected the site for the capital of
the repIblic he founded and gave II the
name of the Federal City. but the COM
mission substituted The name or wash
ington as the more fitting and to be a
perpetual recognition OF the services or
the eommander-in-chief Of the Continental
army. the president Of the convention
which framed the Constitution, and the
fret president Of the RepuDl1c.
more than 100000 Of people ackncw-
ledge ALLEGIANCE TO the flag which he made
triumphant The nation Is his best eulo-
gist and his nOblest monument.
TRIRTTTES OF CONTEMPORARIES.
Il have been deeply interested and
touched by the sentiments Of his contem-
p0raries. uttered a hundred years ago on
the occasion of his death. The Rev.
Walter King of Norwich. Conn, in the
course of an eloquent euogy. delivered
I'm that city on January o. 1907 said, In
part:
BY one mighty effort Of manly reso-
luton we were born anew and declared
our independence. Now commenced the
bloody eon.est for everything we held
dear. Ine same Almighty Belng by
whose guidance we were hitherto con-
Quoted. beheld us with compassion and
saw what we needed-a pilot. leader,
i'm the perilous enterprise we had under
taken. He called for Washington, already
prepared: anOinted him as His servant
with regal dignity and put into his hands
the control Of all our defensive operations.
"'But here admiration suppresses utter