The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-10-11

LGTm1no TO ueeL Luo Cdll VI pdLTlOllC
duty in every time of our country's
danger or need"
In the First church, Princeton, on
the same day, Mr.. Cleveland said:
"My friends, I could not refrain
from saying a word this afternoon,
and it must be only a word. The
death Of our lamented president and
the solemnities that followed it have
especially touched me. I not only
sustain my full share of the grief
which is common to all my fellow cit
liens, but it seems to me that 1 have
been brought within a more inner
circle of relationship to these things
which is exclusively my own. I re-
call with sharp distinctiveness when
Mr.. Mckinley came from his home
to receive from my hands the great
office to which he had been elected.
I remember the pleasant social meet
ings we had together and the techni-
cal formalities that passed between
us at the time, and I remember how
through it all the incoming president
in his amiable ann manifested his
serious appreciation Of the RESPONSE
bilities he was about to assume. An
incident, which is interesting now, oc-
Cured on our way to the capitol,
where he was to take the oath of Of
flee. AS we sat side by side amid the
cheers of many thousands of his re-
joicing fellow citizens and friends,
while he acknowledged these hearty
greetings in the most friendly man
ner, he wore the sober expression that
plainly showed his thought was on
the solemn things that awaited him.
l shall never forget his manner when
he turned to me and said: What an
impressive thing it is to assume tire
mendous responsibilities l have al
ways thought since that I was in pos
session of the key to his manne Of
administration.
Il recall our parting at the white
house on our return there from the
Inauguration ceremonies and the ex
change of hearty good wishes fol
each other-he, the president, and I
a private citizen. AS l held his hand
and wished for him the greatest
measure of success, l added: And
h1rn NV Droci1orf uyhor Nur fnrrr
ends you will not have all the rea
sons that l now have to welcome re
tirement.'
Hardly more than 48 hours ago
went to Washington again and, fol
the first time since I went with Mr.
Mckinley, I again visited the capito
building. Again my presence was
related to him, but my way there was
lined with quiet, sad, weeping me1
and women and when l arrived l stool
by his coffin. He had met the resp0n
= sibilities he so keenly realized whe1
= we went together there. The man
AOA Ia "A1SA AC Aou AAOI oAu OOAA
them had been known to God and ap
proved by his fellow c%ountrymen ant
, his accounts had been submitted tx
, God for final audit. AS the incidents
of the time when I saw him assume
> these responsibilities crowded int
my mind the thought came upon m
with tremendous impressiveness tina
1 had seen and been related in a mos
intimate way to the beginning Of
distinguished presidential career o
which the end was before me in dealt
death with honor and death with
+ out fear of the judgment seat Of God
What is there left behind for GU
! people by the president we mourn
He has left us a priceless gift in hi
example of a useful and pure life, o
his fidelity to public trust and hi
demonstration of the value of tn,
mankind, but lead to success It i
for us who remain to enforce thi
example and make it a saving influ
/, ence for good in all our progress as
nation and in every vicissitude tina
T awaits our future.
6 1--WE are in church today and tn
churches throughout the land ar
open to memorial services. These SCI
vices should be but the beginning c
more strenuous exertions on the pal
e Of our churches to arouse u peopl
to their obligations in the fulfllmer
O of every civic duty and to the enforce
ment of the fact that the laws of Go
e if kept and obeyed are sufficient fc
e all our needs and vicissitudes. Go
still lives and reigns and He will nj
% turn His face from us, who have q