Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-09-20

the potency of It. Its Language was no
unfamiliar to him and his public ad
presses not infreauently evinced the fact
1t was perfectly consistent with hi
long life convictions and his persona
|opsefVances that he should say as tn,
nrst cfiticai moment after the assas
sination approached, Thy Kingdom
come my will be done" and that h.
should declare at the last. 1T is God
way; His will be done" He live
srandly' 1t was fitting that he shoule
lie grandly. And now that the ma
jestic death has touched and calme
aim. we find that in his supreme me
ment ne was still conquerOr.
My friends and countrymen, witt
what language shall / attempt to Civ
expression 10 the deep honor of GU
souls as speak of the cause Of death
When we consider the magnitude y
The crime that has plunged the COUNT
and the world into unutterable grie.
We are not surprised that one nation
Atty after another has fastened 10 re
)udiatc the dreadful act. This gent
pirit. who hated no one, 10 whom eN
ny man was brother. was suddenl
imitten by the cruel hand OF an assas
in and that. too. while in the very az
If extending Il kind and courteou
gree ting to one whom approached hr
inder the sacred guise of friendship
Gould the assailant have realize
low awful was the act he was aboL
o perform. how utterly hcartless H.
Iced. methinks he would have stage
iiG hand at Tho Threshold
"a ali the coming years men will see
n vain 10 fathom the enormity Of tina
rhine.
Had this man who fell been despot
tyrant. an oppressor. an insane fren
~ to rid the world Of him might hav'
ought excuse. but IL was the people
riend who fell when William Mckin
ey received the fatal wound.
Himself son Of toll. his sympathie
we're with the toiler. No one who ha
cen the matChlcss grace and perfet
ase with which he greeted such, ca
Yer doubt that his heart was in hi
.pen hand. Every heart thrub was 10
iis ,ountrymen. That his life shout
Jc sacrificed at such tim,, just whe
here was abundant peace. which 4
he America were rejoicing togethe.
one of tn. lnsCrutable mysteries
Providence. Like many others
.huuld bc icft Tor future revelations
xplaln.
In the midst ~ our sorrow We hlN
much To console Us. tie l'Vti ~ -
lis nation greater than ever before.
sectional lines arr blnttrd out. Thei
no North. no South. no East. .
Nest Washington SAW tn. beginnir
4 our national life Lincoln pass
through the night of our history an
,aw tn. dawn Mckinley beheld h.
uuntry in the sulendor OF its moor
'ruly he died in the fullness OF h!
anne. With Paul he could say. an
nth equal truthfulness. Il am read
be offered The work assigned hh
.ad been well done. The nation Wa
I peace. We had fairly entered upc
n era of unparalleled prosperity. on
eVenues were generous. our stanC 4
lg among the nations was secure.
our President was safely enshrine
n The affections Of a united people ,
tas not at him that the fatal shot WI
red. but at the very life az the GOV
rnment. II was blood poured upo
ne altar of human liberty. In Vie
these things we are not surprise
hear from one who was nresei
hen this great man passed ava.
nat he never before saw n death
eaceful or n dying man 80 CroWne
18th grandeur.
Let us turn now to a brief consiler
ion Of some of the lessons that We 4!
, learn from this sad event. The fir:
ne that will occur to US all is the oil
Id lesson that in the midst Of lii
re are in death" man goeth forth I
is work and to his labor until III
.vening." he fiecth as il were a shat
wv and never continueth in one stay
Iur President went forth i'll the full
less Of his strength. in MS mani
beauty. and was suddenly smitten
he hand that brought death with
Sone or US can tell what q day ma
ring forth. Let us. therefore. remen
,er that mo man liveth 10 himself an
zone OF us dieth 10 himself, Ma
ach days close see each days dut
one.
Another great lesson that We shout
eed is the unimportance Of mel
arthly greatness. In the presence
he dread messenger how small are
he trappings of wealth and distinC
ions of rank or power | bcsecCh yol
eek Him who said, Il am the resul !
ection and the life. He that believet
Me. though he would be dead. "
hall he live: and whatsoever liNet
nd believeth in Me shall never die.
here is but one Saviour for the sill
ick and the weary ! entroat you fin
lin. rs our brother found Him.
But our last words must be spoke
title more than four years ago We bac /
i'm good bye as he went to assun' u
reat RESPONSIBILITIES 20 which the nIuo |
al called him. His iasi words as
II were:
Nothing could give me greater plea.
Re than this farewell Sreting-this eN
Ance of Your friendship ana sNmpdtE /
our good Will. and am sure. the pta!
rs OF all the people with whom ! nav
we'd so long and whose culhdcCc" ~
lrthiy honorS. To all of us the tutu,
as a sealed book hut if | can ny OF
-tal act or administration or u.teranc !
any degrees add to the prosperity ~
lity OF our beloved country and the ~
ancement and well being Of our sDlel
citizenship | will devote the mo.
aselfish efforts Of my life to that en-,
18th this thought uppermoSt in n
ind. | reluctantly take leave Of II
lends ana ne'ghbors. cherishing in m
cart the sweetest memories a.