The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1901-09-26
In MEMORIAM.
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ter BY true nobility in private life, and
the unwrltten pages Of the worlds history
will be lllumed by the example, fortitude
and achievements Of the worlds true men
and women--whose reward, perchance Will
be in the record Of the great Beyond
In this hour of unspeakable sorrow for
our fallen President, let us rejoice that the
world is the better for his having lived in
1t and no man, high or low, rich or poor,
can leave behind him a richer lagacy.
Why is it that in every hamlet, in every
home in every heart, there is the evidence
of this national sorrow at this hour? But
very few have ever seen President McKin
ley, and yet, all mourn his loss. Why?
Because the blow Of the assassin was aimed
at law and order Because the nameless
wretch under the gulse of friendship, fired
q bullet, not so much at Mckinley as at
the Presidency; at the hope of the people
In self-gOVernment at constituted order !;
at peace at prosperity and at domestic
purity. This is why the people mourn.
What shall we say of the assassin? Moth
ing. But of his act we say that the man
or woman in this land Of ours who cannot
shed sincere tears of sympathy above this
grave at which stand, is unworthy the pro-
lection Of the flag that rests upon the
Presidents coffin. 1t is poor comfort to
seyenty-hye millions Of people that the as
sassin of Mckinley will suffer more than
he These services, and what may be said
all over the land on this occasion, will have
been held and said in vain unless the Amer
lean people learn a lesson from this terrible
affection. What must that lesson be? Sim
ply this; That law reigns in this land Of
ours that law is supreme, and he who de-
fies It must die the death.
1t Is a sad thought that Mckinley, like
Lincoln and Garfield, came to his death by
reason Of his position. He like the other
martyred Presidents, was recognized as the
foremost representative of liberty and pro-
gress. No Entertainments in the hearts of
the people, no love and devotion of the peo-
pie, are deep enough and strong enough to
shield our President from the assassin's bull
let. We cannot know why this is so. The
everlasting hard inquiry is wrung from us
again, why must this be? Perchance, to
teach us that God not man, rules the ma
lions. Perchane, to teach us not to put
spur trust In human instrumentalities. Per-
nance, to teach us that the nation under
God is greater than all Presidents. Many
believe, all hope, that when time shall be
with us no more, that Immediately we shall
enter upon conscious existence, a life
where there are no tears and where sorrow
Is unknown. Amid our binding grief let
US look upward, buoyed by that hope that
somewhere, and in some way, our beloved
dead knows the love we bear his memory.
If it be true that in the blood of the
martyr is the seed of the church, then it is
sdoubly true that in the blood Of a Lincoln
and Garfield there has come to the Amer
lean people the priceless heritage Of a civil
liberty that appears indestructible. Today
the whole civilized world stands with
streaming eyes and uncovered head. The
crown is lifted from the brow Of every
monarch around the world because of the
deep damnation of the taking of Of our be-
loved Mckinley. American all through, he
touched Americas great heart and its
mighty pulsatlon reacted upon the people
In every land.
Mckinley was great because of his su-
peTb manliness. Never for one moment did
he forget that he was of the common peo-
pie. 1t was my good fortune to know this
gifted man. l first knew him in the early
days of that memorable 51st Congress, when
caslons bloodshed seemed inevitable on the
floor of the House of Representatives.
Early in the days of that congress learn
ed 10 love him. When the lightning of
wrath flashed from one side of the Cham
Der to the other the fercest when Tom
Reed was unable to cope with the storm,
! have heard that sIlvery persuasive voice
above the roar, Mr. Speaker" ard then
in thunder tones Reed would declare, The
gentleman from Ohio has the floor" and as
if by magic, that great turbulent body
would listen to William Mckinley while in
few well chosen words he pleaded for peace
and he never pleaded In vain. He was a
matchless leader of men. In all his
speeches, in and out of Congress, you win
search in vain Of an unklnd or dlscour-
teous WORD to a political foe. l knew him
as Congressman. as Governor of his below
ed commonwealth, and as President Of the
United States and l can do him no great
er homage, nor pay him no higher tribute
now than to declare in this presence that
at all times and under all circumstances,
William Mckinley was the true Christian
gentleman.
Our President Is dead. The grave has re
-celved the mortal remains, and we behold
the new pilot at the wheel. Long live the
President of the United States. Our gov
eminent dies not though our servants per
Ish The fabric Is not even shaken. The
wheels go on and on, laws are executed,
treaties signed, and not jar in the vast
machinery This transition of power, ST.
Iently and reverently from one man to an
other in this republic is the marvel of the
IL. 4. l.
time that death has claimed a President.
So let us turn from sorrow to hope-let
the nation give to Theodore Roosevelt its
heart. He must needs be faint and well
nigh appalled, at the burdens so suddenly
thrust upon him. May the God above help
him into that stature of wisdom to which
he should rise. May the Inspiration Of the
Battle Hymn of the Republic be ever with
hin:
He has sounded forth the trumpet that
shall never call retreat;
He Is sitting the hearts Of men before HIS
Judgment seat:
Be swift my soul to answer Him, be jubl-
liant by feet,
For God is marching on"
The lamented Garfield, in his eulogy up
on the life Of Lincoln, said: "Ah, sir,
there are times In the history Of men and
nations when they stand so near the vail
shat separates mortals and immortals, time
and eternity, and men from their God, that
they can almost hear the breathings and
feel the pulsations of the heart Of the In
hnite." This hour is typical OF that Of
which Garfield spoke. Again the American
people kneeIing above the grave Of McKin-
leg as above that of Lincoln and Garfield,