Semi-weekly Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1897-1901, 1901-09-10

WIN. MCKINLEY.

have always mnde personal luminosity
impossible even among his strongest
oplonents, however hard they might
fight his ideas and policies, for whom
Cleveland Campbell and BRYAN, with
whom he mas had his giestest nights
always felt the strongest regard.
whom his associates in congress OF
whatever party, as John r Russell
said in his speech at Brattleboro 10
| 80, always regarded as dear
friendn has impressed himself upon
| his time as the most cousummate
politician, and the greatest popular
political leader Of our American
| politics. or his measure as states
man there must in this generation at
least be doubt and disagreem ent.
But of that quality which Simon
Cameron described tn be statesman
ship, ability ito see which way the
procession is going aud to get IN front
of it"-accuracy Of hearing with the
lear to the ground, " to measure and
comprehend, from all the sounds that
come, the trend aud significance of
popular opinion, and then to shape
and direct it with wonderful power,
be has simply been unrivslled;
Without the philosophic insight ard
reach aud originality Of Jefferson or
Lincoln or Seward or the practical
constructive ability of Hamilton, the
tremendous logical power Of Webster
or Calhoun, or the great powers OF
inspiring personal devotion of Clay
or Jackson or Blaine, or the match
less intellectual fertility of Tilden,
or the lofty courage and sturdy indie
pendence Of Cleveland, he has been
more facle as a political leader than
any of them because while he APP
preached the great qualities of all,
he had way of avoiding the antag
onisn that all raised in their paths,
and a power of putting the thought
of the tine into effective epigram
than TO one IN America, unless it BIZ
Bryan, has ever equalled. This Is
clearly shown by his slnost entire
freedom, from personal attack though
the events of the past three years
which wound have been impossible
for any man not constituted just as be
is.
william Mckinley was Ecrn at
Niles, Trumbull county, O, Jan =,
1913 His ancestors lived in Pennsyl.
vania, whence they emigrated from
Ireland or Scotland. Members of the
family including one Of bis direct
ancestors, have had great parts IN
Ireand's heroic struggles of the past,
His grandfather, Daniel Mckinley,
was a sol iler in the Revolution,
DISTINGUISHED for gallantry at Brandy
wine, Germantown and Monmouth.
His father was an Industrious, SEN
sible and prosperous iron manufsc-
turpr, who died in 1892 at the age Of
So; his mother Is still living in Can
ton, o, at the advanced aga of ST.
Young Mckinley was educated at the
public schools ard at the Poland
{ Mahoning county academy, and
attended for a snort tine the NJ +
college at Meanwhile, Pa.
In June. 1851. he enlisted in the
Odd Ohio Vol Inf as a private soldie',
was within year promoted through |
the lieutenartcies to captain and IN |
lsGs Wes bteveted major by President |
Lincoln for gallant and mtritorious
services at the battles OF Opquean,
Fishers Hill and CeGRr Gre TX. He |
served on the staff Of Gen II r Hayes, |
who described him the most efficient |
and missing young man he ever
saw. ard afterwards on the stats Of |
Gems Crook, Hancock acd Carroll. He |
was with the famous 23d in all its
battles. auu was mustered out with it, |
July %. 1868 tie hn1 liking for the |
profession, and it was said |
that but for the advice Of his father. |
he would, at the solicitation Of |
Gen Carroll, have attached himself TO |
the regular Brmy.
At the close of the war he retI rred |
to Ohio. He studied law with the |
Judge Charles f Glidden, whose
widow lives in Brattleboro as does his |
son, Chas f Gidden, and to Judge |
Gilden be has often said he owed |
more than to any other man with |
whom be ever care in contact. He |
was graduated from tie Albany Law
School and in 1867 admitted to the
bar, and located at Canton. He was
elected prosecuting attorney of the
county in 1869, and from that time
his political rise was rapid.
January % he married Miss Ida
5axtop, daughter of Jawes a Saxton,
, prominent citizen of Canton. The
union has been a happy one and his
tender care of her in these later
years OF broken health and mind has
exhibited bim in his nCblest ard
n est lovella character Their only
.wo children fied very Young. he
qas seid that il Was she who made
liu. -
lie was first elected to Congress in
1875 and served II years, except part of
ais fourth term when he was unseated
ate in ire first session. Three times
Democratic legislators attempted to get
id of him by gerrymlnder. but every
ime he went before the people with his
campaigning powers and Sc
,ured reelection. In 1873 district was
made of 1900 majority against him, but
lie carried it by 1900. In 1891 another
made it 2O00 against
lin but he won by 1000. la 1890 the
effort was made with district
300 Democratic but after canvass of
very part of the district, day and
tight, on the fullest vote ever polled in
he district. MAJ Mckinley reduced this
majority to 303. He received $500 more
oteS in the district than had been cast
or Gen Harrison for President in 1883
n the same district.
When. in ISS0 Gen Garfield was romi-
ated for the presidency, Maj Mckinley
vas assigned to the committee on ways
nd meals In his place. He continued
0 serve on this com nittee until the end
I his congressional career, being chair
lan of the committee during the Dist
congress and author CT the famous tariff
9w. which bears his name. He was
10. -lnrp ha |