Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1901-09-27
Democratic State Ticket.
OUR DEPARTED FRIEND.

OUR DEPARTED FRIEND.
The last rites have been performed
which gave Christian burial to VIM,
Mckinley, our late president. The
door of the vault has closed and the
sight of bis bier is shut out from hu.
m an vision. 1t is not irreverent to
say that in his death he is greater than
he could have been in life. In his life
be was known as our president, he
was honored as the head of the nation,
he was of US, but removed by virtue
of his position from daily contact with
us, and we knew him only as We saw
him through his official deeds, or
through the eyesof others. Today We
live upon bis memory, he stands to
each alike no further from one than an
other, very close to ALL The people
in far away India bowed their heads
when they knew his burial was in pro
gress. In all civilized countries this
nation was honored by according to it's
dead those funeral ceremonials which
rulers in each of those countries re-
ceive at death. In some of the great
kingdoms of the old world rites were
bestowed, honors accorded, burial
services observed, never before known
except when royal personages have
died. To say that the death of MI.
Mckinley produced profounder SEN
sation than that of any man who has
ever died on American soil, is to assert
a now we'll known fact. To say that
be has been ascribed honors abroad
ever before ascribed to any American
is to state what is now apparent to all.
These have come from two causes.
One because of the virtues he possessed
as man and ruler, the other be-
cause he was the head Of what has to-
day become the greatest of civilized
countries.
But when we look about us for the
causes which have led to the homage
paid him at home, the question of the
greatness of our country is set in the
back ground, and the virtues of the
man measure and control tbs depths
of our grief. The North has shed its
ears, the East and West have wept,
but the South, and what of her? Her
vial is full of woes, her eyes have
dried, because she cannot shed more
tears, the NiObe of nations she, an
empty urn is in her withered hands,
the only friend in all these years, since
she laid down her arms and once more
became part and parcel of this ma
ton has been taken away. When war
had devastated her domain and blood
had flowed over her plains as water.
when all beside her own people were
b er enemies and she needed one kindly |
heart to avert the heel of tyranny, just |
when she thought she saw friend in
Mr.. Lincoln be was slain. Time pass
ed and none came to take bis place.
Sectional hate grew apace. party ad
vantage destroyed patriotism, and the
South found no friend who would
treat her with respectful considera-
tiOn, much less as the father treated
his prodigal son. Yet such was not
always to he the case. After more
than thirty years of weary waiting
there came in the person of William
that man, a man who could
take hold of the people of the South
Oy the hand and welcome them into
the fold Of the nation. To say that
they are unmindful of this, is to deny
them that trait which has always been
their proudest heritage and without
which no people can be brave or chiyal-
rous, and without which Southern
blood would cease to flow. The feeling
)f gratitude which Mr.. Mckinley has
inspired in the Southern breast is
radiant today over that whole section.
10 much so that when on that m emora-
de Sabbath morning, the 18th of
september, his death had become
Known every church in that land toll
ID its bell, and weeping it's people
vent to do honor to their dead friend.
These people were true worshipers.
hey felt the heavy hand of fate in this
llspensation. They never weep when
hey arm not sad, and no hypocritical !;
impulse. prompts them in their univer-
al action. Theirs were genuine tears. +
nd that they were shed is the highest e
ribute Mr.. Mckinley could have re- I
eived, because they marked a change !,
q national feeling no other occ urrence a
ad ever brought about. Wipe away L
II his other good deeds, blot them out
the pages of his history, and this :,
ne alone were sufficient to place him F
the highest niche of worldly renown. 81
nd in his death will the cords which
ind the nation be tied never we trust
gain to be broken.
The severe illness of Judge Paul of w
re U. 8. Court, has put goodly num- 1t
r OF lawyers in these parts to think ds
g. 1t will not be surprising if in the e.
xt few weeks there may be some 10
range political movements, at least in
hong the mupWump norton of +bo "