The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1901-09-20

This will ever be a memorable
year q the annals of history. The
nineteenth century brought the
English speaking peoples to the
fore az leaders in the worlds pro
gress. It was the age in which a
great nation became conscious of
its destiny, and entered upon it's
:trt1e mission. Waterloo brought
out:aHd confirmed that conscious
ness. Early in the century began
the Organization of forces, in the
taaes rsat Bible, missionary and
htlt1anitari agencies, for giving
to the world the truth and freedom
of Christianity that it had inherited
in; such generous measure. Thro'
the growth of America, the expan-
sion Of the British empire and the
rapid mastery and immense devel-
opment of the material forces of
production, there began with the
of the century, the period of
English ubiquity, the English
speaking peoples everywhere be-
coming the shaping and controlling
powers in Christendom and in the
worlds civilization. In this last
and most notable period, represent
ative IN large measure of it's high
est and most advanced ideals, the
two foremost figures of the world
have been, Victoria, late Queen of
England, and our own beloved Will
liam Mckinley, late President
of the; United States. 1t is not too
much TO say that the civilized world
has generously recognized their
virtues, and mourned over their
departure as never before over the
death of any two contemporaneous
rulers.
On Saturday, February End, the
last rites of respect were paid to
England's greatest and best Queen,
and today, as the bells in the church
steeples of Canton are tolling the
third hour the solemn funeral rites
of Americas beloved President, are
being held amid the hush of a ma
TONS silence. And not in Canton
alone, but wherever the stars and
stripes are afloat, from the Phil
liRine Islands in the Orient to Por-
to @kfe0 and dsthe2 e2Hawaiian,Island, in
the Occident, there will be assem-
bled those with bowed heads and
broken spirits who desire to join in
showing the last marks of respect
to him who had so greatly endear-
ed himself to the hearts of the Am
erican people.
Little did President Mckinley
think only seven months and half
ago, when he sent his message to
King Edward VII, upon the death
of the noble Victoria, Queen of Eng
land, that it was merelysan exchange
of coincidence, to be returned in so
short a time. But the Angel of
Death comes to Sovreigns and Pres
ldents as he does to their subjects
and citizens. He comes to the high
est as we'll as to the lowest, and no
man can tell when or where He NAV
come next.
William Mckinley was no excep-
ton to the rule that great men
come from humble homes. He was
born at Niles, Trumbull County,
Ohio, January %, 1843. While still
a young boy, he moved with his
parents to Poland, Mahoning Co.,
where his boyhood days were spent.
He was educted in the public
schools of Ohio, and at Allegheny
College, Meadville, Pa.
At the age of Is he became a men,
ber of the Methodist Church, which
faith he sacredly kept till his death.
He was teacher in the public
schools before attaining his major
ity. He was 18 years old when the
call to arms came in 81, and he en-
listed in the 23rd O. V.I.as pri-
vate; but did not serve in that ca
.pacity long before his worth and
ability became recognized, and he
was rapidly promoted.
His enlistment was characteristic
of the acts which marked his more
mature life. 1t was not done in the
fever of excitement, but only after
mature deliberation.
He served on the staff of Ex-Pres.
Hayes, Gen. Cook, Gen. Hancock
and Gen. Carroll. AS a soldier he
was faithful, brave and true. He
knew no fear, and then, as always,
was ready to go where duty called
him. He was mustered out with
the regiment in July, IS.
After the close of the war Major
Mckinley turned his attention to
the study of law, being admitted to
the bar two years later. He chose
Canton as his field of labor, making
that his home. He was an excel
lent advocate, and is said to have
Il