The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-09-17

Die Tor MIN to earn wages which were
the marvel of the world he enobled
toll and gave it added dignity by
placing the toiler in a position the
equal Of many of the Weather class
es of older lands. 1t was this regard
for those whom fortune has placed
in the position where they must toll
for others that prompted the working
men of the nation to give him their
support and made possible the magnifi,
cence of the victory which he twice
won while standing as the examplar
of the principles of the party that
had adopted his ideas and made his
principles the main plank of the plat
form on which he had been nom
mated.
AS president he was animated by
the same high regard for his country
that had marked his career while in
the lower walks of official life. Ever
jealous of the good name and integ-
rity of the nation which had honored
him by making him it's executive, yet
he vas conservative and weighed we'll
every official act before he gave it
actuality. Hence the charge often
made by his opponents that he was
lacking in the decision necessary to
a successful statesman. But time al
ways demonstrated the wisdom of his
elaboration and the success which
followed every one of his official acts
was proof of his good judgment and
powers of discernment. Thus when
the country was %clamoring for war
and both houses of congress-, like
unruly children chatting under the re-
straint exercised by a watchful, gen
tie parent, Joined in that clamor, he
held aloof and by every honorable
means sought to avoid that war, while
all the time counseling and advising
the preparations which were making
to successfully carry on the war
should it become inevitable. When at
last war came and the country real
lied how utter had been it's unpre-
paredness to plunge into strife with
a nation presumably well prepared
when the first clouds of possible war
began to show on the horizon, then it
understood how much it owed to the
mar who alone had seemingly been
against war when every one else de-
manded it. The success of that war
the people the master mind which had
directed the course of events immed-
lately preceding it and gave fresh
proof of the ability of their presi-
dent to rise equal to any demand that
might be made upon him.
With the termination of that war
came new and unexpected complica-
lions and the country was called upon
to deal with questions which probably
never had arisen in the minds of the
trainers of the government as ever
possible of occurring and no provis-
ions for meeting them were to be
found in the constitution. To meet
them successfully called for states
mar ship in the president of a kind
never before demanded of any one
who had filled the chair. Again he
proved equal to the emergency and
gave evidence to the world of the
ability of the American mind to rise
supreme to any occasion and that
american craftsmanship could be re-
lied upon to solve any political ques-
ton no matter how complicated, and
that American love of government
and the order and method which are
parts of government would guide for
the right and that justice and right
would be done to all. The RESPONSE
bllity which was thrust upon him by
the acquisition of new possessions ac-
CURED through the fortunes Of war
was great, but with the same unfal-
tering sense of duty and the same de-
sire to do that which he deemed to
be right and proper which were al
ways his chief characteristics, he as
sumed that responsibility and when
the assassin's bullet laid him low was
engaged in the work of %furthering the
interests of those whom fate has made
our charges and planning new great
ness and glory for the nation.
While not doubling the wisdom and
patriotism of him who By a nations
grief is made his it is the
prayer of that nation that he may be
guided by the same great wisdom that
guided the now senseless clay of him
who was president and that he may
follow the lines laid out by his pre-
decessor. The people mourn their old
president and hail the new and pray
erfully commend him into. the keep
s~-