The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-09-14
THE DEATH OF MIR. M'KINLEY

THE DEATH OF MIR. M'KINLEY.
The people Of America, like
Niobe. are "a11 tears"
The feeling Of JOY and gratitude
which welled up in every heart
when the physicians sent out the
message, s'The President will re-
cover" was turned into sorrow and
woe when the news flashed over the
wires yesterday that Mr.. McKin-
Iey's condition was critical. ALI
day long men in all sections of the
country scanned every bulletin
with a prayer that it would tell Of
improvement, only to be disap-
pointed by the hoping against
hope that characterized all the
dispatches. After the noon bull
letin, hope died and yet there were
many who believed that the pray
ers for his recovery would not be
unanswered. And as the hours
wore away, with news more and
more depressing, a dark pail fell
over the continent, and there was
not a heart unmoved in all Ameri-
ca as the Associated Press bulle-
tined the fatal words, "The Presi-
dent is dying"
No man has been elevated to the
White House who has had a kind
er heart a purer personal life, a
cleaner record, OF who was SO free
from those antagonisms that make
enemies, as the late President. His
life illustrates the possibilities of
America. Without wealth or posi-
ton, he became the first citizen OF
the Republic. The first glimpse
which we love to linger as we
contemplate his DEATHS his early
conversion in a small Methodist
church in the small village in
which he lived when he stood up
and testified that he was Chris
tan. To the day of his death he
was obedient to the vows OF his
youth. When the war called upon
the young men Of the North to fill
the regiments of the Federal army,
the young Mr.. Mckinley, a beard
less youth, enlisted as a private to
fight for the cause that he believed
to be right. He won prom oticn
but never attained very high rank,
making reputation as brave and
intelligent soldier, and winning
comrades. That was the secret of
his success. He won the confidence
and the hearts of the men with
whom he was associated. They re-
spected his Judgment which was
almost always near perfection. He
made few mistakes even then and
his comrades said: HE is safe
man." Later on when he became
LAWYER he had many clients who
always felt they could safely en-
trust their aEairs to him. When
he went into politics, his personal
friends supported him from affec-
ton and esteem and they could get
support from others by showing
that he was an available candidate
and would make a safe official. He
never dazzled by his brilliance as
an orator, though he had gifts that
made men like to hear him. He
never charmed by his sparkling wit
or offended by humorous repartee.
He was endowed with no fatal gift
of creating envy or antagon1sm.
Elected to Congress, he did not go
at once to leadership, and though
he took high rank the leaders did
not. fear that he would supp1ant
them. Therefore they helped him
to responsible positions and when
he presented his cause with effect
iveness and made bad cause seem
a good one by plausible argument,
his party associates applauded and
political opponents felt no resent
ment. Sunset" Cox said the gift
Of humor was fatal to political ele-
walton. Thomas B. Reed made enc
mics by his bright bon-mots.
Blaine's eloquence. evoked envy
among his associates. Mr.. Mckin-
ley escaped all these, for his quail
ties were solid rather than snowy,
and he went to the first place in his
party because, while others were
brilliant and witty, men said OF
him: mckinley is wise and safe
and practical men tied themselves
to him rather than to the more
brilliant Mr.. Reed.
| Mr.. Mckinley was not only safe
and wise as a party leader, but he
was true and steadfast as well. He
went into the National Republican
Convention in 1888 at the head of
Sherman delegation. From the
first it was seen that there was a