Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1901-09-27

a
REV. A. C. SHEPHERD.
his superior officers winning for him
promotion from the ranks. On differ,
ent occasions which will not take
time to mention now, he was conspicu-
ous for his gallantry and was rewarded
by honorable mention and promotion
to higher rank of Office. At the close
Of the war he left the army proudly
and worthily bearing the title of Ma
jor.
AT this juncture came the question
Of his future career. What should he
do and be? Friends suggested career
in the army but life in the army in
in times of peace did not appeal to his
active and restless nature and he de-
cided upon the law. In preparing him
self for this profession he encountered
unusual obstacles and difficulties, be-
cause of lack of means.
Let no one think that the way to
success ls easy, that it is rose-strewn
path; that some men must succeed be-
cause Of the fayors and smiles Of Fort
tune. Men who succeed are men who
work. Men who reach the coveted
goal are men of persistent will, Of un-
conquerable courage, and restless
energy, men who have strength 10
battle against adverse winds and
wrong. g.going tides, men whom misfor-
tunes cannot disconcert and temporary
defeats cannot dishearten, such men
win in the struggle and race of life
Had William Mckinley not been such
a man we would not be gathered to-
gether here today. Had he not been
such man the people Of America and
the nations of the earth would not be
looking into his open grave with tear
full eyes and tender Thoughts today. He
finished his law course because he con-
quered difficulties instead of being
mastered by them and thus his life
gained such momentum, such force and
power, that it moved irresistibly on
until he became in many respects ''the
foremost man in all the world"
In 1867 he was admitted to the bar
and in looking about for a place to
locate and begin his career he decided
upon Canton, then town of about
5000 inhabitants He early became an
active spirit in his town. and soon his
name was known abroad.
The first public Office held by Mr..
Mckinley was that Of prosecuting at
torney for Stark comfy. he having
been elected on Republican ticket
in county where the Democrats had a
natural maj jority and had every expect
alton of electing every candidate. His
success in this campaign demonstrated
his strength and qualifications as a
party leader and in 1876 he was elected
to congress from his district. Gen.
James A. Garfield was one of
his colleagues from his own
state. Thomas B. Reed also entered
congress at this time from the Portland
district in Maine and later became
Major McKinley's chief competitor for
the highest honors in his party.
Of William McKinley's services to
his country during his fourteen years
in congress need not now speak. Of
the honor that came to him as Govern
or of his state the people need not be
informed. But the whole people knew
him and loved him best as our Presi-
dent.
Our quadrennial political campaigns
must be striking anomaly to the un-
initiated foreigner. The heat of the
campaign becomes so intense. and the
passions of men so apparently over
wrought, that the casual observer
might suppose that it would take many
months to recover from the strain and
return again to a normal condition of
life. But how soon do the animosities
and bitter feelings that may be aroused
in campaign give way to good fellow
ship and good feeling when the CAM
paign has ended. When William Nc
Kinley was first elected president as
soon as the result was known, heard
men say, men who had been the most
sanguine, hopeful and ardent support
ers of Mr.. Bryan, well. Mr.. Nc
Kinley is our President, he is the Presi.
dent of the whole country"
Not since the Civil war has this feel.
ing been go universal concerning our
chief magistrate as during the McKin-
ley Administration. Different causes
contributed to this happy result. Pro-
ninent among these causes was our
war with Spain. While war is to be
abhorred and while we never can con-
sistently thank God for it. I think we
should thank him for the beneicent re-
suits of the war. That war destroyed
sectional feeling, obliterated Mason and
Dixson's line and cemented the hearts
of all the people, North and South, in
common love for our flag and devotion
to our country.
Never was there President in this
land or any other country beneath the
! Continued on 4th page.
\ 5 Il a. s. .sssss S. ksss