New-York tribune., 1901-09-07
THE PRESIDENTS CAREER,
MAJOR IN THE ARMY. CONGRESSMAN,
GOVERNOR OF OHIO AND TWICE
ELECTED TO THE CHIEF Of
FICE OF THE NATION

The Mckinney family is Of Scotch-Irish descent,
and was transplanted to America about one hun
dred and fifty years ago. William Mckinley. ths
iataer OF the President, married. in 1929 Nancy
campbell Allison who of English and Scotch
German descent. The President the seventh oc
their nine children. His father was an manu-
facturer. He was man of ability and character.
In religion devout Methodist and in politics an
ardent Whig and Republican. Ile lived to see his
son Governor of Ohio Mrs. Mckinley her
son President. and died December L. 1897. at the
age of eighty-eght.
William Mckinley was born at Niles Ohio. on
January %. 1S4S AMI began his education In the
public schools of his native place, but when he
nine years old the family removed to Poland. Ma
honing County. Ohio where his education
unued In the Union Seminary. He entered Allie
gheny College. Meadyille. Penn. in 1850 but his
health soon broke down from Overstudy. and he
was compelled to leave college On his he
became clerk the Poland pOstofice. where he
remained until the broke
A PRIVATE IN THE CIVIL WAR
On June IL. 1851. he enlisted a private in Conn
pany f of the 2sd Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Among
the officers of this famous regiment were Generals
w 5 ROsecrans. Rutherford B. Hayes. who be-
came President in 1877: f. ScammOn and James
NJ Comley and Colonel Stanley Matthews Mckin-
ley served the staffs of Generals r. b. Hayes
George Crook and Winfield S. Hancock OF hts
military career il be said that both as a
private and officer. both in the commissary de-
partment and the fighting line. he coura-
geous, clear headed and calm. For services rem
dered in the winter camp of Fayetteville he re-
ceived his first promotion becoming cOmmissary
sergeant on April Is 1862 After the summers cam
paign In Virginia his regiment took part Sep
tember II and II In the battles of South Mountains
and Antietam. and IL for his extraordinary
services commissary sergeant in the latter battle
that he promoted to be second lieutenant. Not
long after this the regmentaI colonel r. b. Hayes.
entered In his diary: Our new second lieutenant.
Mckinley. returned to-day-an exceedingly bright
intelligent and gentlemanly young officer He prom
ises to be of the best At a little later date hs
added: HE has kept the promise in every sense OF
the word" by February :. 1859. he became a first
lieutenant and July 25 Of the following year.
when he only twen-y-one. he was made captain
for gallantry and faithfuIness in the battle OF
EernStOwn (near Winchester. A little later ar
Berryville his horse was shot under him. and ON
March a. 1865. he received his commission as major
by brevet for gallant and mertorious services az
the battles Of OpeQuan Cedar Creek ana F1shers
Hin" FTe took part in every one of the many en-
sageuents in which his regiment participated. and
when he was mustered July 26, 1865, he was
in perfect health.
ENTRANCE INTO POLITICAL LIFE
Returning home he studied with judges
Charles F. Gdden. of Canton, and at the Albany
Law School He admitted to the bar in March.
1861. and settled in Canton. which has since been
his home. He soon attracted attention lawyer
of ability and. although Stark County was Demo-
cratic elected Prosecuting Attorney in 1868.
hug he defeated for the same office two years
later From this time forward Major Mckinley
gave much attention politics. In 1876 he was
elected to Congress That year the Democratic
legislature of Ohio geTryn ndered the State, buc
nevertheless Mckinley was returned TO Congress In
1878 as he 1880 1882 1854. 1856 and 1SSs-
He was unseated in 1SSi and finally defeated
1890 when his district was gerrymandered again.
In 1SSS he showed ability in oppsins the Mills
bill representing approximate President Cleve-
lands policy of tariff for revenue only When the
Republicans assumed control In 1889 he ap-
pointed chai. of the Ways and Means Com
mittee and presently gave the naJion the great
measure that bore his name
LOYALTY AT THE CONVENTION OF 1sSS-
From the time he east his first vote for Lincoln
In 1864 Mckinley has been Republican. In 1884 he
a delegate-at-large from Ohio to the national
convention. and helped nominate James c.
Blaine AT the next national convention he repre-
/ sented the State in the manner, and support
ed John sherman At that convention. after ths
first days baIIoting. the indications that Nc
Kinley himself might be nominated. Then his
strength of purpose and his high IDEAS of loyalty
and honor showed themselves for in an earnest and
stirring speech he demanded that be cast
for him In 1891 he was elected Governor of Ohio
by a majority of about p zoe Ex-Governor
James r Campbell. the Democratic candidate. The
issue then at stake chiefly the tariff. but Nc
Kinley placed himself in opposition the free
coinage of silver. In lSs, he again a delegate
at-large the national convention Minneapolis.
and was made permanent chairman Although his
not brought before the convention. yet
/
supporter of President Harrison.
ELECTION To THE PRESIDENCY
In 1898 Major Mckinley was reelected Governor
of Ohio by a majority of SO.995 At the expiration
of his term he returned Canton He had been
a political speaker and leader in Congress. known
and admired throughout the country. and his popu-
larty and the confidence of the people in his prtn-
cipIes and purposes constantly increasing
Hence there was little surprise when he nOmi--
mated the first ballot at the Republican National
/ Convention at ST Louis 1880. Though the tarir
/ question was stake in that campaign. yet tho
! free coinage of silver the all important ques-
| ton and the issue Of sound money he was
| elected over William j. Bryan the PopuIist and
| Democratic candidate.
The first administration of President Mckinley
marked by the beginning of the revival OF
prosperity which mas continued since. and by
the successful wag;ng OF the that wrested from
! Spain the last vestige of her empire beyond
and that placed the United States In the first
rank of world powers. The conclusion of the
Treaty OF Paris. the pacihcatiOn and regeneration
of Cuba. and the establishment of American mill
tary rule the Philippines, together with the prac
tcal stamping out of organized rebellion there are
matters OF history fresh In the memory OF all
HIS SECOND TERM BEGUN.
President Mckinley inaugurated for a second
March 4. 1901. He reappOinted his Cabinet
and made few changes in the personnel of the first
administration. The Supreme Courts decisions
the so-caIled insular amply sustained bis
colonial policy, though they made necessary some
slight alteration in the plans he hal made for pro-
claiming a full system of civil government in the
Philippines July 4. a partial system was. how
ever. put In operation that date. Late In July,
on notice from the Porto Rican Legislature that a
sufficient system of local taxation been estab-
lished that island. the President issued proc
lamatiOn declaring the abolition of import ex-
port duties laid by the Foraker law
he President and Mckinney took an