New-York tribune., 1901-12-26

States to express their sentiment on the subject,
and the result at St. Louis justified the expecta-
tons of his friends and admirers and gave
proof of the correctness Of their judgment in
believing him to be the man who fitted the
situation and insured the success Of the party.
In the mana cement of the campaign which
followed I was made to appreciate how much
McKinley's strong and noble personality con-
tributed to its success. How eYninently service
able was the part which hef-took in meeting
his porch at Canton the people who came in
throngs and thousands to greet him no one can
estimate. He not only impressed them by the
earnestness and sincerity of his speeches and
the wisdom of his words but there always
present the genial personality of the man that
quickly won admiration and respect from every
one with whom he came into contact. No COM
rnittee organization could have furnished this
great attribute Of personal strength, which was
so necessary to the success of the ticket and
none other than such a personality could have
inspired individuals in all parts Of the country
to do their utmost in every way to secure MS
election His entire and complete confidence In
those who were conducting the affairs OF the
campaign stimulated them to their utmost ei-
forts inspiring in them a desire to show thelr
appreciation of this confidence and trust In then
don't believe that any other political campaign
in the history of the Republican party ever
demonstrated such a growing interest ana en-
thusiasm, and. above ALL confidence IN the per
sonality of the candidate. which continued 10
grow and increase from the opening or the cam
paign TO the great climax of Flag Day, WHICH
marked an epoch in the campaign Of 1896
It must also be remembered that his support
ers were not confined to those who had hltherto
always been identified with the Repuoicali
party The others who Joined us in the contest
for the principles which Mckinley stooo Were
equally enthusiastic in their admiration OF the
man.
The country knows to-day how we'll ne mas
filled the expecta tons of all those who sup
norted him In the earlier days of 1880 con-
fronted as we were by unexpected developments
in the silver question, four years OF depre0s
and an industrial paralysis which resulted us
astrously to all classes: when those VINO were
suffering were looking for relief, and the propo-
sition was made for free and unlimited coinage
of silver on the plea that the expansion Oh 'ie
circulating medium would make better times
under such conditions il is not strange tha' we
found in the Republican ranks an uncertainty
as to what course to pursue. 1t became eNlueh'
that the work before us a campaign OF edu-
cation Of great magnitude. the results of which
r,ust necessarily be slow to accomplish.
IF there were any dark days in the campaign,
IL WAS during the earlier weeks of the work. 1t
was at that time that William Mckinley in his
conversat ton with showed his buoyaht spirit
and his strong faith in the common people OF
the country believing that they would meet and
solve the question right, and indorse the princl-
pies which were to bring relief to all. He IN
sisted that all that was necessary was to make
them understand the cause and effect of the
nrfncfples advocat ted by both parties.
1t was during the middle stage Of the cam
pafgn that the results coming in indicated that
the people were reading. thinking and determ1n-
ing conclusions for themselves. They were be-
ginning TO see where their interests were at
stake All this was the confirmation Of William
McKinley's faith in the people and it was joy
Of his heart to feel that he could read Alright
the signs Of the times. and that the end would
Justify his faith in the final judgment of the
people
His victory was greater in its triumphal faith
Of the people in him than merely in the choice
of himself as President of the United States
This was the subject that In after years we often
talked about, and it a beautiful thing TO me
to see how much he realized and appreciated
the confidence which had come him re
suit of his abiding faith in the people, If there
had been no other motive. this the great
incentive for him to all the power and talent
with which he had been endowed to give the
people in return for.tleir confidence his best life
work. And ne consecrated the best efforts of his
life to fulfil their expectations
Ny associations with him during the years of
executive life gave further opportunity to
appreciate as I never had before the great re-
serve force which he possessed. He seems to
have met every emergency. and the unusual
problems and annoying complications of the
times. in a masterfuI way These conditions
furnished the opportunity for him to demon
strate his enormous talent and ability for
cessfully solving every problem, rising to the
full measure of every situation and overcom-
ing all obstacles.
And then the summing of it all in that beau
tiful death which was so characteristic of his
career. is almost unequalled in history. He
has the admira ton, love and respect of all
classes of his own people, and of all nations.
There phrase used when we first
opened the campaign for him in 1885 that
seemed fit the situation. and that the
claim that he the logical candidate" In
the first place, he marked for himself a dis
tinctive political career. He had spent every
energy and used every effort in all his public
service for the highest and best interests of his
people. inspired always by patriotic impulse.
with sincerity questioned. His election
TO an office always meant more than the mere
qualification of a selfish political ambition He
said 10 me once-and I cite it here to show that
his ambitions never sprang from selfish motives
in speaking about some of the methods
adopted in contests for the nomination, There
are some things Mark. would not do and can
not do even to become President of the United
States" and II was my impression at that time
that he himself had little thought or idea that
he would ever be nominated for President.
ias haG