Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1901-09-20
TRIBUTE.

and joining audlbly and with evident
relish in the responses.
Public honor did not change the
early bent of his mind. In youth
and in manhood, in private and in
public life, he showed that he appreci-
ated moral character more than any,
thing else In his frequent addresses
before religious bodies, many of his
sayings are worthy of being enshrin-
ed in the hearts of his countrymen
young and old. Character is the
only commodity that passes current
in both worlds" "The time has
passed by when anyone needs to apol-
ogize for being Christian" At the
dedication of the Y. M. G. A. building
in Columbus, in 1898, he said 81
know of no other investment which
the business men of this city could
make that would pay better or larger
dividends, now or hereafter, than
this building. Here is where young
men are aided to make character.
Character is the best currency young
man can have; it is the demand of the
hour, and there is nothing that COM
mends man more highly than Chris
tian character"
In his state papers, both as Governor
and as President, there is beautiful
recognition of God, and dependence
upon His blessings that are surely the
marks of a religious spirit. We do not
refer only to his devout Thanksglv-
ing proclamations, but his inaugural
addresses, and at times even his mes
sages to Congress, show similar char
acteristics. Just before the begin
ming of the war with Spain, when the
President would not be hurried into
the conflict by the rabid tongues Of
lingo politicians, he uttered a state
ment that is worthy of being immor-
talized. II pray God that war may
be averted; but, If, war must be, let it
be one that is justified in the sight OF
the civilized world" His broad
catholicity is beautifully shown in
his last public utterance at Buaffo,
the day before the cruel assassin
struck him down. "Our earnest
prayer is that God will graciously
vouchsafe prosperity, happiness and
peace to all the peoples and powers oi
the earth"
Many little things show his even
temperance and Christian spirit A
clerk in his office, when Governor,
says of him: Next to being in COM
pany with his wife, think Mckinley
was the happiest man when alone in
his little private Office, opening his
mail Many time | have been in
the outer Office when he has been 50
alone, with his door slightly ajar. As
ne was opening his mail he kept up q
humming of some old Methodist hymn
and | tell you it was mighty pretty.
In lis constant desire and effort Ii
wife, neighbors or stranger, was he
not following the example of HiIl
who went about doing good?" And
when he said to the excited crowd
who were dealing so roughly with the
man who shot him, Let no one hurt
him." he showed much of the martyr
Stephen; yea, of Stephens Master
himself! Cruel and uncalled for as
was the blow that smote him and TIE
nation, speedy and condign as should
be the punishment meted out to the
perpetrators thereof, yet it is pleas
ant to think of the stricken President S
feelings toward the culprit as those OF
pity rather than of vengeance.
Mr.. Mckinley never made an enemy
if it was possible to avoid it with hon
or. His uniformly kind and council,
iatory manner toward his opponents
did much to disarm them of theiI
prejudice and to make them his friends
Nor was this simply matter of pol
icy. 1t was a matter of conscience
if studied at all. But the most sigma
success, in this direction, came from
the spontaneous impulses of a heart
naturally at peace with all mankind
As the stream flows without an eff.
tort, SO kindly thoughts, words and
actions flowed naturally from the
genial currents of his great soul Few
men, in public life, in this or any
other land, have more nearly carried
out the Saviors command, Love youl
enemies, bless them that curse you
do good to them that hate, and pray
for them that despitefully use you"
Daniel Webster was once asked
what was the greatest thought tha'
ever occurred to him. He answered
The thought of my responsibility t.
God" For over forty years, Mr.. Nc
Kinley had tried to meet that responsi
bility Alright. In his various positions
of trust and honor, and in his increas
ing responsibility to the people, b.