Evening journal., 1901-09-19
PEACE TO HIS DUST

PEACE TO HIS DUST
It is ended AS these pages are
read. all that is mortal of William Mo
Kinley. our honored President, is boz
ing consigned to the earth. Never he
fore have the American people turned
from their occupations with so general
accord to honor one OF their number
There are no concealed hatreds, no
bitter thoughts. The outward badges
Of respect and mourning but reflect
sentiments which are a credit to our
people and show the finer nature of
the race.
Political antagonisms are forgotten,
race animosities are not considered;
there is no thought of church or creed.
A giant has fallen. Not only was he
gifted with rare intellectual qualities,
and superb judgment, but he possess
ed to an eminent degree those kindly
traits, the love of home, Of friends and
kindred, tenderness for the woman
who had placed her life in his keep
ing. and an abiding faith in the Inf
mite Such a man has not lived in
vain. Frequently we are compelled to
admire the genius Of men, while excus-
ing or exeeradng their faults. Presi-
dent Mckinley was very human, but
no Islander has ever besmirched his
name. His greatest care in life was
an invalid wife whom he shielded aud
cared for. The storms and passions
Of a public career never succeeded in
lessening his respect for sacred things.
he not only believed In the doctrines
Of the Christian church. but he iden-
tilted himself with her interests, and
was a constant exemplar Of wha. he
conceived to be the truth.
This is no exaggerated picture; such
is not needed. It is the expression Of
facts known TO every well-informod
person. And what life to live, and
what a death to diei We can point to
him when our children come to read
his life. as a pattern Of public and do
nestle virtue The greatness OF any
people lies in its homes; they are the
weH-springs Of private and public vir-
tue William Mckinley knew this
and made OF his life an example o.
homely virtues.
The greatness Of the man wa
shown in his death. When stricken
by the fatal blow, his thoughts were o
othors-of his invalid wife, of the in
terests Of the exposition and-suprem
test,--of his assailantl We do no
know Of such a case for two Thousand
years. It was not after meditation, bu
the immediate impulse Of agreat hear
that he begged the infatuated peopl
not to hurt his assailant Poor fe
low" he exclaimed often during me-
ments Of his agony. And then thos
last hours, when he knew hope wa
gone; when there passed through h
mind all he had to live for; the wi
to shield friends TO remember an
great policies to execute, he did u,
falter. With marvellous fortitude
resigned himself to the Divine wi
and whispered the words OF devote
and Of counsel which he loved so we
He has passed into the shadow
the awful mystery mystery as @
as time, and as absolute as the avn
silences OF space. Human thought h
ever sought TO penetrate the veil a
look beyond; but in vain. She W
mourned her first born was as wise
we. and yet we believe. The econol
OF nature is too absolute for such ch
acters TO become naught. The or
soul Of such a man is too potent,
precious to be blotted out. Let us
lieye that,
We shall see the wondrous visio
When we cross the vale between;
When we think as he is thinking
When we see what he has seen.
William Mckinley was Of the VIII
some American type. While he