Evening star., 1901-09-17
Military and Civilians Escort
Presidents Remains.
ATTENDED BY HIS COMRADES
All Sections and All Parties Pay
Tribute.
THE NATION ROW

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/ All nature wept today. Under heavens
whose clouds dropped tears, through walls
of men and women whose eyes were moist
| with tears. to the strains of mournful
music that echoed the sentiments of the
American people, to the cadences of muf-
fed drums, TO the sounds of broken sobs
a solemn cortege moved from the White
House to the Capitol. The army and the
navy of the United States, the civilian SOL
diery, patriotic. civic and fraternaI organi-
cations, religious bodies, the representatives
of labor and the representatives of foreign
nations made up the mournful procession
that escorted the body of William McKin-
ley on it's impressive journey. From the
White House, which had been the scene of
the elimination of characteristics that will
ever be precious heritages of the greatest
of peoples to the tribune of that people the
long line sadly went Within it's walls
events that changed the nations course
from the narrow path of domestic environ
ment to a broad highway leading to un-
speakable achievements had been shaped
and fashioned. 1t had been the arena in
which the patriot had met the perplexities
and problems of a tremendous epoch and
strengthened by the glorious power of
Christian prayer d solved them for his
ccuntry's good.
Ia The Third Martyr.
His casket was lifted from the spot where
the immortal Lincoln's had rested a genera
tion ago. 1t was fitting that this should be.
Both were the nations guides in the most
critical periods of its history. Both had
been chosen by a grateful people to con-
tinue as their leaders. Both, God help us,
were shot down by atrocious assassins.
Remotely as search may go into the faded
pages of history no trace will be found of
two such periods and two such men. 1t
was another President. Garfield, victim
alike to murderous deviltry, who exclaimed
when Lincoln's mighty spirit passed, God
reigns and the government at Washington
still lives
In all the grief and desolation OF today
this truth comes back to countless hearts
to strengthen and uplift them.
Half a year ago, vigorous in mind and
body, the man whose corpse was carried
to the Capitol today was escorted there by
q similar body of his countrymen to take
the oath of the highest of earthly offices
for the second time. His progress was
marked by the plaudits of a proud,
grateful and a loving people, whose insti-
tutions he had upheld and whose princi-
pies he had elevated to heights never before
attained
His countrymen were proud of him as
President and patriot. They were CRATE
ful to him for the dignity and charity he
had so illustriously developed. They loved
him for his manhood and the domestic
beauty that adorned 1t.
From house-tops and house fronts gleam-
ed the bright folds OF the starry banner he
had ever loved so deeply and served so
devotedly, and from lusty throats poured
torrents of tribute.
A Pathway of Tears.
! Today that route of triumph was a path
way of tears. The people were there and the
flags but across human hearts and stars
and stripes alike were marks OF mourning.
Handkerchiefs from countless hands f1ut-
tered a greeting to the President in March.
Handkerchiefs today quenched tears in
countless eyes were held close-pressed
to trembling lips to keep back the sounds
of sobs. The huzzas of March were hushed
In September Where were gladness and
gayety then were gloom and grief now.
Mourning. alas, Is too often perfunctory
Conventionality too frequently prompts the
semblances of sorrow in the presence of the
dead The mourning for William Mckinley
had not the barest trace of this. A sweep
over the sea Of faces could find no smile,
but only the panied, strained hook of sor-
row, poignant sorrow. But time is merci-
full. 1t assuages anguish. and the hearts
that are sorrowing will lose the gloom of
their sorrow just as the flags will be re-
lieved OF their festoons of crepe. The hues
OF the flag were bright under their
bands of mourning as they were when they
foated in the dead Presidents honor
scarcely more than six months ago. And so
IL is comforting to know that every star I'm
that peerless field of blue and every stripe
that sways from It means the same eternal
and inviolate institutions they have sym
boiized since freedom Hmned their beau
ties. Comforting, too. 1t was to feel that
the hearts In the breasts OF the multitude
principles in the future as in the past and
gain newer strength and holier aspiration
because of the influence and example which
the man mourned today bequeathed to his
fellow citizens.
Assembling mt the White House.
In preparation for the starting of the
funeral parade promptly at o'clock those
who were TO take part began arriving at
the White House early in the morning.
The gates TO the grounds were guarded
stringently by policemen and no one was
admitted but those who were entitled un-
der the program to take part in the obse-
Qules. The visitors were assigned to diff
ferents rooms in the building to await the
departure Of the procession for the Capt.
Apl
dhe tramping of hundreds OF feet over
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