Evening star., 1901-09-19


- -
giant in all the elements typical of intel
lectual power. With this character and
with these attributes, he was ready to be-
gin the work of 1ife-and with such founda-
tions the work could not be otherwise than
successful.
Period of His Taking on.
Mr.. Wright reviewed President McKin-
ley's early life and then said:
At the time of his death President Nc
Kinley had reached a period in his active
life when, looking back upon his struggles
and successes, he and the people saw him
entering career of still greater usefulness
and with resolution and the opportunity
to be of the greatest possible service to
the United States and to mankind. With
the confidence of the whole community of
states; with the existing industrial pros
perity of the land: with the nation look
Ing into the future with wondrouS eyes
and excited at it's own resources. with the
old world looking on with startled nerves
at our advancement; with his own spirit of
reform and progress-with this vision OPEN
ing to the keen intellect of Mckinley and
to the understanding of our people, 1t is
not remarkable that when he was struck
each member of this proud nation felt the
blow.
And so we come to the beginning of the
sad days of pilgrimage, brief though they
were, through which our martyr passed
with so much couEe and through which
and with so ma - ,aluable and beautiful
lessons crowdns. pom them.
The earthly career of William Mckinley
has closed. To him has been extended the
sympathy of nations, whether Christian or
pagan. To him our own people poured out
their hearts devotion. The Christian cour-
age and faith which carried the noble pa
tient through pain and all the bodily tor
lures of his wounds up to the gate OF
death with no murmur, no complaint took
possession of the grand constituency of
the nation until one universal sympathy
pervaded ALL The daily bulletins Of the
surgeons, the minute accounts of treat
ment, symptoms, results, conditions. ex-
pressions all tended to make his death
almost unparalleled in history. Rulers
have been assassinated; great men have
died in office; we have had our own ex-
perience In the same sad lines under SINH
lar circumstances, for twice before In our
own history and in like manner has great
man occupying great station been
brought to the thin veil which separates
this from another life.
How can sum up the life and character
of Mckinley? How can /, an ardent ad-
mirer of the man, give an impartial esti-
mate of that character which L am sure
has stamped itself upon the thought of the
age? Will not partial and loving tribute
best accord with the sentiments which
have brought you up to this sacred temple?
Personal characteristics.
1.-THE personal characteristics of Mckinley
were such as win all men. One might op-
pose him, disagree with him, combat him,
but he must love him. His nature was
strong in the extreme. His personal pres
ence, his genial countenance, fascinating
conversational powers, wealth Of mind and
heart constituting him the best of all COM
panions-all these personal attractions
made his influence over men very powerful;
and these qualities, united with his keen
moral perception, enabled him to sway men
to an extraordinary degree. He was gen1al
to fault; perhaps his geniality made him
appear to those who knew him the least
weak at times, and they thought that his
amiability warped his judgment and caused
his discretion to be doubted. He was al
ways looking for good in men, and expected
right action from right motives. He may
have mistaken the motives of men, and
thus erred in his judgment, but 1t was an
error of judgment, and not of motive. With
honesty of purpose himself, he may have
mistaken dishonesty of purpose in others
for his own quality Of motive. Like all
genial men, he perhaps too frank, or
maybe indiscreet in his frankness. but do
not believe he ever from motive did
wrong toward his constituency or his coun-
try, or violated his oath Of office or his
trust. In private life no man would dare
impugn his motives. When he accepted
public service he elected to pay the price of
He mentioned incidents in illustration of
Mr.. Mckinley's purity in politics and spoke
of his happy domestic relations, and then
told of the lessons that might be learned
thing gains by Mckinley's life and death.
Politics gain, and politics is simply the
business Of the public. Politics gain be-
cause a grand life will be studied in the
truest light-that of its worth: and all,
whether friend or foe, must admire the life
of Mckinley, however much they may dis
agree with his politics And the unwritten
features Of Mckinley's political life will In
the future give greater gain to political
work"
Mr.. Wright concluded as follows:
To-day the nation returns to its native
dust, amid the tears of loved ones and Of
patriots, all that remains of the image Of
William Mckinley. Let his death be sane
titled to the good of the whole. Let us feel
that the real Mckinley lives and represents
all the best that is in the immediate past,
and in this memory let the thousands of
chofrs that today send up solemn anthems
to stir the souls of men carry the thanks
OF our people to the throne Of God that he
gave US a Mckinley to lose. Rich we were
in the possession, richer we are in the depth
of our grief by the very memories his name
will arouse, and by the glad knowledge that
he will live to the nation with Washington
and with Lincoln.
"Out of the nations Gethsemane the peo-
pie will come purified by the holy incense
which arises from their own altars lighted
by the fires Of their own patriotism. and
which they shall keep burning in the true
spirit of religion and Of devotion to the
pr1nclple OF divine supremacy In the rule Of
the nations of the earth.'
ssTHEIR WORKS m EnI T nvU ruyuSns .,