The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1901-09-20
WILLIAM Mckinley.

Will De until eternity Is redcneQ.
Countries and governments arise,
flourish and decay yet the
ceaseless footsteps never halt in
their onward march. Each day
the tide of human life washes new
inlets only to be filled in and make
way for others that will be
created by the succeeding ebb.
Change seems to be the order of
creation. Biologists say that
before human life existed, this earth
passed through many stages
and we are now undergoing i'm
perceptible transformations that
will better fit this world for some
future purpose for which it is yet
to serve. When we view the
vastness of this creation, even
from our limited horizon, our in
significance can be better realized.
Men are but mere atoms that go
to make up etsrnity-molecules
that, becoming united and COM
bined by spiritual affinity, go to
make up a combined, integrated
whole, and as some native ma
terialspossess a finer composition
than do others, so great men by
their lives prove stronger magnets
to draw together the better traits
of the average human beings.
Such a man was our martyred
President.
From the time that he entered
the arena of life's struggle his
aim has always been towards
better things. If he erred it was
only an additional proof of the
fallacy of human wisdom. Like
other great men, he was at times
surrounded by those whose mo-
tiveswere not above suspicion, but
ityet remains for any one to fasten
a single stain upon his spotless
character. Possessing thepower
to command, his predictions
led him into public life. In his
chosen vocation, success was al
most invariably his reward.
From an obscure lawyer he rose
to be the Chief Executive of the
greatest nation On earth. His
rise was not by sudden bounds but
by progressive steps. Each field
of labor brought wider vision
until at last the acme had been
attained. Destiny" as he termed
the course of his administration,
made him rank with Washington
and Lincoln as a history making
President. What the outcome of
his course will be only time can
answer; but this we allappreciate
his course has placed this coun-
try in an entirely new light in the
eyes of the world.
In private life Mr.. Mckinley
was above reproach. His home
was a model from which anyone
could well take pattern. His un-
selfish devotion to the partner of
his joys and sorrows was one of
his chief attributes, and the
prayers of the American people
that his life might be saved, were
coupled with the invocation that
she might be given strength to
bear the crushing blow.
After all that has been said, how
awful it is to revert to his sad
ending. We shudder to think
that when he thought he was
amongst loving friends, there was
in the crowd one who had the
rancor of murder in his heart.
Not that he bore any special
enmity against Mr.. Mckinley.
Neither was there the motive for
sordid gain. 1t was at Society
the deadly pistol was aimed. Our
utter abhorrenceofsuc creatures
passes beyond expression.
So Mr.. Mckinley died-a victim
of an anarchist. Here comes the
unexplainable point to blind
humanity. Why should so great
and good man fall the prey of
one who abhors law and order?
Even after the attempt, why
could NOT the prayers of millions
be answered and his life thus
bespared to teach the truism that
right always conquers wrong?
True christianity answers these
questions. A higher Power than
the skilled hand of the surgeon
was directing the order of things
and to Him it seemed best that
our applications should not be
granted. And yet apparently
unanswered here the sincere fol-
lower of the Omnipotent rests
secure in the abiding faith that
God knows the best.