Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1901-09-20

DrOKcn utdIls OoQ ntll nNl anu hNSH
her forever in Divine strength"
Following the Governor the Rev. W..
l. S. Murray, ID. d., Of st. Paul's M.
f. Church, offered a beautiful invo-
cation.
The congregation repeated the Lords
prayer in unison.
Then the audience rose to sing Amer
lea" Norris c. Morgan directed the
singing, which was led by the quar-
tet choir of Central Presbyterian
Church. The Philharmonic Band play
ed the accompaniment
Judge George Gray was the first
speaker. He was a close personal
friend Of the dead President, and he
feels his death keenly. In his address
Mr.. Gray said:
There are times when the indiyid-
ual life is merged in the national life;
when the individual heart throbs but
in unison with the pulse Of the great
heart Of humanity, and men are drawn
closer to each other by a common
grief the touch of nature which makes
the whole world kin.
Under the shadow of such a grief
we have come together today. Formal
speech is hardly needed to give express
sion to this universal sorrow. We
mourn in silence, as we .oOk into each
others faces and recall the unspeak-
able tragedy that was enacted a few
days ago by the silver waters of the
Northern lakes. If words must come,
the simplest are the best The cry Of
grief is as old as humanity. 1t comes
lunbidden from the heart which mounts
to the eyes in tears. That the chosen
chief Of seventy-five millions of people
has been cruelty stricken down, is
enough to can for such a demonstra-
tion in this fair land as is making to-
day memorable. But William McKin-
ley was more than the chosen execu-
tive head of this great land. So clear
was he in his high office, that he had
come. after more than four years of
| service as President Of the United
States, to a place in the affections Of
, the people who had chosen him, that
it has rarely, II ever, been the lot of
any to achieve.
1T is impossible now to speak of
his great public services in the high
station to which he had been called,
without mingling with our encOmiums
! the warmth of a personal affection,
that was the result Of the beautiful
! personality that attracted and delight
ed all who came within its influence.
! "He was wise and sagacious in
I counsel, patriotic and courageous in
the performance of duty. Others have
l hf,,
others are to come after him. we al
believe. who will. exhibit the same high
qualities. But there was something
more than this in Mr. Mckinley. He
I brought to the performance OF duty
\ sometimes harsh and forbdding, 6
4 lkindliness and gentleness which in nt
way detracted from his irmness and
i courage, but touched and smoothec
) with soft hand the irritation that duty
!, well performed Oftentimes produces
We have come in these years TO know
him more as he was. and to rid our.
selves Of the distorted image that the
fogs of political rancor and partisan
strife had substituted for the real men
1T is one of the attendant evils oi
popular government, and vehement
discussion of public questions upor
which there is honest difference ol
opinicn, that we often do injustice tc
those who differ from us. and how
ever careful we may be to make ALLOW.
, ance, attribute thought and motiv,
to political opponents that we wou,t
be ashamed to have attributed to our
lselves It is true, reaction generally
, comes, and iuster views and kindliel
judgments take the place OF the harsl
and yociferous denunciations thai
(, Icharactarize political contests. But il
. has rarely come to anyone, who ha.
been so prominent a leader of the 20
litical thought and activity of his time
to conquer so thoroughly the preju
dices Of political opponents, and secur,
to himself in so large a measure the
. affections Of his fellow cOuntrymen, a.
Mr.. Mckinley has done. 1t is no
merely the exuberance OF passiOnat,
grief that has brought to the lips o.
the millions of his countrymen, in con
, nCction with his name. the word be
loved That word seems best to cX
press the universal feeling, and viii
s remain for all time as the tribute o
q the people whom he loved so sincerely
b. and i'm whose service he laid down hi
} life. Strong men are not ashamed q
D tears, at the recital Of the patheti
S scene when first he felt the assassin
bullet, or at that other still more SO
q when he faced the certainty of dealt
q with the calmness, courage and Chris
? tian, resignation. which were the out
j come of the pure and blameless lif
that he had led in full view Of tn
I American people.
"As we contemplate the beauty AM
! simplicity OF Mr.. McKin.ey's character
! his ardent patriotism, his sincerity o
! purpose, which none today doubt, hi
!. unselfish kindness and love for human
ity. how small and insignificant seen
those differences of opinion Of which
= at times, we make so much. We thin
now only Of the love we shared wit
him for our common country. the dea
2 mother Of us all. and whose honor an
4 safety we would all guard with on
r lives. That dear country which W
4 hope to make in the future IL it ha
M hr. l..