Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-09-16

Chester 4. Arthur. Horace cr ayes'
James G. Blaine and William McIiiniey'
1t is good blood ana true. for in it there
ness. of imperishable love of libertw and
of undying fidelity to principle McKin.
ley was not born to wealth, neither ala he
know the poverty that impoyerishes
stunts and kills.
which builds up this nation. His fat%er
was a mechanic and manufacturer in
iron-a strong. rugged character which
gave all its strength to his family with
n devotion equalled but not slirna coed nv.
his ilustrious son. While his home did
not know the ease which comes from
wealth, it did know the culture refine
ment and courtesy that is horn IN tna
est and nObest queen of the world pre
sides-an American. Christian mother
Mckinley was born well; a noble ma ar
surged him on and up; he was trained
wisely, for the iron courage and honor
of his Scotch-Irsh ancestry entered his
veins. He was born at an opportun,.
time to give these great qualities a chance
ana an IN place pest calculated to inspire
OF a Christian mother smiled back INTO
his. and the songs of Zion from her Inns
hushed him to sleep at eventime. In ear
ly youth he became the disciple of The
NaZarene. taught by pious examine Tho
eternal might of the Golden Rule: Rorn
in the great Western reserve with IT'S
New England atmosphere. its roomy ex-
tent. its open fields, its mighty land
scapes and it's boundless opportunities
surrounded with the air of political So,
cial and industrial discussion he aunear
ed Just as the clouds We're growing black
above the nations horizon when stafes
men We're becoming weak and strong
men We're about to falter. The enemies
of the Union were arrogant proud and
defiant: the true, the tried and the braye
men were looking into each Others ewes
- a nan,
character;-in such home, with such
surroundings, at such a lime, William
Mckinley's childhood WAS passing. The
public schools secured in the land-erant
furnished for him the best education
winch any boy can have, and of which he
said in 1896: The hope and safety OF
the republic must rest upon the great
public school system" Then he fitted for
college at the old time Conference Acad
envy at Poland under wise Christian
teachers.
college was not for this youth of the
great Western reserve, Tor when scarce
" Is he stood in the old inn at Poland
and heard of Sumter, the flag trailed i'm
the dust, the nations peril; then the
stored up energy Of genera tons of ma
triotic blood burst forth and the student
was soldier. His record as a private a
commissary sergeant, second lieutenant.
Il hrSt lieutenant, captain. n major is
well known to the readers of the pubic
press. How simple. how easy. how com
monplace, But go back to see the two
ships anchore at jamestown and at Ply
mouth and watch the two principles as
they grow from the slight sowing: stand
in the Senate as they there contend for
supremacy: see the fearful battles for
territory: sail with Lincoln down the
Mississippi and see the cruelty of one
system: go to New England and mark
grims grow sterner; see that black curse
in the Southland and note the heavy
skirmish lines closing in and the Ia Il
giant grapple over the free soil OF the
great Northwest territories. See that
tall. solemn-viSased man come to the
White House, The arena OF contest has
changed from the busting and the forum
to the battlefield, Oh. il is not simple
jestic, splendid. as these boys rose up
about Lincoln and rallied about the fiag
10 purge il of the foul blot that made
the declaration of independence a by
word to the nations.
We are not ashamed of William Me
kinley as the product and exponent of
American ideas and principles. For IL
years he studied and fought on the floor
of Congress to maintain and defend those
principles which he believed would give
this country peace and prosperity and by
the sheer force of his character won his
way to the leadership of his party. Then
Ohio called him to be her governor and
found him to be a master in state and
municipal problems. He gave the toi,er
arbitration for labor difficulties and in
other ways proved himself the friend of
the masses. Seated in the presidential
chair he displayed patience. reserve and
calmness while he plead for peace: and
some doubted him. but the war fiend had
slipped his tether and Mckinley, who
knew what war was. stood firmly through
the contest and when the shock had
cleared away he was still at the helm.
His death is vicarious one Mark
YOU his assassin came from a long line
lf rpnrpSpptinV H.
preston and intolerance with an inDorn
hatred of all forms of government Have
we not encouraged the coming to our
shores of all classes. and has not the
money-m maker taken advantage of this to
fill our mills and mines with degenerates
from other lands? In our folly has il not
been said: The spirit of liberty will
transform these into useful CitiZens?'
Not content with the philosophical chill
dren of Prouuhon. have We not entered
INTO the manufacturing OF these degen-
crates on our own account IN oar Sums
lur sWoa:-shors ard by our general dis
egard OF law? IL has taken two thous-
ma yeals To MAKE the Anglo Saxon what
e is ara can We hope TO convert the OPP
.ossion and the tyrlnny of ages in Il
ecadeY This ueed ought To stdrtle the
ou!.t.y out of Is easy-gong attitude to-
wards inren!iary propaganda. violence
.riineS against person and property and
he prevalent disregard tor law among
nigh ard low. Oh, II will take years of
patience, love and courage to learn as
Lincoln Garfield and Mckinley learned
20 live and die for others.
Humanity has been coming to its vic
tory through the ages. Athens must
learn the priceless lesson and Socrates
must die to teach his countrymen. Amer
lea must learn her lesson and Lincoln
and the blood of North and South must
leach it, The Christ of God lived for and
loved humanity; 10 feed the hungry. to
give water of life TO the thirsty: to soothe
sorrow to heal sickness; to speak truth ::
md not till He died did humanity begin
to learn the lesson OF His life. Socrates.
Jesus, and in later time Lincoln, Gar
field and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. deaths all
of them Socrates kindles spark in the
Athenian breast; Jesus sends the light
streaming down the ages; Lincoln caught
it and made the watchword of liberty a
fact to millions: and Mckinley, kneeIing
at Il humble Methodist altar, also caught
the spirit of the same Christ and his life
became all aglow with its brightness.
Such lives as that of Mckinley should
teach, inspire and lift us all out of self
ishness up to the highest humanity and
God. Must Socrates. Jesus. Mckinley
and thousands of others go to their
death because we will not see and hear
and act? The innocent suffer with and
for the guilty; it is the eternal law, and
must forever be.
strong to contend; wise to advise: gem
tie to help: and brave to endure. Nc Kin
lev gave his thought. his love. his talent
his life. to his country; And by it he be-
\,