The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-09-20

y
a meeting like this. When the news
flashed over the wires that President
McKinley was shot it seemed impos-
sible for us to believe it, and our feel
ings of sorrow, CONSERVATION and an
ger struggled for the mastery, but all
law abiding and patriotic citizens were
sure of one thing and that was that
the foul brood known as anarchists
must go. We welcome to our shores
all law-abiding. God-fearing people
who come here to better their condi-
ton and are willing to adopt our prin-
ciples of civil government and help
perpetuate our glorious republic. but
in my Judgment the door has been off
the hinges long enough, and the time
is here, when our immigration laws
should be amended. AS to what can be
done to those people who would tear
down the foundations of all society,"
who in their shortsightedness do not
realize that in the assassination of
President Mckinley they have done
more to endanger our priceless herit-
age of free speech and free press than
anything that has happened during
the life of this generation I am not
prepared to say, except that some way
will be, must be devised, by which
our nigh officials will be safe from
bodily harm while in the performance
of their duties.
Much has been said, and rightly so,
in praise of our late president who had
grown into the affections of his people
to degree never before known by
any of his predecessors, with perhaps
the exception Of Abraham Lincoln,
and | could not add to what has been
and will be said here today as to his
many noble qualities of mind and
heart. However, / wish to call the
attention Of the young men in this
audience, to some of the strong points
in Mr.. McKinley's character:
First, he was a loving and dutiful
son who honored his parents, also a
model husband, and 1 firmly believe
that because of these qualities more
than anything else he compelled even
his political enemies to admire and
| love him.
Second, he was an honest man which
some one has said is the noblest work
of God. During the last two presi-
Dental campaigns, so far as | Can
| remember, it was impossible for his
political enemies to prove that there
were any stains upon his private char
acter.
Third. he was a God-fearing, Chris
tian gentleman and represented the
highest type of American citizenship.
Young men What is the lesson that
| William McKinley's life teaches us in
this present age? He was not rich
man in dollars and cents, but he had q
character which gold cannot buy, and
which with faith in God is after all
the only things that count when we
are face to face with death. Those
of us in middle life upon whose
shoulders rests the cares and RESPONSE
bilities of an active business realize
that soon we must step aside and lei
those who are now boys assume the
responsibilities of conducting the bust
ness and government of our beloved
country, and remember that there has
never been time when patriotic true,
hearted honest men were more needed
in this country than right now.
Momentus problems are before Ut
and upon their proper solution depends
the veal or woe, not only of ourselves
but of succeeding generations; as 6
nation we have been making history
rapidly during the past few years, nc
man would have dared five years age
to predict the tremendous strides thai
we have taken to occupy our present
proud position of being the first nation
in the world in all that goes to make
a great people but in our exalted sta.
tion we are forced to meet and settle
matters of vital import to ourselves
and others also, and | believe we shall
be equal to the occasion.
If we have made mistakes they viii
be corrected in due time, because oul
people love justice and right and moi
wrong will prevail in the end. 1 be-
lieve that our new president is going tt
| give us good administration and it,
| the moral duty of us all to give hin
our hearty support and good wishes
Now in closing let me say this:
President Mckinley did more thar
any other one person to reunite the
different sections of our common coun.
try into one harmonious people, unit
now from Canada to the gulf and from
ocean to ocean the stars and stripes
are loved and honored in every hamlet
and we are ready to defend that glori
Gus flag and what it represents, to the
last man and the last dollar if neces
sary, to the end that we may BIZ
worthy of our fathers who sacrificed
much that we might enjoy the bless
ings of civil and religious liberty.
'"Thy Will Be Done" was sung by
the choir.
Rev. Geo. w. Davis D. D.
Rev. Geo. W. Davis, pastor Of, the
Presbyterian church, made some i'm
pressive remarks, and we append here
to synopsis of what he said:
When Massillon was appointed tt
pronounce the funeral grafton OF
Louis XIV. (surnamed the "great'
he assembled the pulpit of St. Chapellt
at Paris pale and thoughtful and ut
tered with loud voice these words
"God alone is great So on this
day of mourning when crime SEEM
for the moment to have gained the as
cendant repeat those words for oul
consolation and hope "God alone i.
great greater than any sun or plan
ct, greater than the greatest of men
Woe to him therefore who imagine
he can disturb in the least degree tn,
foundation of righteous government
Happy the magistrate whose heart il
not unduly exalted in the midst of hi
prosperity and glory Such a magis
trate was Mr.. Mckinley for he was
devout worshipper of the High God O
Heaven and acknowledged his indebt
edness to Him for every gift of sou
and intellect and for every element O.
his brilliant success
And since "God alone is great" let
not any man stand in fear of this grea
republic for it was founded by men o.
conscience and has its foundation il
immutable truth. Again and AGAR