Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-09-19
NEAR TO HEARTS OF PEOPLE.
President Mckinley Knew No Sectional
Liner, Says Ii. ID. Connolly.


Liner, Says Ii. ID. Connolly.
b D. Connolly was the last speak
er. He said: Ladies and Gentle
men: Today the heart of the Ameri-
can people is heavy with sorrow. We
William Mckinley. Exalted to the
highest place in the gift of the great
est nation of the earth, the presidency
of the United States, the foremost
man in all the world, he has been
cruelty stricken down by the hand of
the assassin, one of earth's vilest
creatures, blot upon the escutcheon
of mankind
There is trlte saying that one
has but to die to be praised No. so
with President Mckinley. He was no
strang er to the need of praise while
he was yet among Us o. all our
illustrious presidents none WAS ne trer
the hearts of the people than Presi-
dent Mckinley Gentle and courte
GUS in manner. kindly and loving in
disposition. he yet possessed those
qualities that all strong men must
have-convictions aud the courage to
maintain them. Twice before has
the American nation bowed its
head beside the bier of mArtyred
chieftains. Lincoln, Garfield, McKin
ley. What flood of tender memoir
les those names call forth; our moth
er tongue is inadequate to express all
our hearts would sp ak. The life Of
President Mckinley was an open
book. Every American boy-every
American man might well id that
book. He would find no pages which
he would hastily turn that he may
not read something he would not see
The outpourings of grief at our presi-
dents uRtimely death were spontane-
GUS and sincere from all parLs OF the
civilized globe. Node knew him but
to love him. As chief magistrate OF
our nation he endeafe ed himself to all
people; he knew no sectional lines
there were to him no north, no south
no east, no west; his great and mob g
heart went out in love not only to the
American people, but to all mankind
to all peoples, be their color white OF
their skin of darker hue.
Civilized world GrIevss.
1.-THE civilized world grieves for its
best friend. President Mckinley grew
in strength as strength was needed
unflinchingly graver problems IL
died for his country. A cry goes III
from the depths of our hearts: VIII
sacrifice that noble life; of all men
why President Mckinley? We fiaC
no answer under heaven The way
of Providence we may not know, bu
we do know there is a just and goo
God who presides over the destinie
of nations. As the immortal Garfield
said on the death of the MARTYRS
Lincoln, God reigns and the govern
ment at Washington still lives
"a nation mourns, and we inscrib
another name on the roll of mar, yre,
presidents. William McKinley-ma
the love with which his heart Ger
flowed find Judgment in our hearts
and beneath its benign inhuer C;
though dead. may he ever live.
"Let not his sacrifice upon the alta
of his country have been in vain
surely the lessons of that noble an
christian life should sink deep int
the minds and hearts of our country
men, and il by the sacrifice of Pres
dent Mckinley's life we become be
ter prepared to carry out Gods woI
for our beloved country, may we NJ
hope that his kindly smile will re
for all time upon the nation who
name he so exalted while on earth.
After a prayer by Rev. Thomi
Mackin, the song America" by Il
audience closed the exercises.