Evening star., 1901-03-04
4 LONG SERVICE IN CONGRESS
Review of Incidents in His Presi-
dental Term.
HOP PEFUL OF URE

| No President since the DAYS of Lincoln
has handled so many problems of magni-
tude as the man who was today inaugu-
rated President for a second term. When
William Mckinley was inaugurated the
first time there were no clouds on the po-
litical horizon portending war with
Spain, the acquisition of Porto Rico the
Philippines, Hawaii and other great events
that have since occurred. Immense and
intense blocks of history have been carved
In the four years that have just passed
over. and the central figure of that history
has been William Mckinley, who was fifty
eight years old on January % of this year,
having been born at Niles, Trumbull coun-
ty Ohio. In 1S43.
The life of William Mckinley Is familiar
to even the smallest child, but it is never
tiresome in being read again. From his
youth he was just the kind of a man he
Is today, honest. fearless, conservative.
just and gracious. He went to school for
awhile. later taught school and was clerk
In the Poland post office June IL, 1861, he
enlisted as private in Company E. 23d
| Ohio Volunteers. He served throughout
the war with great gallantry. being pro-
NOTED by steps until he became a major of
volunteers March 13. 1866. He was made
Mason at Winchester. Va, May 1.
| lcoo LII ISOO lie entered tUo law SCnOOl at
| Albany, studied hard there and at home
| and in 1867 was admitted to the bar at
Warren. Ohio. going to Canton, his present
| home, to begin the practice Of law. In
| of Stark county, Ohio. giving great salts
| faction to the people by his earnest and
| honest efforts in the prosecution of viola
| tors of the law.
| His Marriage in 1871.
Major Mckinley and Miss Ida Saxton
| of Canton were married in 1871, and their
| union has been a happy one. The affection
| shown by the President to his invalid wife
| is one of the prettest instances of Ameri
| can history In the year of his marriage
| he failed of reelection by forty-five votes
| as prosecuting attorney of Stark county.
| In the presidential campaign of 1872 he
| participated actively In the Grant Greeley
canvass He followed this activity by TAX
| ing conspicuous part in the election of
Rutherford B. Hayes as governor of Ohio
| in 1875. By this time he had become so
prominent in his congressional district that
| he was elected to Congress from the eighth
| Ohio district. He was reelected success
| lively until November, 1890, when his dis
| trict was gerrymandered by the democrats,
causing his defeat. His services in Con-
gress were of the most conspicuous nature,
and his fidelity, clean record and value to
his nomination for President by the repub-
lican party.
In 1891 Major Mckinley was elected gov
ernor of Ohio, being reelected in 1893. He
returned to his home in Canton in the early
part of April and was there when he was
nominated by the republican national con-
vention at St. Louis in June. He received
661 out of total of 905. In the Novem-
ber following he was elected President by a
popular plurality of 100000, receiving 2i1
electoral votes to 176 for William ]. Bryan,
Immediately after his inauguration, the
President issued proclamation calling
Congress in extra session to revise the tar
iff laws of the country. Congress passed
the Dingley tariff bill in the July following.
May II of that year Congress made AN
appropriation for the relief of Americans
in Cuba Cuba being in a very destitute
condition This the first official mott
fication that this country felt that il had
considerable interest in the affairs of Cuba.
There was some talk that Spain would OBJ
ject to the Of this appropriation, but
the matter was finally arranged, in 9. par
TALLY satisfactory manner, at least.
Early in 1898 the relations between Cuba
and the United States began to reach an
acute stage. In his annual message to
Congress in December, 1897. the President
had discussed Cuban affairs and had hint
ed that Intervention might finally be nee
essary. The correspondence between this
country and Cuba aroused the ire of the
Spaniards, that, in January OF 1928, po-
lice precautions were taken at Madrid for
The War With Spain.
The United States battle ship Maine was
ordered to Havana January "a, and from
then on there was every appearance Of
ultimate war between the two countries.
Much correspondence was exchanged in the
effort to have Spain fix the time for the
pacifcation of Cuba. The intense feeling
was heightened by the sinking of the bat
tie ship Maine on the night of February 10.
Events followed fast until Congress voted
appropriation Of $5O,U0,OOO for national
defense, to be al the disposal of the United
States. Various resolutions looking to
declaration Of war were introduced in Con-
gress about this time, but the President
moved slowly In the matter April IS q
joint resolution was passed by Congress de-
claring the independence Of Cuba, and in
structing the President to use the land and
naval forces to carry the resolution into
effect. These resolutions were signed by
the President April 20. April % the Presi-
dent declared a blockade of Cuban ports,
and April % issued call for 125, 600 vol
unteers. April "a the blockading fleet was
fired on from Moro Castle. and April % a
resolution was passed by Congress for
maliy declaring war with Spain.
Throughout the trying periods of the war
with Spain the President remained a his
office, looking after the interests of this
country: and his duties since then have
never permitted a moment when his mind
could be free from all-important questions
Of national interest. The acquisition of the
Philippines gave the President and his ad-
ministration more hard work and serious
study than the whole conduct Of the Span
sh war. Many of these problems are still
unsettled. and 1t may be justly said that
no President since the days of the martyred
Lincoln has carried in his mind SO many
huge problems.
Despite these weighty matters, which
continually absorb his entire thought and
attention, the President has remained In
good health, except for the attack of grip
In January.
why Indians Paint Their Faces.
From Pearson's Magazine.