The Plymouth Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1878-1901, 1901-09-26
THAYER'SADDRESS


Mr.. Chairman and Fellow Citizens:
We stand today with the civilized
world, bowed in grief. by the open
grave of William Mckinley, stricken
down at the zenith OF his strength
and usefulness by the hand of an as
sassin.
We meet to pay our tribute of love
to our ..best beloved President and
to mingle our tears with those of the
grief stricken world. Party lines
have disappeared and this great sor-
row has made all men brothers in
their grief, and in their horror OF the
crime that took him from us.
How impressive is the thought that
never before in the worlds history
has the death of president or ruler
evoked such universal and heartfelt
expressions of love and sorrow.
Memorial services held in London.
in all English provinces in st. Peters
burg. Paris, Vienna and Berlin:
minute guns at Gibraltar fired by
English and American ships, show a
common sorrow that makes the whole
world kin. Every line written and word
spoken of the dead President reveals
the intensity of personal grief. Each
feels a sense of personal loss. 1t
hangs like pail over the land: where
today men have stopped bargaining
for gam: where 10 smoke ascends
from factory chimDeys: where, from
o:fce. store, farm. shop and home
men. women and children have come
together. to hear the story OF this
noble life and glorious death, and to
Join with one accord in expressions of
grief and love.
The one dominant note is that OF
affection. Now that his gentle lips
are stilled forever, we are profoundly
impressed by those lovable qualities
that drew men TO him and won the
esteem even of party antagonists.
He has been well called our sbest
beloved President" Since he was
first elected President the Blue and
GRAY have marched shoulder to should
er under the old flag. He won the
hearts of the southern people and
cemented the nation which is now
united as never before in its history.
The people should mourn the loss 0.
a friend as well as a statesman an
leader in whose keeping the honor OF
our country was secure.
Should the future historian want
evidence of the personal affection OF
the people for our dead chieftain, he
will find it in the act of more than
one hundred thousand men, women
and children, who in Buffalo, braved
fatigue and defed storms to get one
, last look at his dead face: and in the
testimony of the seven hundred thou
sand American citizens who stood fol
hours along the railroad over whose
flower strewn path he was for the las'
time borne to the capital OF our coun
try, that they might obtain ont
glimpse of the funeral train; and o
the countless thousands, who a
Washington and Canton and between
o lined the course along which hi
mortal remains were carried to tlei
final resting place; and in the furthe
I fact that TODAY the people OF tn
United States have ceased their usua
ayocations and are bowed in grief a
+. his bier.
This most eloquent Of all tribute
comes from all classes of society an
e ali stations and conditions of life wit
20 nc limitations of race or birth,
At rank or wealth.
i. Eighty millions of people mourn
o. No such spectacle as this is recordt
h on the pages of human history.
no The lives of our great men are o.
&c richest heritage. William Mckinl'
n was of the people. His life is an /
n spiration to every citizen, young al
!. old. to strive for the attachments
Il, those qualities OF mind and 'hea
cv which constituted his strength a
fl greatness.
an He rose from the ranks by force
or character. Let us take that less
in home with us. May it sink into
IAN hearts and guide us in our future liv
rec The principal facts of his inarvel'
career, briefly stated, show the p
sibilities of American life open to
who honestly and earnestly strive.
He rose to be chief magistrate
t;,l the greatest nation on earth III
,et humble surroundings Born in
non small town, of parents in modest
20 cumstances: without the adventitf
av aid of wealth, he gained his educat
DIN by earnest work and while still
pan youth of only Is years he enlisted
Tn a private in the Union Army.
orn earned promotion by the faithful
on charge of every duty and bravery