Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-09-21

of neither poverty nor riches, but CT the
middle class. He started from view
point that tends to make we'll ball
anced minds. In the makeup of human
character there are always two ele-
ments, the inherent and the adventi-
tious-that which comes with US into
the world and that which our surround
ings give us. William Mckinley dem
onstrated the virtues both of his an
cestry and his environment Altho he
early took hand in the affairs of life,
teaching and clerking and such like.
there is no evidence of precocity. He
Won thru nobility rather than by gen.
ius. Little did the pupils of that coun-
try school near Poland o., think that
their youthful pedagogue was destined
to be crucIfied for his great em:nence
and that his funeral would be observed
by the civilized world Soldier at u.s.,
promoted three time for gallantry in
battle. little did Captain Mckinley
know on October IL, 1864, when he cast
his first vote, while on the march, for
President Lincoln, that he was destined
for the same exalted place and doomed
for the same terrible and deplorabie
fate. Little did President Lincoln think
on March 18th, 1866, when he signed the
commission brevetting Captain McKin-
ley to the rank of major for gallant and
meritorious services that he was writ
ing name that would stand beside his
own upon the great phylacterles OF
time. Little did Miss Ida Saxton think
on that delicious and romantic day
January % 1S71-that she was marrying
fame and tragedy, that she was to be-
come the grief stricken widow of a
martyr president, All, wondrous, wond-
rcus World of strange. mysterious fates.
of mingled joy and grief. of comedy and
tragedy. of lowliness and fame, where
upon the poor and rich. the feeble and
the strong, the lowly and the great.
He knew situations better than any
fone for a Kindred years, unless indeed 1t
might be Lincoln, and he improved his
opportunities. He was the genius of oc-
casion the diplomat of opportunity. The
lucky star shone above his head in every
minute of his life until that wandering
asteroid of evil, that ignominius acci-
dent in Gods great universe of law and
order, collided with his brilliant course
and killed him. When he stood in the
Fifty--first congress beside Thomas b.
Reed as candidate for the speakership
the country thought he was defeated.
Reed went into the speakers chair and
Mckinley to the Craftsmanship of ways
and means Little did Speaker Reed
think when he appointed Major Mckin-
ley to the Craftsmanship of ways and
means, that he was naming the next
pres dent of the United States and
sending his rival to qualification and to
deathless fame; and little did Major
Mckinley know when he was defeated
for the speakership, that he was win
ming the first prize in American politics
and stepping into the car that was to
carry him to the white house and to his
grave. All, phantoms of ambitions
dreams how strange the ways thou
leadest thru how tempting are their
heights, how deep and dark and stony
their declines, how coveted by those
without, and how uncertain even for
thine own favored ones within!
1T must have filled the heart of this
anxious, faithful man with satisfaction
and delight when, at the completion OF
his great and wonderfully eventful adj
n.inistration. the country registered
such hearty and pronounced approval
OF his conduct and achievements; and
for myself, and doubtless to all of you,
1T is u source of profound COMFORT In
this hour of grief, that this patient,
serving, noble soul was justified in
realizing the love and thankfulness and
gratitude, not only of his countrymen,
but largely of the world. For the world
as his constituency had learned his
character, and the world Is fast coming
to appreciate exalted character.
1T was my great privilege to know
this man, to be his friend, and have his
friendship. His life, his character. his
personal contact was an inspiration al
ways for the good. No man ever left his
presence without some ennobling I'M
pulse. One OF many incidents, by way
Of illustration, 1 may be pardoned for
relating. When we came away from
Washington, q little while ago. called,
as usual to pay respects and say good
bye at the white house. The president,
after finishing some matter OF official
detail. came into the room-the very
place where Lincoln often met his
friends-and said to me, You've come
to say goodbye. That's good for you.
Il hope you'll have pleasant vacation
and return safely He looked the pic
ature Of health and hopefulness, tho ap-
parently little worn and pale. He
wore q small carnation in his coat, and
as turned to go he stopped and put the
flower in the coat Of q little boy who
accompanied some other early caller.
saying. There, my little man. and I
came away thinking of the goodness and
simplicity and greatness of the presi-
dent Of the United States, and the more
4 see of men and of the world the more
II am impressed that goodness Is the best
iof all the virtues. France will tell you
now of an emperor who tried to subdue
the world, and he almost reached the
pinnacle where he might have stood and
said: L am monarch of the world. But
the Waterloo of his destiny came, and
the man whose ambition it was to rule
the world became himself slave in the
midst Of the murmuring sea. His era
die was an island and his grave was an
island
"rhey will tell you of another brilliant
man of France of whom 1t is said that
like a spider in its web he allured and
caught in succession heroes, thinkers,
great men. conquerors, kings, princes
emperors, Bonaparte, Madame de Stael
Chateaubriand, Benjamin Constant. Al
exander of Russia, William of Prussia
Francis of Austria, Louis XIV, LOUIS
Philippe, all the gilded and the glitter
ing flies who buzzed thru the history OF
forty years; and when he died doctors
came to embalm the body and IKE tns
,,....,.ia,. ran,oved the bowels from the