The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-09-16
DR.. d. vi. Fisk Gives an Flo
quent Tribute.
Did Not Make an End of McKin-
Iey's Working Power.
Hand of Lord Ruled in AcquisiH
ton of Philippines.
Universal Mourning Expressed
in All Congregations.


tionaI church at the morning service
yesterday was u mastery and scholarly
tribute 10 VIM. Mckinley. the martyr
president.
The text was Blessed is the nation
whose God is the Lord Psalms s3.12.
Not merely nation. but a startled,
indignant world. stands in this sab
baths silence by the lifeless body of
our great chief executive, lying in state
in Buffalo.
silence. rather than words. better
interprets our stunned ssnsibilities- We
are mourners. bereft of a brother whom
we honored and trusted as truly as the
nations chief citizen and mead. 20 AZ
This hour il is NOT my purpose to make
any attempt to characterize the official
or personal career OF him whose dust
still fingers for a brief day with the
people whom he loved.
We stand too near for any just or
especially helpful estimate or perspect-
i've. and my heart prompts no such crit
1cal or eulOsistic task
Indeed, 1 doubt if our perturbed
minds are ia any state TO have amy
such estimate made We are too dis
rressad over the fresh horrifying trag-
edy. too sore over this benumbng be-
reaEerlent. and far too sure of what
the after-Verdict of diSpassiOnate his
tory viii be to care what praise OF
blame may be meted out by anybody
today
Happily, however. some things wait
for no permission. but say themselves
The flags OF the civilized world at half
mast with our own stars and stripes, the
fire threaded ocean depths thrilling
with Fastening coincidence from all ma
tons the conventional courtesies to
the stricken Wife-these are condolences
that the court etiquette might have en-
fOrcd as usage. whatever the life and
record of our latest president. But
there has been that within this anxious
week Of suspense and eager inquiry
there is that in all faces and demeanor,
a note in foreign dispatches and world
wide press uttertnces, that is not born
of diplomacy, but is the spontaneous.
indispensable and human tribute OF
uncoerced respect for d man who has
proved himself as great as his eminent
Office, who has added luster to the ma
ton that has twice hOnored him with
election TO its chief ma gistracy, even as
his hand had begun to add new stars
TO our flag
That homage to personal human
worth thar reverence Tor an unSulned
manhood, that affection for a high Off
cial who was not ashamed to confess
himself a Christian and q brother. and
who has proved himself a resOIute de-
fender Of the oppressed; that free trib-
ute viii not cease to be paid by citizen,
stranger or student of events even af-
ter the grass of Ohio shall cover the
mortal remains of our dead president.
"One lesson is so clear, even through
our unSU buISSive tears. that III cannot
be mistaken. The duliard lead of an
assassIn's felony has missed its mark
if it hoped to make an end of Mr. Nc
kinley. CIR of his working power.
THAT crime. like the crucifixion of
Jesus. sealed his work and settled his
Immortality. Our great constructive
statesman has already irremOvabIy
gone into the structural history of the
world, not merely OF this nation, but of
universal history.
II believe the hand of the Lord was
ruling in the matter Of the acquisition
of the Cuban Islands and the Philippine
Islands by the United States, through
the policy Of President Mckinley, as
much as I believe the Lord guided the
children of Israel through the Red sea-
Such were the words Of Rev. d NJ Fisk
pastor of the First Congregational
church. in the course of his sermon yes
terday on The Nations True Defense
God The words We're spoken with a
confidence and conviction that could
not fail TO carry weight with all the
hearers.
What after history of Cuba or of the
philippine Islands can leave out Will
liam Mckinley
Who can write the story Of the
Twentieth Century of China. or the
economic history of all commercial peo-
Piles of today with no alIusiOn to the
far-sighted. time-vindicated statesman
and patriot2
1T is doubtless something to have
ones name cast in the bronze panels of
Columbia's Temple of Fame But it is
Infinitely more to have been granted
OF N1OQ TO step into the integral history
Of an anehorating world; to stand be-
side Hberating Washington and
Grant TO be forever bracketed with the
earlier manly sidents-blameles and
unsulIed-dying for their country, an
Immortal triumvirate now-LincOln
Garfield and Mckinley-to be a perpet-
ual working force in every after policy
OF a widening imperial destiny, whose
pole OF world influence it was given to
him to SHIFT (facing his land to tropic
and orient with a message and mission
the grandeur of which no one of the
present day can estimate.)
And to the sober conviction of this
sorrow nothing less than this is al
ready sure to the victor quite as truly
ms victim of plotting treason.
Bullets can Stay bodies but not the
essential. believing, self-investing mani
Patriotism and self-devotion are as
been wise enough to in-build himself
Into the institutional and social life of
his age can jest at mortal wounds and
defy the hiding grave-clOds- He knows
the tremendous verify of that scripture
OF the sacrificed Jesus. Christ abOl-
isheth death. He has already begun
70 enter into his happy Immortality
II evidence were needfu1 let this
suggestive reelection bring its own
proof
Mr.. Mckinley has his place in Init
ed States history. He is a part CT it
Tor Whom2 For fifth grade pupils and
school children only2 For acadamic stu
dents or for university men reading for
g oegree2 For English-speaking com
patriots Of the dead leader only7 Is
this a1I2
mo- say again. mol Least Of all.
perhaps Liberty enlfghtens the world
History teaches by example. The Sc
rious claims Of a world pedagogian
knows no race or language barrier for
freedoms widening story.
Why did he dio2 The question viii