The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1901-09-27
MEMORIAL ADDRESS
Delivered AT COlfax BY Superior
Judge Chadwick.
On the Occasion Of the Funerai of
the Mup dered President,
william Mckinley.

~ 'h' ''II tiOHE' september IL. WAS
received with approval by the large
audience. Judge Chadwick said in part:
Throughout the length and breadth of this
ialr land OF our fathers are gathered millions
OF onr people, moved by one common impulse
TO honor the memory Of the dead
., ilko our fellows, are met to place our
tribute upon the altar, to festoOn the solemn
dralery of the occasion with token Of our
admiration for the man, our sympathy for his
bereaved loved one, our love for our country
and devotion to the common cause of liberty
But who Is the man, who, in his demise, can
so arrest the feverish rush of great peopl, :?
Well may we ask ourselves whether it is mere
ly because the form Of William Mckinley lies
mute among us-stilled tho tongue of his elo-
qrence, and helpless the loving hand which
held the helm OF the Ship of S5at-?
No doubt the fact of his preeminent nosi-
ton moves us to the outward expression OF
our griei; but over that and beyond ali, the
cans which prompts the tear we would let
tail today Is the pure, the exemplary and the
noble personal character of the man.
Earthly honors are but temporary. Vani-
ties IN the sunlight of heavens truth, melt
before the simple integrity of private purity
AS tFnsts Ensemble before the summer SUM-
II honors us more, my friends, at this time,
To be thus engaged than we eau realize, for We
are met TO do homage to the memory of q
man, to speak Of him a youth, a soldier, a
private citizen, public servant, the incum-
bent OF the most dignihed Office within the
glit OF man, TO glance into his home life, and
perhaps to set new standard for our own
aspirations.
Born on the western reserve, of respectable
parents, William Mckinley was the product
OF that outpouring of the best blood of our
country, which reclaimed the great valley of
the Mississippi, and enriched it with The
fruits Of advanced civilization.
lie was, were his great predecessors
whose lives have been stricken down by wan
ton and lneXcusabie assassination, pre-emi-
nently product of that civilization, of which
we have been SO justly bcastful He was
more than the mere pro,tuct-he was q factor
IN our national development
His life was characterized by simple de-
Eotion 30 his country. Its religious and COM
nerclal development were the fields of his
greatest lhur. and his greatest good
The crash of internecine strife, awOke cur
country to a realization that. if we would pre-
serve cur Institutions end our flag. we must
he doing; and duty beck0ning the youth of
cur country, with one accord barred its heart
{" the approaching onslaught. Knowing the
man as we now know him, it was but natural
that he should have been in the forefront of
the great movement designed to perpetuate
the truth Of human liberty, and equality be-
fore his law. The man who loves his home
and family is never cowardly, but with an in
''ilA 't6t per NdNleS aulllldI
quick to esent the movement of attack upon
his pe4ates.
Interrupted in his collegiate career, he de-
voted himself with zeal which prompted his
whole life, TO the profession of q soldier
Young, active, brave, born leader, his ad-
vance was as certain as it was rapid He re-
tired from this field of activity with honor TO
himself aud q rank commensurate with his
bravery on the field of battle.
lie was in conspicuous company. 1t is
needless for me to recount the deeds of valor
credited to the Twenty third Ohio. General
Rosecrans was the colonel of the regiment;
Hon Stanley Matthews, afterward justice
Of the supreme court, was its lieutenant
colonel and Rutherford B. Hayes was its ma
jor.
Young Mckinley was sergeant at Is,
lieutenant at 20 and a captain at Il. He was
breveted major at % for gallantry on the field
of battle This title he retained until his
elevation to the presidency. But to the rem
nant of that Grand Army of the Republic
the like of which the world had never known
before, for the honor of the republic was its
inspiration, he is still and will be always
known Major Mckinley, 1t suggests
situation which brings soul to soul, com
radeship, an equality in the pursuit of great
cause which even the pomp of civil power
cannot etface
He entered the army upon the first call for
volunteers; he LETT il in 1868 His term of en-
istment was measured only by his cOuntrys
need.
Entering with characteristics as, iduity into
the study of the law, he was admitted to prac
tice that profession and settled at Canton,
Ohio lie was d lawyer of promise, and had he
devoted his life to that helti would have won
enduring fame. But the qualities of
craftsmanship have eyer asserted themselves,
find this young man. within ten years after
his elevation TO the bar, chosen by his con-
stituents, though III district politically hos
tile. to represent them in the halls of the ma
tional congress. Illus strength was his reputed
Integrity, his skill in debate, and his mastery
and eloquent arrangement of facts and
language From that time. almost without
Interruption, his life was devoted TO the field
of politics.
In congress our departed friend-for no
president was ever credited with those
kindly graCes which marx the commoner
among men as was William Mckinley, only
Gladstone of all conspicuous men in our gen
Grafton compares with him III social qualities
was ever loyal to his cause; debater of
keen and ready wit, of powerful diction. of
splendid personal presence, 1t was but natural
that he should assume a leadership which he
retained during his whole career in the legis
lative body.
He was prominent in all the economic and
financial legislation of the past decade, and is
no doubt to be credited in history with great
er responsibility for the economic policies OF
our government during that time than any
other individual. While many of us have not
been in full accord with some of the views of
our president no one of us can doubt his sim
certify; and time will tell whether the one
policy or the other is the better one.
AS president. William Mckinley discharged
his duties with signal ability and decorum.
He met the grave issues arising during his
term with determination and an Intelligent re-
solve to serve the people best.
AS during the term of the first martyred
president. human freedom was made secure,
so the glory of the service of him whom we
mourn, is the assertion that freedom shall be
guaranteed to the inhabitants of the islands of
the sea- Under his rule, the benign influence
of free people has gone out from our bord
ers, and is spreading itself in ali the quarters
Of the globe And as millions of black men
revere the memory of Lincoln their savior,
| confidently believe that millions will hold
the memory OF this great man in fond remem
brance, as the ruler of {. great people who said
with one accord that Tyranny shall no longer
flourish on this hemisphere"
But In this hour, my friends, it is not 80
much of the dead we should speak, but of the
living. Why. in this time of absolute peace,
with plenteous harvest of all the productions
of the earth at our feet, is it that assassina-
ton should break loose, and the red flag Of
anarchy be waved insultingly in the face of a
contented people?
What reasons may we suggest for the cruel
striking down of our most honored citizen!