Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-09-19
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.


The death Of President Mckinley
came with crushing force at last. The
favorable reports given out by his
physicians from the very beginning
had induced belief.amounting almost
to certainty. that he would recover.
Again and again we were told that
every symptom in the case marked
eonvalescence. Not note OF
encouragement came from those
supposed to know most about the
presidents condition. There is no
reason to suspect the sincerity of the
eminent physicians They could have
had no object in building up false
hopes. None were more dumb
founded than they when the bad turn
came, Just after the most hopeful
bulletin of all had been issued. The
result simply demonstrates how easily
wise men may err and how far even
modern science is from solving all the
problems Of the complex human
system. The attendants were lulled
by deductions quite natural and did
not surmise the truth. Human
knowledge could do no more. and even
if the exact facts had been known
there is no reason to believe the result
could have been influenced an iota
The fatal bullet lett a trace of poison
along its entire course and as soon as
time enough had elapsed the whole
system was fatally affected. Judged
by ordinary cases, the wound was not
a mortal one. and the physicians
cannot be blamed tor their hopeful
predictions as TO the outcome.
However. the effect is bound to be felt
in a loss of public confidence toward
the medical profession, whereas a cure
would have been hailed as great
triumph. Popular judgment is
superficial and reasons largely from
results.
Had the president died Immediately
from his wounds, there would have
been sudden shock as the news
was flashed over the country. followed
by widespread sorrow. But the grief
was deepened by the week OF ceaseless
vigil that the whole world kept over
his bedside, buoyed up by hope, with
the picture of the brave battle waged
by the distinguished sufferer constantly
in view. And then the awful agony OF
the death scene Every heart went
out to the frail woman as she said the
last parting word to her loving and
loved husband. ere the shadows
encompassed him about Every eve
moistened as the news went forth that
the presidents last words were OF
encouragement TO her to whom he had
devoted his life; OF resignation to the
will OF a higher power; and with the
strains OF a sweet hymn on his lips as
he went down to the dark river that
leads to the Great Beyond All felt
the near presence of the grim visitor
as much as did those few who saw the
sands in the presidents hour-glass run
out in that solemn chamber at Buffalo.
There are times when words fail
when silence is more expressive of the
heart-emoti0ns than would be the most
eloquent utterances of tongue or pen.
such a time is the present. Were We
to attempt a enlogy of William
Mckinley we should fail miserably
You all know him. All that we might
say in this sad hour would tall so lar
short OF expressing your feelings and
our own that it were better LETT unsaid.
Had We a son, fair in the promise OF
a grand manhood. we can think OF no
more fitting place to lead him than to
the grave Of William Mckinley,
twenty-fifth president of the United
States, with the direction, My son.