Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-09-18

JAMES LEGASSlCk, OF bremen.
Coroner.
WIN. DONNELLY, of Adams.
In Memory Of William Mckinley.
The River of Death flows past the
shores of to-day with sad benumbiDg
sound. In the minds of everyone there
Is painful picture. The people of
great nation can almost see draped
and somber pail In the rotunda of their
capitol, where rests for day all that is
mortal of William Mckinley. They
can almost hear the solemn knell of |
mournfurbells from end to end of this
broad land, ald the almost audible
sound of muffied difges in the hollow
roar Of the wind. -!
Few now living will ever forget, how
after six days of anxious hope and
promise, there came day of hopeless
hope; q day when every message from
the striken president made hearts heav-
Ter, and the ways of an overruling provi-
dence more difficult to understand.
How these messages did come on the
wings of lightning, telling how the
nations chief executive was descending
the slope where steps are never
retraced; telling how like soldier he
stepped forth into the cold waters
to meet his maker, and how he turned
after their chill was upon his feet and
said to loved ones left behind: "Good
bye, all; good bye; 1t ID G ODDS way; His
will be DONE"
OF Irish and Scotch ancestry, William
Mckinley was born at Niles, Ohio, So
years ago the goth day Of last January.
His father was the manager of an iron
furnace and man of limited financial
means. At the age of II, the boy who
was destined to become one of the i'm
mortsls, earned his first money teach
ing district school. When the war
broke out he promptly enlisted, and
served as private In the ranks for
nearly year. Then came promotions,
until in 1865 he was brevetted major by
President Lincoln, for gallant and
meritous services in battles for his
country. After the war he studied law,
and took course at the Albany Law
School. He was elected district at
torney of his district, served IA years in
congress, was twice elected governor of
Ohio and for more than four and half
years prior to his death was the presi-
dent of this great republic. And we
think that it can be trutbfully said,
that no man was ever twice elected
president of this country, even Wash.
ington not excepted, against whom less
was said of personal nature by his
political opponents. For many years
past good citizens of all parties have
recognized Mr.. McKin)ey's sterling
qualities, and have been glad to know
that he was a citizen of our common
country.
In 1871 he married Miss Ida Saxton,
and two daughters were born to them,
both of whom died in their infancy, and
these bereavements were q shock from
which Mrs. Mckinley never fully re-
covered. But her years as an invalid
were frightened by the constant and
sacred care of him for whom nation
mourns today. There is 10 brighter
page in our dead presidents work,
than the faithful love aud devotion
shown by him for his invalid wife.
Poor Mrs. Mckinley! there is not 8
heart that does not ache for hei to-day.
Her illustrious husbands home life was
at all times more than ordinarily tender
and true, end we feel assured that:
Wherever homes sweet Joys find tongue.
And sympathetic hearers,
There will McKlnley's praise be sung,
And all that's dear grow dearer.
We know not how Others may feel,
but to us it is pleasure to learn that
the mortal remains of our dead presi-
dent are to be buried at Canton instead
of Arlington. Let his dust rest at Can
ton, in the heart of the continent, sur
rounded by prairies as broad and as
tolerant as were his views concerning
everything pertaining to American
Citizenship.
And let the monument, which will be
erected over his body, bear witness rot
alone to his soldierly qusIi,ies ard
craftsmanship, but also to his unfair
nished, public spirited citizenship. Let
the marble say: Ambition did not
warp, power corrupt, nor glory dszz 9
his kind yet staiwart manhood.