Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1901-09-26
MCKINLEY AS A STATESMAN.

I
Eloquent Address Delivered by Sena-
tor Grindeland on the Death of
President Mckinley.
In the midst of the rejoicings of the
North over the victory over secession,
our nation was plunged into deepest
mourning by the assassination Of
President Lincoln, the immortal
champion of liberty and the rights
of the people. Twenty years ago to-
day, President Garfield died from the
wounds inflicted by the bullet of an
infamous and cowardly y assassin.
Again our nation was in deep mourn
ing over the loss of it's beloved chief
executive. Today while standing on
the threshold of the twentieth cen.
tury enjoying peace and prosperity, },
we pause and behold our fair land
arrayed in mourning, overshadowed
by sorrowingclouds that drench the
land with tears. Murder, murder,
most foul, has robbed an invalid wife
of the love, care, comfort and COM
panionship of an ideal husband, has
taken away pillar of the church, has
deprived our country Of brave sol
dler, true patriot, a gifted states
man, a leader among men, our loved
and honored President Of the United
States, William Mckinley. At the
zenith OF his power and triumph,
while he was receiving cheers and
greetings from the people he was
serving SO we'll, he was without the
shadow of a cause or provocation,
struck down by an assassin and today
he lies cold and lifeless in death, and
instead of greetings and cheers, comes
from the people sorrow and tears.
But with an abiding trust in the sta
bility and ability Of our government,
we look not into the future with fear
or despair, but feel hopeful and de-
termined to solve the great questions
that lie before us and, thank God,
we can say what Garfield said at the.
time of Lincoln's assassination, God
reigns and the government at Wash
ington still lives. .
But it is of Mckinley as politi-
clan and statesman am to speak.
He was a student and admirer of
Llncoln's methods in politics, true to
his friends, true to his convictions,
attentive to his duties, with honesty
is the best policy as his motto.
Always ready to hear arguments,
made it rule to hear both sides of
a question before final action. Never
coarse and vulgar, always clean
minded and dignifed, yet social, en-
tertaining and approachable. Kept
in close touch with public sentiment
and never lost sight Of the welfare of
the common people. He himself
said, Lincoln has taught us that no
party or parties can escape response
bility to the people; that no party
advantage should ever swerve us from
the plain path of duty which is ever
the path of honor and distinction"
Political demagogism was foreign to
his nature. He never forced himself,
as candidate, upon his party. He
waited until the opportune time came
when he could with honor to himself
and with satisfaction to his party ac-
cept nomination. I first saw Nc
Kinley at the Republican National
Convention held in Chicago in 1888.
There was hot contest for the presi-
dental nomination and the result for
days was an uncertainty. The Ohio
delegation, of which Mckinley was
member, was instructed Tor John
Sherman. In the midst of the CON
test someone brought Mckinley out
as candidate and votes commenced.
to go to him and it might have de-
veloped into stampede but for Nc
Kinley. He arose and thus addressed
the convention: "I cannot, gentle
men Of the convention, consistently
with credit of the state whose creden.
tials bear, and which has trusted
me-I cannot consistently, with hon
|orable fidelity to John Sherman, who
has trusted me in his cause and with
his confidence, and above all, Lean
not with my sense of personal integ-
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