The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1901-09-19

and when bade him good bye in San
Francisco, on the 18th Of May, last, he
repeatedly requested me to express to
the people of this state, how deeply he
regretted the circumstance which pre-
vented his continuing his tour, and that
II at all possible, he would yet visit them
during his term Of Office, and possibly
next year, Alas, how little do we know
OF the future
Only those who have met President
Mckinley, can know to what extent HE
personality was in his favor. The man
ner of his greeting was an index to bis
nature. Coming from the common peo-
pie, his sympathies were always with
them, and he could at all times be APP
preached by them. Those who have
met him in public gatherings or else
where, can see the pleasant smile and
feel the hearty handshake, which he
was Offering to the nameless creature,
who, in return for the privilege accorded
him. fred the fatal shot, while pretend.
ing to accept the extended hand. No
man could be happier in his surround
ings than he was, as he mingled with
the common people of the country he
had served so long and faithfully. Now
that the sacrifice has been made, how
ever, we may prohtably look for the
compensations attending it, and they
may be found. The life Of William Nc
Kinley lived and the example it affords,
constitutes heritage, not only for the
nation, but for humanity. What mat
tsrs few years more or less, after all2
The life that measures four score years
in full, is but flash upon thu horizon OF
time, when compared with the history Of
the human race. We appear upon the
scene, fit about feverishly for a few
years, and are gone from the earth for
ever. The man who accomplished as
much for his country and his race in the
short period of sixty years, as did Will
liam Mckinley, has won a crown whose
value ia not to be determined by the
duration of his earthly career.
Our beloved President is dead. We
shall see him no more, nor hear his
kindly voice exhorting the people to still
loftier heights Of morality and patriot
ism. His life may be said to have been
a consecrated devotion TO the care Of his
afflicted wife, and to what he thought
we're the best interests OF the country he
loved 30 we'll. He will always stand in
history, az he does today in the hearts Of
his countrymen, as an ideal type OF
American manhood. and 10 whose ex.
ample any mother in the land can point
her son and advise him to follow
after. More than this cannot be said
of any man. No higher encomium
will be uttered anywhere in this
broad land than is contained in
this statement in the Oregonian OF
last Saturday: "No act Of William Nc
Kinley has ever dishonored those little
graves in the Canton cemetery or cast a
shadow over the gentle life now strange
ly called to survive him."
Today all that is mortal Of William
Mckinley will be placed beneath the sod
of the beautiful eminence overlooking
his beloved Ohio home, by the side ol
his two little children, whose departure
for the unseen world 80 many years ago
has no doubt been a continually contrib
uting factor in the construction OF his
most admirable character.
On this goth anniversary OF the death
Of the lamented Garfield, we meet, my
friends, in this beautiful grove, the like
of which are said TO have been Code
first temples, to express our grief, and
as a mark Of respect for the manv yir-
tues Of our departed President. Politi-
cal differences are hushed in the awful
presence Of death. We mark the at
sence of both democrats and republicans
in this memorial service. and aS, with
fearful eyes, We say the last farewell to
President Mckinley, we can but bow
our heads in sorrow, and with heavy but
hopeful hearts, say with him, II is
Gods way. His will be DONE"