The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-09-20
DIR. MANCHEsrER's ADDRESS.
Like Paul, Mckinley Could Say, I Am Now
Ready to be offered.

DR.. C. E. Manchester then delivered an
address, which lasted twenty four min
utes, on the life of the late President
and the lessons taught by his noble char
acter and death. Dr. Manchester said
in part:
My friends and countrymen with what
language shall / attempt to give express
sion to the deep horror of our souls as
| speak of the cause of his death, when
we consider the magnitude of the crime
that has plunged the country and the
world into unutterable grief, we are not
surprised that one nationality after
another has fastened to repudiate the
dreadful act. This gentle spirit, who
hated no one, to whom every man was
a brother, was suddenly smitten by the
cruel hand of an assassin and that too.
while in the very act of extending a kind
and generous greeting to one who ap-
preached him under the sacred guise of
friendship.
could the assailant have realized how
awful was the act he was about to per-
form, how utterly heartless the deed.
methinks he would have stayed his hand
at the very Threshold of it, In all the
coming years men will seek in vain to
fathom the enormity of that crime.
Had this man who fell been a despot.
a tyrant, an oppressor, an insane frenzy
to rid the world of him might have
sought excuse, but it was the people S
friend who fell when William Mckinley
received the fatal wound Himself a son
of toll, his sympathies were with the
n up1,n hac
less grace and perfect ease with which
he greeted such, can ever doubt that his
heart was in his open hand Every
heart-t -throb was for his countrymen.
That his life should be sacrificed at such
time, just when there was abundant
peace, when all the Americans were re-
Joicing together, is one of the inscruta
BILE mysteries of Providence Like manv
others it must be left for future revela-
tions to explain
In the midst of our sorrow we have
much to console us. He lived to see his
nation greater than ever before All sec
tlonal lines are blotted out There is no
South, no North, no East, no West
Washington saw the beginning of our
national life. Lincoln passed through
the night of our history and saw the
dawn. Mckinley beheld his country in the
splendor of it's noon. Truly he died in
the fullness of his fame. With Paul he
could say, and with equal truthfulness
1 am now ready to be offered
The work assigned him had been well
done. The nation was at peace We had
fairly entered upon an era of unparalleled
prosperity. Our revenues were generous
Our standing among the nations was Sc
cure. Our President was safely enshrined
in the affections of a united people, 1t
was not at him that the fatal shot was
fired, but at the very life of the Govern
ment. His cGcripg was vicarious 1t was
blood ~~urcH nnon the altar of human
liberty"
THE LAST HYMN SUNG.
Bishop |. w. Joyce, of Minneapolis, fol-
lowed with brief prayer and the SER
vices were concluded with the singing of
the hymn which President Mckinley re-
peated on his death bed Nearer. My
God, to Thee The entire congregation
arose and Joined in the last stanza Faith
er Valtman, of Chicago, chaplain of the
Twenty ninth infantry. pronounced the
benediction. Then the notes of the organ
again arose. The coffin was taken up and
borne from the church. The relatives and
those in official life went out in the order
they had entered.
II was after o'clock when the silent