The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-09-20

perfect Hence, IL Is lndl lne Wnole
civilized world Joins in tributes of
praise. admiration and affection in
honor of our late president. These tri-
butes are confined tu no class, race,
creed or country. From the old world
| and the new. from king and peasant,
from the potcntates of churches and
| the humblest members thereof, from
| the princes Of commerce and the sons
| OF toll yea, from all points of the
| compass flows an overwhelming tide Of
sympathy and consolation.
Estimate of Mckinley
1t mas been suggested by the commit
| tee that | give a brief estimate OF
William Mckinley as a statesman. This
estimate must. indeed. he very brief
| and very imperfect. How in the shad-
ow of death ana in the fullness of
great grief. can the mind lend itself
| to analysis? Outraged by the feeling
| of horror at the greatest crime of the
| century 50 far. how can the faculties
| reason from facts to clear judgment?
| | would rather shed tears than frame
| sentences Pardon my utter inability
| to do the subject even sCant justice.
| 1t was not by accident. nor in one
| day, that William Mckinley became n
| great statesman. Only hfty-eight
years of age, his life was busy one
| Its manifold activities formed and
|
| ties of a sound and brilliant statesman
| ship. Look at the bare outlines of his
| life and career. the lines upon which
| the historian of the future will draw
a picture of a great statesman. Or,
| If YOU prefer, let us for moment en-
| grave these lines. here and now, upon
| his monument We will begin at the
base. The first line: A child of the
! common school system. The next:
school teacher The third Soldier.
| Then i'm rapid succession: Lawyer,
| prosecuting attorney, congressman.
| governor. president These are not all.
| There are other lines: student,
| thinker. writer orator. And one more:
| An honest man and Chistian gentle
mac. Because of these activities and
as the elimination of them all, We be-
| lieve that history will crown the mon
| ument with its verdict carved upon II,
in letters of living light, clear as the
| stars at night, so that all the nations
may read the last line: A great states
| man.
| What are the recognized qualities Of
a statesman. in the fullest meaning
| of the word? | can do little more than
refer to them. There is no time now
| for elaboration.
!. The possession of true and correct
principles. integrity of purpose. obed =
| icnCe 10 the mandates OF truth and hon =
ley was blessed with this quality to
the fullest measure.
,. A strong instinct of race and
blood, Mckinley was of the race
| which has produced the greatest
statesmen among nations The found
ers of English and American liberty
were among his ancestors. The best
blood of the AnGlo-SaXon and Celt
flowed n his veins. The love of liberty
was part of his heritage. He was OF
IA type produced by many generations
of struggle and sacrifice for the cause
| of humanity.
3, Experience and wide knowledge
| NJ men and things. However well-bred
a man may be and however brilliant his
| attaTments, he cannot acquire the
| highest craftsmanship without wide
and varied experience. Who among
men had greater experience than our
late president? He had TO face the
problems Of life early. In the school
room, on the field of battle. In courts
Of justice. in the halls of legislation
in power and out of power, in prosper
ity and adversely, he met men OF
all classes and learned TO know men
and to believe in them