The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-09-19

! appreciation and commentator We're
heard from those who attended it at Its
conclusion. 1t was the general opinion
that in the service the city displayed in
very appropriate and sincere manner
it's very deep and heartfelt mourning for
the dead president .~1
MI. Nantes Address.
1t would be difficult indeed to con-
ceiye OF circumstances mere solemn
and pathetic than those which call us
together today There are many here
no doubt who have stood in the sonbre
shadow cast by the presence of death
and who have felt the ineXpressible
desolation Of spirit and the heart an
suish which no human language can
fully express, but which overwhelms us
when those we hold nearest and dearest
are taken from us And while this sor-
rowful occasion may not perhaps bring
tc each OF us the keen sense of personal
bereavement which comes when the
grim destroyer enters the home circle
and sewers the affectionate associations
of time, we are none the less
filled with a profound grief because or
the wanton and wicked taking OF life
which was held in affectionate regard
and deepest reverence. not only by the
citizens of our own country, but IN
every spot on this broad earth where
civilization and religion h;(e raised
humanity above the level of dumb
brutes.
l can find no language with which to
fittingly express the utter loathng and
detestation in which every right
minded man and woman holds the vile
wretch who. by his cruel and causeless
act, has plunged a nation in tears and
inc hi nf
has passed: when the last honors and
tributes have been paid to the great
dead the punishment of the guilty will
follow. But even then we are con-
fronted with the sad reflection that the
life of the assassin. though forfeit, can
rot bring back the dead to life or
atone for all the misery and suffering
his crime has caused
Within the past So years three presi-
dents of this republic have fallen at
their posts Of duty by the hand Of the
assassin. Three times during thar
period have the dignity and majesty OF
a great free people, been thus violently
assailed by those who would substitute |
anarchy and chaos for law and order |
Thrice has the blood stained hand Of the |
murderer been raised against constitu- |
tional government, against the very |
good name, against the will Of the ma
jority, and with no other reason ana |
for no other purpose than to crafty
the depraved promptings of an In
sensate hatred and envy and malice.
Abraham Lincoln fell a victim to .tha |
intense sectional hatred and bitterness |
arising out of the civil war-a martyr
to human liberty. James A. Garfield, |
great scholar and profound statesman,
fell before the bullet Of disappointed
office seeker whose natural malignity
was no doubt intensified by the fac
tional differences which then, unfortun-
ately. divided one of the great political
parties.
And now-without cause or shadow OF
re ason, in the plentitude Of his splendid
powers: in the full vigor of his intel
lcctual strength, and physical man
hood: at the very zenith OF his popu-
larity, with honors resting thick upon
him. at the moment when partizan
strife was fast losing it's bitterness, and
when his nobility of character and the
manifest unselfishness of his purpose
was compelling the respect and conf
dence even of those most StrenuOuSly
opposed to him-William Mckinley,
hest beloved and closest to the hearts
of the people of all who have held that
great office. is struck down by the red
hand of anarchy; hand treacherously
extended in the guise of friendly
greeting!
And so today, while with sad and SOL
emn ceremonies, with sacred song and
fervent prayer we are met to give honor
and respect to his life and memory,
lack there in his old home, in the city
where he dwelt so long. amid the scenes
It,,
friends and neighbors. and old COM
rades and those whom he loved and
trusted in life, all that is mortal of
this dead chieftain of ours. this typical
American citizen, is being tenderly laid
tC it's final earthly rest. And as these
last sad offices are being rendered, the
eyes of the nation turn in deepest love
ard tenderest sympathy to the deserted
cottage and the darkened room where
the broken hearted wife. bereft of the
support of the strong arm. is left to
lear her sufferings and carry her heavy
burden alone.
There is no measuring the influence
os a good mans life. and the effect
of a good deed is never wholly lost.
President Mckinley has passed away.
but the benign influence of his life still
remains. an active potent force, to
suide and direct us. The bene-
iicent policies and purposes for
whose accomplishment he so faithfully
labored, will be carried forward. The
great wave of national advancement
which his genius and craftsmanship
set in motion will know no abatement.
Il will continue it's onward march I'M
til the beautiful visions of peace and
prosperity. of happiness and content
which filled his heart and his
inauguration. and which were
expressed with such glowing elo-
quence in his last great speech. shall
have found their full fruition. and until
his country. which he loved better than
life itself. shall have fulAlled the mag
rificent destiny which his prophetic
eyes so clearly beheld.