The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1901-09-20

himself into This contest with ardor
and was considered one of the most
effective speakers of his party in
that campaign.
For fourteen years he had the hon.
or of serving the state as represen-
tative of the district of which Stark
county forms part.
Aside from the part Mr.. Mckinley
took at Washington in the import
ant work before the congress he
won for himself reputation as an
industrious, well-informed, level
headed member on any and all
questions that came up. He won
for himself the respect and conf
dence not only of the people of his
district, but of the entire state, and
when the state Republican conven-
tiOn met at Columbus in 81 there
was only one name mentioned for
the gubernatorial nomination, that
of VIM. Mckinley. He served the
state of Ohio as governor for two
terms, during which time his pol
icy was marked by both economy
and the improvement of public
works.
In June, 1896, he was nominated
for president on the Republican
ticket and on the 4th day of Novem
Der the same year was elected to the
highest position of honor and trust
the American people can confer.
Perhaps it is in this capacity that
most of us know Mr.. Mckinley best.
It was as president that he came
prominently before the American
people as nation. Previous to this
he had won the hearts and conf
dence of the people of his state, but
as president he became dear to the
heart of every American and to the
whole civilized world, for he was
everywhere recognized as the advo-
cate and promoter of the cause of
righteousness and justice. lido not
think he was always rightly under
stood, but even the Master in his
great work of love was not always
understood, and consequently was
falsely accused. The achieve
ments of his administration are of
such note that all admit that he has
accomplished more; than any Of his
predecessors, the character of his
work clearly denoting the workman
The war with Spain, which Presi-
dent Mckinley did everything in
his power to prevent, gave him the
great opportunity of his life, and it
was the one that he best improved.
In it he lifted his administration to
the plane of those of Washington
and Lincoln, and linked his name
with theirs as the liberator of mil
lions from the hand of oppression
But it was not alone as states
man that Pres. Mckinley was loved
for now that he is gone we scarcely
know whether we loved him more
as president or more as a man. He
was ever faithful to the vows made
in his youth, and to the principles
of a true Christian manhood. His
public life has been a blessing to
the nation and to the world, while
his private life is worthy to be emu
lated by every home-loving, God
fearing man.
Bishop Satterlee said, in speaking
of the death of Queen Victoria,
"There are some characters so pure,
so true, 50 unselfsh in their unaf-
fected simplicity, that they belong
not only to their own country, but
to the world at large. Something
is there in the quality of their lives
which enriches human history, and
makes strong ger our faith in human
nature itself"
Such man was Pres. Mckinley,
and as Secretary Stanton stepped
back from the bed of the dead pres
ident, Abraham Lincoln, and said,
"He belongs to the ages now" so
may we say of William Mckinley.
"He belongs to the ages now"
"Grief. and the ache Of thtnge that pass and
fade,
The stately pomp, the pail, the open grave,
These and the solemn thoughts which cannot
Our eyes from tears, nor make us less afraid
OF that dread mystery which God has made:-
How many thousand thousand men who wave
speechiess farewells, with hearts forlornly
brave,
Know well the mockery of Deaths parade?
This cannot help us to transgress the bounds
Nor give us wings to overpass the steep
Ramparts Of heaven which Gods ANGELS
keep:
Wide is the "great gulf fixed:" for u.s. the
mounds
OF fresh-turned earth; above, sweet peace
surrounds
The painless patience of eternal Sleep"
TO THE PUBLIC.
Virginia, Mimi, Sept. 20, 1901.
Persons and business houses are