The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-09-24

bird it futters in the passing
breezes while underneath walk
heavy-hearted millions.
Few of these mourners knew
the man Mckinley; few had ever
seen his .countenance or grasped
his hand, but all knew the presi-
dent, all sorrow for him with al
most the bitter Woe that comes
with a personal bereavement.
And if, in these uncounted multi
tudes who never saw or knew
him, his death is sufficient to
drive away all thought of happi-
ness, how keen must be the grief
of the men and wemen whose
privilege it was to know him all
his life.
LAS they weep over his pulse
less body. the story of his life is
painted on the imperishable can
vas of memory. They see him.
his eyes blazing with the fire of
youth, his head held high and his
nerves tingling as he marches
away in the livery of his country
to fight for that country's saliva
ton.
1.-THE picture disappears. The
soldier, unscathed by the storm
and stress of many a battlefield,
is citizen. Now comes the
picture that is too sacred for
words. 1t portrays the welded
life of the president. He is not
the president here, he is will
liam to the frail, delicate
woman, whose very existence is
joined to his so closely that she
would have died a dozen deaths
had it not been for his loving
care.
"All the world knows that
from his entrance into politics as
Congressman from the Canton
district, through his long service
there, as governor of the state of
Ohio and as chief magistrate of
his country, President McKin-
ley's first thought was always
for his wife. No meeting was so
important to keep him from her
bedside, no duty so pressing that
he could not find time to minister
to her wants.
ITO those VIII mourn him to-
day must come a wonder at the
strangeness of a decree of Provi-
dence that allows the clinging
vine to outlast the oak. Anxiety
for the welfare of Mrs. McKin-
ley will be almost as keen as
grief for the president. To her
the heart of the nation will go
out in sympathy and in love, for
hers is the bitterest cup.
dead. at the hands of an
assassin vile beyond expression,
President Mckinley will live
long in the memory of a CRATE
full country. Not since Lincoln
has president come nearer the
hearts of the people than the man
lying dead in Buffalo. Many ci
his fellow citizens have disagreed
with his policies; none has ques-
toned his integrity. His private
life was beyond the possibility
of reproach.
Probably no presidents home
life was ever opened so widely tC
the masses as McKinley's. Cir
cumstances combined to bring
this about, and the insight thus
gained into his character had woT
for the executive a wealth of de
votion. The American people
love a chivalrous man. They
love a man who loves his wire
and who doesn't care if the Who'll,
world knows it.
sAnother contributor to th'
popularity of the president wa.
his conduct of the war will
Spain. Clear headed and con
servative, he refused to be forceC
into that war until the countr,
was prepared for it. The wisdom
of waiting was amply j1stifie'
by events.
1.-The great prosperity whicl
the country is enjoying ant
which is thought by at least
} majority of the people to be du
to President McKinley's policies
' was also a potent factor in max
ing him popular, For these an,
for other reasons the nation ha
: cause to mourn the murderou
: impulse that prompted tn
assassin Czolgosz to slay.
mo one can foretell what th
} immediate effect of the Pres
: dents death will be. The frs
r effect is likely to be an outbrea
= against anarchy so Violent an
5 so determined that every vestig
e of the red flag propaganda Wi
r will be wiped out of any soil owe
a which floats the American flag.
!, THE future of the country