The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-09-17


history of the nation, sad because of
the awful consequences of reckless
deed, and woeful because of the very
though of the deed itself in a nation
of freemen.
The death Of President Mckinley is
blow that comes with crushing force
upon all of the people. He was rep
resentative American, which tended 10
make him ideal as a president, but
withal he was man, and in this eX-
treme hour in the history of the nation
one must pause just there to do hom-
age. His was life worth emulatins.
He started right. His hardy honesty
of purpose was learned in a school OF
experience that could not but leave its
impress upon his character. He had
not the physical advantages of many
young men, nor was a way~blazed for
him save by the prayers and teachings
of a devout Christian mother and a
rugged, honest father. Throughout his
boyhood, it is said of him, he never
developed suspicion of vicious trait
AS he was in boyhood, so was he in his
early manhood and in his more mature
years.
1t was given to him to be the custo-
dian of great affairs, yet he did not per"
NIT them to inveigh against his great
kindliness of heart and his deep con-
cern for others. He approached war
with a reluctance born of a knowledge
of its awful ravages. He welcomed
peace with a full measure OF apprecia-
ton of it's responsibilities, often more
pronounced than those incident to na-
tional strife. If he erred in statesman
ship, it was his greatheartedness that
suggested superlative caution.
But his official acts form very ma
terial and extensive portion of the rec
ord of the nation and history will deal
with them in that manner that is mer-
tied by the actuating motive of the
man whose life has been so closely as
sociated with the deeds of so great
nation during the last decade.
But with all his great accomplish
ments in the history of his country.
Cantonians were prone to view the man
only. We knew him as a neighbor and
friend, man Of goodness and worth.
His domestic life was helpful ey-
ample to his countrymen and to all the
world. So eminent an example could
not fail to elevate the place of wo-
man in every country of the globe. If
only was he great in that particular, he
would not have lived in vain. !
1t cannot be said of President Nc
Kinley that he was man of destiny
as the term is accepted generally. lie
did not act ON intuition nor was his
pathway to the great successes he
achieved always strewn with roses.
He encountered many of the thorns
of busy life, but he met every emer-
gency with that stolid hardihood that
betokened success at future date. He
never held resentment IL he met a re.
verse. He was not one of those men
who go about getting even. His earn.
esty of purpose was his guiding genius.
He believed he was right and he went
ahead. The end OF his life came when
he was at the pinnacle Of his power
and popularity.
A true type Of the possibilities Of
free institutions, has passed into the
shadow, and the nation is bowed in
grief. Not only has typical American
departed from this life, but the means
Of dissolution makes the head hang
still further in sadness not inter.
mingled with indignation at the wan
ton abuse and violation Of that very
liberality and ingenuousness of the in
stitutions Of which the martyred pres
ident was typical.