, 1901-09-14
SATURDAY. SEPTEMBER IA. 1901
THE NATION

Of the three greatest presidents the
republic has known has succumbed to
an assassin's bullet. The entire peo
pie, save the members of that socie-
ty whose hand is against all govern
ment and is red with innocent blood
Is bowed with grief.
William Mckinley was a great law-
yer, a great statesman Inc a great
president. In the practice of the law
it was said of him that no known
scoundrel need come to him for ad-
vice. To receive his counsel the
cause had to be righteous, and he pre-
scented his case with such simplicity
and power that he rarely failed to Sc
cure justice for his client.
AS a statesman he believed in go.
ing with everything to the people, hav-
Ing full confidence in their discretion
and Judgment, aad his speeches were
30 clear, SO forceful and so logical that
few men in public life we're able to
cope with him in debate. His mind
was as clear as a bell, his diction the
purest English and his cause ever that
Of the right.
AS president, he was loved by every
loyal citizen without respect to party
or creed. The president of the recent
constitutional convention of the state
Of Alabama said he had gained the re.
spect and confidence Of all and was
the president of the people both north
and south. He Nhaa a confidence in
the republic that caused him to lose
sight of the vipers that Turk in pm
bush, and went about with the same
freedom as the ordinary citizen. APP
palling as it may seem, this confidence
caused his death. 1t gave to the cow
ardly murderer Czolgosz the opportu.
nifty he was for days skulking about
to obtain. The highest aims and i'm
pulses Of the republic were close to
his heart. The day before he was
cruelty shot down he made one Of the
most famous addresses ever given to
the people of America. The one
thought running through it was the
advancement Inc uplifting Of the ma
ton.
William Mckinley was a soldier.
When a boy Of seventeen he enlisted
in an Ohio regiment as a private, vas
promoted to second lieutenant, first
lieutenant and captain. For gallant
service at OpeQuan. Fishers Hill and
Cedar Creek, he was brevetted major
by President Lincoln. After the war
was owe he studied law and practic-
ed very successfully till 1876, when he
was elected to congress. He IA re-
elected continuously with the excep.
ton of one term till 1891. He served
as chairman Of the committee on ways
and means and on other important
committees and was the author of the
famous tariff act which bore his name,
the Mckinley bill. He was elected
elected in 1893 by a plurality of 81, 1896.
He was twice elected president Of the
nation over William Jennings Bryan
by majorities that were overwhelm.
ing.
In his home life the lofty character
Of William Mckinley shone out re
splendent. To the end he was to Mrs
Mckinley a ~considerate, kind, devot.
ed lover, and many is the time the
sympathetic people Of the country
have been touched to tears by the man
ner in which the heartstrings OF this
lovely couple have been wrung. All
remember how the brave people of
the country at large rushed to their
support when bankruptcy stared them
In the face and how they put aside
all offers Of assistance, Mrs. McKin-
ley freely offering her private fortune
for the payment of the debt incurred
by the kind-hearted generosity of her
husband In becoming security for a
friend. 1t will also be recalled how
contributions were sent from all sec
tons Of the country without the names
Of the donors, in order that they could
not be returned. The people knew
and trusted Mr.. Mckinley. They knew
hs was An honest man and that he had