Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-09-27
THE m,K,NLEY EPOCH.
Iphilndelnhia RECORD. ind. de

The Mckinley Roosevelt administra-
ton will have a significant place In the
annals of our country, aside from the
| tragic circumstances attending the
| transfer of power from the deceased
president to his successor. 1t is an
epoch marking the beginning of the
fourth era in the development of the
| United States under the constitution
| The beginning of each era in our history
has been signalized by the presence In
the executive chair of one of the great
presidents, and by serious disturbance
of the usually peaceful course Of Amer
| lean events.
| The first era, comprising the terms OF
| Washington and the elder Adams, ex-
tended from the close of the colonial
period until 1901. During that time the
constitution was put In force and It's
first eleven amendments adopted. 1t
was time of construction, OF govern
ment building. and power. both political
and social, continued, as 1t had been In
colonial days, in the hands of a favored
class. TWAS brief survival of semi
aristocratic system under the forms OF
a republic.
The second era opened with the In
auguration of Thomas Jefferson. Its
dawn was overcast by notwithstanding
clouds. The country was upon the
verge of a conflict with France, and a
few years later was actually embroiled
lin the second war with Great Britain.
The leveling spirit of democracy. OF
which jefferson was the impersonation,
permeated the entire structure of the
nation. and the purchase of the terri
tory of Louisiana became the fret
movement in the great sectional strug-
gte--the irrepresslble conflict between
freedom and slavery-which arrayed
the north aginst the south. and which
was the leading characteristic of thiE
cru. Next to this it was most distinct
lively marked by the development OF
what Is now called the middle west
| the states between the Allegheny
mountains and the Mississippi.
The third era began in the throes OF
the great civil war. With the advent to
power OF another epoch-making presi-
ident, Abraham Lincoln. 1t continued
almost forty years and was character
ICED by the decline Of sectionalism, by
the settlement of the country beyond
| the Mississippi and by an unparalleled
! development of all forms of industrial
activity During this period the United
States became the richest of nations
With one exception all the occupants OF
the presidential Office from the Lincoln
johnson term forward had been officers
OF the federal army during the civil
war. and in all departments Of national
activity the leaders We're those WHOSE
youth had felt the impress of that stu
pendous struggle. Indeed, the great ma
jority OF those who held Important com
mands in both the army and the navy
during our contest with Spain hat
served their apprenticeship in warfare
during the years from 1851 to 1865.
The fourth era opened with the bat,
/ ties on behalf OF Cuba, and with Presi.
dent Roosevelt a new generation has
come forward to command the destinies
OF our country. William Mckinley. wht
was only boy when he Won his shout
derstraps in the battle OF Antietam, 1:
! probably the last survivor of that time
4 to fill the place of chief magistrate. Th'
nation has entered upon g. new stage o
Its career. Whether for veal or woe
the time OF our isolation is past and on
I. government has become factor in in
I ternational politics. We have startet
upon a new era, with new duties ant
4 new responsibilities. and their burdel
must fall upon the men of that younge
generation OF whose temper and spiri
Theodore Roosevelt is so strikingly rep
resentatiyc.