Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1902-03-06
might rave brought ruin on himself and In.

called him "Augmenter of the State II 10
a proud title; If justly conferred, il ranks
him among the few whose names may be
placed definitely and forever in charge of
the historic Muse. Under his rule Hawaii
Has come to us, and Tutuila; Porto Rico
Inc the vast archipelago OF the east. Cuba
is free. Dur position in the Caribbean is
assured beyond the possibility of future
question. The doctrine called by the name
of Monroe, so long derided and denied by
alien publicists, evokes now no challenge
or contradiction when uttered to the
world. 1t has become an international
truism. Our sister republics to the south
of us are convinced that we desire only
their peace and prosperity. Europe knows
worldwide commerce, the benefit of which
shall be to all nations. The state is aug
mented, but 1t threatens no nation, under
As to those regions which have
come under the shadow of our flag, the pos
sibility of their being damaged by such a
change of circumstances was in the view
Of Mckinley a thing u~nthinkable. To be-
lieye that we could not administer them
to their advantage. was to turn infidel to
our American faith of more than a hun
dred years.
A Great Diplomat.
In dealing with foreign powers, he wfu
take rank with the greatest of our diplo-
matists. 1t was a world of which he had
little special knowledge before coming to
the presidency. But his marvellous adapt
ability was in nothing more remarkable
ma III lit grasp lt liillIitdldlSiS ui7
played in international relations. In pre-
pairing for war and in the restoration OF
peace he was alike adroit, courteous, ana
f~ar-sighted. When a sudden emergency
declared itself, as in China, in a state OF
things OF which our history furnished no
precedent and international law no safe
and certain precept, he hesttated not a mo
ment TO take the course marked out for
him by considerations of humanity and the
national interests. Even while the Legal
tions were fighting for their lives against
bands of Infatuated fanatics, he decided
that we were at peace with China; and
while that conclusion old not hinder him
from taking the most energetic measures
70 rescue our imperiled citizens, IT enabled
him to maintain close and friendly rela.
tons with the wise and her ic viceroys OF
the south, whose resolute stand saved that
ancient empire from anarchy and spolia-
tion. He disposed of every question as IT
vision that ~astonished his advisers, and he
never had occasion to review a judgment
or reverse a decision.
BY, patience, by firmness, by sheer rea-
sonableness, he improved our understand-
ing, with all the great powers of the world
and rightly gained the blessing which be-
longs to the peacemakers.
h Nations Prosperity.
But, according to Mr.. Hay, the achieve
ments of the nation in war and diplomacy
are thrown In the SHADE by, the vast eco
nomical developments which. took PLACE
during Mr.. McKinley's administration. Up
to the time of his first election, the coun-
try was suffering from a long period Of de.
preston, the reasons Of which VIII NOT
try to seek. But from the moment the bal
lots were counted that betokened his ad-
vent to power a great and HOMOGENEOUS
movement In advance declared Itself along
all the lines of industry and commerce;
In the very month Of his Inauguration steel
rails began to be sold at SIS a ton-one Of
the most significant facts OF modern times.
1t meant that American industries had ad-
illGfnl thaupSnltyn m fha 1pnU dpnFPSSiO1-
that through the power of the race to or
ganize> and combine, stimulated by the con-
ditions then prevailing. and perhaps by the
prospect of legislation favorable to indus
try, America had begun to undersell the
rest of the world. The movement went on
without ceasing. The president and his
party. kept the pledges of their platform
and their canvass.
Ended Third Term Talk.
Mr.. Mckinley was reelected by an over
versal confidence, which is the, Hfeblood
of the commercial system of the world.
1t began frequently to be said that such
II state of things ought to continue; one
that the president was his own best sue
cessor. He paid little attention to these
suggestions until they were repeated by
some of his nearest friends. Then he
ditions of our public life was in danger.
TIL generation, which has seen the proph-
ecy Of the papal throne-Non videbis amos
~Petri-twice contradicted by the longevity
of holy men was in peril of forgetting
the unwritten law of our republic: Thou
shalt not exceed the years of Washing
ton. The president saw it was time to
speak, and in his characteristic manner
he spoke. briefly, but enough. Where
the lightning strikes there is no need of
iteration. From that hour no one
dreamed of doubling his purpose of re-
firing at the end of his second term, and
it will be long before another such les-
son Is required.
High Hopes for the Future.
I spent a day with him shortly before
he started on his fateful journey to Buff
falo. Never had ! seen him higher in
hope and patriotic confidence. He was
as sure of the future of his country as
the Psalmist who cried: GLORIOUS things
are spoken of thee, thou City. Of God"
He was gratified to the heart that we
free hand in the isthmus, In fancy he
saw the canal already built and the ar
gosies of the world passing through, 1t
in peace and amity. He saw in the i'm
fulfllment Of all his dreams, the reward
of all his labors. He was-I need not
say-an ardent protectionist,. never more
sincere and devoted than during those
procity as the bulwark Of protection
not a breach, but a fulfllment of the
law. TIL treaties which for four years
had been preparing under his personal
supervision he regarded as ancillary, to
the general scheme. He was opposed to
any revolutionary plan of change In. the
existing legislation; he was careful to
point out that everything he had done
was in faithful compliance with the law
itself.
expectation. he went to Buffalo, and
delivered that memorable speech. worthy
for its loftiness of tone, its blameless
morality, its breadth of view, to be re-
garded as his testament to the nation.
The Tragic End.
The next day sped the bolt of doom,
and for a week after-in an agony o.
hope that our prayers might be answered
the nation waited for the end. Nothing
in the glorious life that we saw gradual
emplary thar its close. The, gentle hui
mainly of his words, when he saw hi
assailant in danger of summary ven
geance Don't let them hurt him" his
broken gently to his wife; the fine cour.
tesy with which he apologized for thu
damage which his death would bring tc
the great exhibition; and the heroic resig.
nation of his final words: 1T Is God's
way, His will. not ours, be DONE" wer'
all the instructive expressions OF a nature
SO lofty n so pure that pride in 1t.
nobility at once softened and enhanced
the nation 3 StIlSt VI lOSs. uo itpuDl'
grieved over such a son-but is PROUD
forever of having produced him. Aftel
all, in spite Of its tragic ending, his lif,
his days troops Of friends. the cheer o
fame and fruitful labor; and he became
at last
'On fortunes browning slope,
The pillar of a peoples hope,
The center of a worlds desire"
He was fortunate even In his untimel!
- r.. 80 a,,a On traoipal no1lp1 III
world imperatively to the immedlat
study of his life and character, and thu
anticipated the sure praises of posterity
In Conclusion.
The obvious elements which enter int
the fame of a public man are few and b,
M means reconcile. The mar who fill
a great station in a period of change
who leads his country successfull