The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-28


deeper STILL in the secret of millions OF human hearts
the battle of opinion waging; and all men felt
and sawwith more or less clearness-that an answer
TO the importunate question, Shall the nation live?
due. and to be denied. And | do not mean
that in the North alone there this austere wrest-
ling with conscience. In the South as well, below all
the efervescence and excitement of people perhaps
given to eloquent speech than We're there
the profound agony of question and answer the
summons to decide whether honor and freedom did
not call them to revolution and war. 1t is easy for
partisanship to say that the one side was right and
that the other wrong. 1t is still easier for an
indolent magnanmity to say that both were right.
Perhaps in view of ethics is always right
to follow his conscience. though 1T lead him to dis
aser and death. But history is inexorable She takes
account of sentiment and intention; and in her
cold and luminous that side is right which fights
in harmony with the stars in their courses The men
right through whose efforts and struggles the
world is helped onward and humanity moves to
higher level and brighter day.
The who are living today and who were young
in 1860 will never forget the glory and glamour that
filed the earth and the Sky when the long twilight OF
doubt and uncertainty was ending and the time OF
action had come. speech by Abraham Lincoln was
only of high moral significance, but of
arreachng Importance the drilling of militia COM
nany by Ellsworth attracted national attentohi the
uttering of the flag in the clear sky drew tears from
The eyes of young Patriotism, which had been
y rhetorical expression, became Il passionate emotion
which instinct logic, and feeling were fused The
country worth saving: it could be saved only by
fire; sacrifice was too great; the young men of the
country ready for the sacrifice; come veal come
woe, they ready
At II years of age William Mckinley heard this
summons of his country. He was the sort Oh youln
TO whom military life in ordinary times would pos
attractions. His nature was far different
from that of the ordinary soldier. He had other
dreams life PRICES and pleasures. than that of
marches and battles But to his mind there was no
choice question. The banner floating in the morn
ing breeze was the Reckoning gesture his country.
The thrilling notes OF the trumpet called hm-hm and
other-into the ranks. His portrait in his first
uniform is familiar to YOU all-the short socky fig
the quiet thoughtful face; the deep, dark eyes
1t is the face of lad who could not stay at home
when he thought he was needed in the field He was
of the stuff of which good soldiers are made Had he
been ter years older he would have entered at the
head of a company and out at the head of di-
vision But he did what he could He enlisted as
prvate he learned obey. His serious, sensible
ways his prompt alert efficiency attracted the
attention of his superors. He so faithful in lit
tie things they gave him more and more to do. He
untiring in camp and the march: swift cool,
and fearless in fight He left the army with field
rank when the ended, brevetted by President Lin
coin for gallantry in battle.
In coming years when men seek to draw the moral
Of great civil nothing will seem to them so
admirable in all the history of two magnificent
armies the way in which the to close
When the Confederate army the time had come,
they acknowledged the pitiless logic of facts, and
ceased fighting. When the army of the Union saw it
no longer needed without murmur question,
making no terms, asking no RETURN in the flush of
victory and ullness of might, it laid down it's arms
and melted back into the mass of peaceful citizens.
There is event, since the nation born, which
has proved its solid capacity for sef-government
Both sections share equally in that of glory.
They had held debate of Incompatible Importance
and had fought it with equal energy. A conclu-
sion had been reached-and it is the everlasting
honor of both sides that they each knew when the
over, and the hour of lasting peace had
struck. We may admire the desperate daring of 9TH
who prefer humiliation to compromise, but the
palm of common sense, and will say, of enlightened
patriotism, belongs the like Grant and Lee,
who knew when they had fought enough, for honor
and for country.
William Mckinley, of that sensible million of
men, gladly laid down his sword and betook himself
his books. He quickly made the time lost in SOL
diering. He attacked his Blackstone he would
n
of country law library too narrow, he went to the
Albany Law School, where he worked energetcaly
with brilliant admitted to the bar and
settled down to practical brevetted veteran of "a
in the quiet town of Canton and henceforward
forever famous the of his life and his place
of sepulture. Here many blessings awaited him: high
repue, professional success and domestic affection
pure, devoted and stainless that future poets,
seeking ideal of Christian marriage will in it
theme worthy of their songs This is subject to
which the lghtest alusion profanation; but it
is impossible to speak of William Mckinley without
remembering that truer tenderer knight to his
chosen lady ever lived among mortal men. If to the
spirits of the just made perfect is permitted the
sciousness of earthly things be that his
faithful soul is now watching over that gentle sufferer
who counts the long hours in their shattered home in
the desolate spendor of his fame
man possessing the qualities with which nature
had endowed Mckinley seeks political activity
naturally growing plant seeks light and air A
wholesome ambition; a rare power of making friends
and keeping them; faith, which may be called
ligious, in his country and its institutions and, flow
ing from this, belief that man could do no nober
clements in his character that drew him irresstiby
into public life. He had from the beginning
markable equipment: manner of singular grace and
charm; a voice of ringing quality and great carrying
power-vast We're the crowds that gathered about
him. he reached their fringe without apparent
effort He had an extraordinary power of marshalng
and presenting significant facts, TO bring convc-
lion to the average mind. His range of reading was
not wide; he read only what he might day find
useful and what he read his memory held like brass.
Those who knew him well in those early days can
never forget the consummate skill and power with
upon blow, would hammer them into the attention of
great assembages i'm Ohio, Jael drove the nail into
the head OF the Canaante captain. He not often
impassioned; he rarely resorted to the aid of wit or
humor; yet never his equal in controlling and
convincing popular audience by sheer appeal to their
reason and Intelligence. He did not natter cajoe
them, but there was ans implied compliment in the
serious and sober tone in which he addressed them.
He seemed one of them; in heart and feeling he was
one of them, Each artisan in a great crowd might
say: That is the sort of l would like to be- and
under more faVoring circumstances might have been.
He had the divine gft of sympathy which, though
given only to the elect, makes all their friends
So it came naturally about that in lS76-the begin
ming of the second century of the Repubc-he began,
by an election to congress- his political career There
after for fourteen years this chamber his home.
the word adVisedy. Nowhere in the world was he
in harmony with his environments as here, no