The Washington times., 1902-02-28
Sublime Faith, Indomitable
Courage, and Cheering Voice.

l will not waste your time by explain
ing that I DO not invoke for any man the
credit CT this vast result The captain
can not claim that it is he who drives the
mighty steamship over the tumbling bill
lows of the trackless deep; but praise is
justly due him If he has made the best
OF her tremendous powers, if he has read
Alright the currents of the sea and the
lessons OF the stars. And We should be
ungrateful il in this hour of prodigious
prosperity we should fail to remember
that William Mckinley with sublime faith
foresaw it, with indomitable courage la
bored fer it, put his whole heart and
mind into the work of bringing it about;
that it was his voice which, in dark hours.
rang out. heraldins the coming light. as
over the twilight waters of the Nile the
mystic cry of Memnon announced the
dawn TO Egypt, waking from sleep.
Among the most agreeable incidents of
the Presidents term of office were the
two journeys he made to the South. The
moral reunion OF the sections-so long
and so ardently desired by him-had been
initiated by the Spanish war when the
veterans of both sides. and their sons,
lad marched shoulder to shoulder to-
gether under the same banner. The Presi-
dent in these journeys sought with more
than usual eloquence and pathos, to Gre
ate a sentiment which should end for
ever the ancient feud. He was too good
politician to expect any results in the
way OF votes in his favor, and he accom-
plished none. But for all that the good
seed did not fall on barren ground In
the warm and chivalrous hearts of that
generous neople the echo of his cordial
and brotherly words will linger long. and
his name will be cherished in many a
household where even yet the Lost Cause
is worshipped-
Mr.. Mckinley was reelected by an
overwhelming majority. There had been
little doubt of the result among well-in-
formed people; but when it was known, a
profound feeling of relief and renewal of
trust were evident among the leaders OF
capital and of industry. not only in this
country but everywhere. They felt that
the immediate future was secure. and
that trade and commerce might safely
push forward in every field OF effort and
enterprise He inspired universal conf
dence. which is the lifeblood of the COM
mercial system of the world. 1t began fire.
quently to be said that such a state of
things ought to contince: one after an
other, men of prominence said that the
President was his own best successor He
paid little attention to these suggestions
until they were repeated by some of his
nearest friends. Then he saw that one OF
the most cherished traditions of our lub-
lie life was in danger. The generation
which has seen the prophecy of the Papal
throne-Non videbis amos Petri-twice
contIadicted by the longevity OF holy men
was in peril of forgetting the unwritten
law of our Republic: Thou shalt not ex-
D,
dent saw il 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 pur
pose of retiring at the end of his second
term. and it will be long before another
such lesson is required.