The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-01-27
Governor Thinks No More Old
Soldiers VIII Be President.
Delivers Address at Mckinley
Memorial Exercises.
HIS EVENTFUL LIFE.
Earned Everything That Came
to Him by Devotion to Duty.
Men Of Such Character as McKin-
ley Never Die.

William Mckinley, in all probability
is the last Of the old soldiers of the Civil
war who will ever fill the presidential
chair" said Governor w. E. Stanley
Sunday on the occasion of the Mckinley
Memorial exercises at the United Pres
byterian chcurch.
TT should be considered a compli-
ment, however, that but with one excep-
tion every man who has been elected
to the highest Office in the gift of the
nation, since the time of the Civil war,
was a Civil war veteran.
''To man like Mr.. Mckinley. man
who left such a record; such a life and
such an influence, words were eulogy-
1t was 50 years ago at the little town OF
Niles that he was born. His boyhood
was uneventful. We learn from history
that he was a good boy and was con-
sidered a good son. He had honest
traits of character that had descended
down through a long line of hardy
Scotch ancestry. He was Of good
physique. He had earnest and strong
convictions. He lived a strenuous life.
He was not born with a silver spoon in
his mouth, and he earned through
meritorious regard to duty, everything
which he secured
He attended school very young and
oCAAOCA
and in that manner helping in the sup
port of his parents and the family.
Then the Civil war broke out. After
consideration Mr.. Mckinley became con-
WINGED that it was his duty to enlist and
do his share in the war. He did moth
ing particularly startling in the service
But he did his duty, and in so doing
won the admiration of his superior Of
fcers and the promotion so justly re-
ceived.
with William Mckinley, no duty
was too insignificant to allow it to be
sighted. and duty was too large 70
undertake to execute.
MCKINLEY returned from the war with
desire to complete his college course
and was unable to do so. He never re-
ceived a diploma in token of graduation
from college. But he did graduate FROM
the stern school of experience that
makes the man. No diploma was ever
dearer or more precious than that given
Mr.. Mckinley by A Lincoln at the
close Of the war. when he gave him
honorable discharge from the service
and complimented him for his never
failing regard for duty, his answering
aim,. and his fidelity to the cause.
Mr.. Mckinley earned everything
that came to him by strict attention to
duty and by doing well whatever fell
to him to do.
After returning from the war he
studied law and was admitted to the
bar. He did nothing extraordinary but
he so ingratiated himself in the hearts
of his friends of Stark county by dis
charging every duty that he was elect
ed county attorney. He did nothing
striking In that office, but he did his
duty
He was elected to congress. He
came from an industrial center, and
had made study of the conditions and
became convinced that protection to
American industries was the thing
needed. 1 will not discuss the merits
the unwavering determination of Mr.
Mckinley to his convictions. He be-
Heved the idea was right, and through
up the fight. and finally saw his ideas
inaugurated into laws. He was so
thoroughly entrenched in his beliefs
that he was right that he absolutely
refused to give up. and it was mainly
his fidelity to his convictions that made
him the nan he YEAS.
when the people of the country be-
gan looking around for man to make
president they looked to MIR. McKin-
ley
AS another illustration of the strength
of character of Mr.. Mckinley, Governor
crisis of the Spanish-American war
and the turbulent time in Cuba.
I'VE may learn a lesson from the life
of Mr.. Mckinley that / wish both old
and young alike could master And II is
the power to stand by your convictions.
They may not be popular at first, but
if they are right, one can afford to
wait.
Men say, Mckinley is dead; but he
isn't dead. Men of character such as
he never die. Men of influence live on
and on and are never forgotten. Tenn
porary success does not count; it is the
success that comes of right convictions.
have q feeling that the people of this
land recognize worth and that they
always will"
Historian Elias ShuII read a bio
graphical sketch of the life of Mr.. Nc
Kinley, and solos were sung by Mrs.
H w. Dalby and Mrs. DIR. w. b. Swan
The memorial service closed with the
singing of Nearer, Ny God. to Thee"
the dying words of President McKin-
ley.