The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-08-07
M'KINLEY'S MEMORY
Senator Fairbanks Notable Address
At Tablet dwelling.
ELOQUENT TRIBUTE TO MARTYR

Mckinley Brought TO Public Service
Tremendous Sense of Response
biIity-Long After Monuments Have
Crumbled to Dust the Influence of
William Mckinley Will Continue to
Be Benedicton Among Men.
In tie Metropolitan Church at Wash
ington, of which the late President Nc
Kinley was a member, tablet, the
tribute of a lifelong friend, Justice
Thomas II. Anderson, was recently I'M
yelled in memory of the last of our
martyred presidents. Describing the
attendant services the Washington
Post says, in part:
As the president of the United
States and a number of dignitaries of
the nation, with the members of the
church, sang with deep feeling. Near
er, My God, to Thee" at Metropolitan
Church, a small silk American flag
that had hung in the rear of the audi
torium was drawn slowly aside and
tablet of the purest white marble was
unveiled. showing in letters of gold
the brief statement of the life and
deeds of William Mckinley. the trib-
ute of his friend, Judge Thomas H.
Anderson.
The unwilling was attended with
simple ceremony, in the presence of
those who had helped the dead presi-
- 10
and those who had assisted him in the
worship of his God. Distinguished
statesmen added the power of their
oratory to the solemn melodies of the
choir in making the occasion one that
would live long in the memory of those
who witnessed it.
President Roosevelt and Secretary
Cortelyou were among the first to ar
rive at the church. The service began
at II o'clock, and the president with
his secretary drove up to the door sew
eral minutes before the hour. They
were shown to seats near the pulpit,
which were afterward filled with men,
bers- of congress and distinguished
men from all sections of the country.
DR.. Bristol then introduced Senator
Fairbanks of Indiana the orator of
the occasion. who spoke as follows:
Senator Fairbanks Address.
my friends, we are met to perform
a most gracious servfce-to dedicate
here in this house of God tablet to
one of the few names that was born tn
never die.
I'VE stand upon ground made sacred
by the presence of William Mckinley.
Unto this shrine the Christians will
come in the unnumbered years before
us and derive new hope and inspira-
ton.
1T seems but yesterday that cur
friend occupied yonder pew, brave,
strong. in the very plenitude of power.
the most beloved of our fellowmen.
We can yet almost hear his voice as
it was raised in song and thanksgiv-
ing. Here he came upon the Sabbath
day to pay tribute to his Maker, for he
was a sincere believer in religion,
devout Christian and doer of Christian
deeds. He not only taught but carried
the great truths into every act and
deed of his life.
1T was here he found solace from
the great and arduous responsibilities
which rested upon him, and drew cour-
age and inspiration to meet and dis
charge them.
ut does not seem that it was but
a few months ago, less than one brief
year. that our friend was here. 1t is,
indeed but short time, measured
by the calendar, lut measured by
events, how long it is What mighty
events have come and gone; how the
great heart of the nation has been
wrung with an uncommon sorrow.
The tragedy at Buffalo was the master
crime of the new century We could
not at first believe the awful truth-it
was so unnatural. We stood bereft
of speech Who could be so dead to
all sense of pity as to strike down one
who so loved his fellowmen? About
us everywhere were the ample evil
dences of peace. Sectional differences
were dead; fraternal spirit was every
where, and under the guidance of our
great president we were moving on to
a splendid national destiny.
THE theme which the occasion sug-
gests is a great one; too vast for the
brief hour in which we are assembled.
There is in all the world nothing so
great and benefcent as a good name.
It raises our poor humanity to more
exalted plane. 1t lifts us into an
'ampler ether and diytner air.
A Man Of the People.
william Mckinley was, in the full
est and best sense of the word, of the
people He arose by the force of his
genius from an humble beginning to
stand among the greatest of men.
He sought to interpret the public will,
knowing full well that the wisdom of
the people is unerring that their voice
is indeed the voice of Almighty God
He inspired confidence among men
in the integrity of his purpose and in
the wisdom of his policies. He was a
total stranger to arts by which weaker
men seek to attain place and power
He did not attempt to rise upon men:
he preferred TO rise with them. His
mind and heart We're filled with no
shadow of hate: the sunshine of love-
affection ard human sympathy filed
them to overfiowing He was in the
truest and best sense a patriot. He
gave. the best years of his life-he
gave life itself.
when but boy he enlisted In the